Friday Favourites: Spring (Diet) Cleaning

Spring has sprung this week and for many of us that means it is time to clean.

Our house, our offices and perhaps our diets.  Yes friends, it is the time of year where many of us embark on a cleanse.

I have talked about detoxing quite a few times on this little blog of mine, so today I thought I would do a round-up for those of you who are thinking about doing a cleanse or would just like more information about the topic.

Guest Post: Healthy Steps for a Gentle Cleanse,Part 2

Welcome back to Arja Pennanen Lytle from Balance Body and Soul Nutrition who is going to offer 11 steps that will help you cleanse the body naturally.  Take it away, Arja!

Follow the guidelines below for 10-14 days and reintroduce eliminated foods slowly to make sure that your body doesn’t react negatively to them.

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Guest Post: Healthy Steps for a Gentle Cleanse,Part 1

January is the time of year when we want to start fresh.  This may include giving our menu a makeover to help clean up our insides.  I have enlisted my good friend and Holistic Nutritionist, Arja Pennanen Lytle from Balance Body and Soul Nutrition to offer her tips on how to embark on a cleanse that is healthy for your mind and body.

Hi there!  My name is Arja Pennanen Lytle and I’m a Holistic Nutritionist based in Toronto, Ontario.  I’m excited that Tracy asked me to be a guest on her blog today!  I can usually be found sharing information about health and wellness, along with some yummy recipes, over at Balance Body and Soul Nutrition.

Now that we are a few weeks into the New Year, you’ve probably seen a lot of information about detoxing.  Your friends on Facebook are doing it, magazine articles are telling you to do it, and your Twitter feed is filled with links to articles and blog posts about people who are doing it.  

Before you run out to your nearest health food store and grab the first box you see that promises to improve your liver and digestive system, let’s talk about why you might think you need a detox or cleanse.  Your body might be trying to tell you that it needs some support and a break.  Have you been experiencing any of the following symptoms lately?

• Indigestion, gas or bloating
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Headaches
• Acne
• Water retention
• Fatigue

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The Hormone Diet Detox: Follow Up

Remember a few weeks ago I embarked on the Hormone Diet Detox?
 

Going Gluten Free

I got a wonderful surprise this morning.

The Hormone Diet Detox

It is downright hot today and after a weeks and weeks of rain, it is a very welcome change :)

With all my excitement about the #Fitblog Planks Challenge, I totally forgot to mention that I started a detox.

You may remember that the doctor advised me to follow this book (which is fantastic, expect a full review next week).

Detoxing and Cleansing

My friend Leanne @ Healthful Pursuit was discussing cleansing on her blog the other day.  I have written about detoxing before, but I thought I would dig a little deeper.

Spring Cleaning

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Spring has sprung!

The days are a little longer, the nights are a little warmer and when I walk outside, I see more smiles than frowns. Everyone is looking forward to the sunshine and warmer weather.

We all think of spring as a time of rebirth - everything comes out of hiding, so to speak, including us :) It is a time when we want to start anew. This time of year many of us to do some "spring cleaning". We go through our houses and get rid of the things we never use or no longer need.

What about a spring cleaning for our bodies? That's right, a detox!

A detox is a process in which we alter our diets in order to rid the body of toxins. This can include fasting, juicing or supplementation. It can result in more energy, a better complexion and even weight loss!

There is great debate in the health world about the value or even the need to detox. Many professionals feel the the body naturally detoxes itself and that there is no need to alter our lifestyle or use drastic measures to cleanse our bodies. Some even think that detoxing can be dangerous.

Proponents of detoxing feel that many factors such as pollution, stress and contaminated food prevent the body from doing its job. It is no longer able to keep up with the amount of toxins entering the body and this slows down bodily functions such as the lymphatic system. They think that our bodies require a little help from us to get them back into shape.

So the questions remains: To detox or not to detox?

I can't really answer that. However, I will suggest that:

1. You to do your homework: get online or go to the library and research the different detoxes out there. Find out what is involved and what other people think of the programs.
   
2. Consult with your doctor and/or naturopath before you make any changes to your lifestyle or diet. Ask questions and find out the benefits or possible side effects of detoxing.
3. Take all the information you have gathered from your research and health professionals and figure out the best next steps for you.

Whatever you decide, always remember that a balanced diet works for everyone :)

Stay healthy,
Tracy