3 Simple Ways to "Spring Clean" Your Body

Spring is a time of change, growth, and cleaning, and according to Chinese Medicine, spring is related to the Wood element, which corresponds to the liver and gallbladder. You can't go past "spring cleaning" without considering the liver and gallbladder, two major detox organs. These three simple ways to spring clean are for those that don't want to embark on a three or four-week regimen.

1) Avoid one food for 21 days

Now, we're not talking about fasting or even undergoing a cleanse. We are simply recommending that you try to avoid one food you eat a lot of, particularly a common allergen that many people are sensitive to. Avoiding this food for 21 days should be sufficient time for your immune system to adapt and allow you to notice the changes in your body once you re-introduced these foods.

Common allergens include gluten, dairy, soy, corn, citrus, eggs, nuts, onions/garlic, coffee, chocolate and all nightshades; potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers.

2) Drink organic vegetable juice

Vegetables provide an array of nutrients and antioxidants that are critical for detoxification and cleansing. There’s no better way to absorb those beneficial substances than in the form of (fresh, not bottled) juice, so drink up!

3) Drink filtered water

Whenever you are cleaning something, the main ingredient is typically water. That’s because water is known as the universal solvent and is capable of dissolving more substances than any other liquid. That said, it also does a fine job of cleaning our bodies, assuming the water itself is clean. Aside from consuming more water, do your best to avoid all water from plastic containers (even BPA-free). Although it may not be feasible to have a glass container wherever you go, it’s worth making the attempt. Additionally, a water filter is imperative if you’re not using bottled water. For real spring cleaning, make water the only liquid you consume for the entire season.