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The following post is from Selena of 1momsmission: Busy Mom’s Guide to Detox

Is it just me, or does the cold and wet season make it really hard to feel productive? We’ve got things to do and no energy. What gives?

Although some areas of the country are experiencing an early spring, winter may still be lingering for others. Everything is still dormant, hunkered down, resting. Well, everything except us.  Soon it will be spring and nature awakens and comes alive. Just like the leaves are starting to bud on the trees, our bodies are ready to sprout some new life.

Sounds great, but how in the world does one go about this? How can we clean out the blahs, shed the exhaustion, and purge ourselves of comforting foods we may have ingested over the colder months?

The popular thing to do nowadays is a “Detox Diet” or a “Cleanse.” You’ve heard stories of great success using a detox.  Sounds tempting, but you wonder:   What does that entail: fasting, weird supplements, only drinking blended or juiced meals, or a little voodoo magic?

There is a way to cleanse the body that doesn’t necessitate lemon, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup.  You can feel better in as little as 5-10 days with the right protocol.  And you can do it yourself.

Why Detox?

Our body is comprised of many organs that are closely connected and completely affected by our environment, our mental status, and what we eat.  Your body is an amazing machine that does a daily job of the cleansing blood of toxins, excreting waste, exhaling gases, and buffering damaging chemicals.  However, we do not have control over the environmental buildup occurring inside of us and we may not even realize it’s there.

When the body becomes bogged down and stagnant we can feel exhausted, bloated, unfocused, and generally ill.  We may have weird rashes, intense cravings, terrible sleep, and weight gain.  Excess stress can exacerbate hidden inflammation responses from food allergies.  Hormones may be out of whack.  Your intestinal tract and stomach may not be absorbing nutrients and/or protecting your bloodstream.  Your adrenals may be tired and not doing their job.  Even one of these issues can signal the need for a little spring cleaning…internally.

You may have been feeling “blah” for so long that it has become your new “normal.” Only when we change something does the real you unveil itself as you begin to feel so much better.  Better than you have in years.

Why We Fear Detox          

You might worry that a detox or cleanse requires too much radical change.  There may be “weird foods,” juicing or fasting. Your life as a busy mom doesn’t allow time for another step on your to-do list.

The questions begin: Where will I get the food?  How about supplements? With my busy life, how will I do it? Who will support me? Do I do it alone or with a pro?

Will it work? Will I ever feel better?

The stress you just endured thinking about a detox may be a sign that your body is ready to change.

How to Detox: The “Easy” Changes

The first thing to look at is the everyday food that you eat and what it does to your body.  You may be completely unaware of a food allergy, that grains may make you sleepy, how animal protein affects your bowels, or that your body thrives on vegetables.  Everyone is bio-individual.  We just need to figure out our own secret formula.

Step #1 – Take out the worst offenders.

*I will not go into detail here, but these are foods that cause the most problems.

1. Dairy – milk, cheese, and yogurt.
2. Soy – unless fermented like natto, tempeh, or miso.
3. Gluten – is found in more places than you can imagine!  Mainly: wheat, rye, barley, and oats (by contamination).
4. Sugar – refined
5. Caffeine – I know, I know. Don’t hate the writer. It’s tough, but you WILL feel better.
6. Eggs
7. Corn

Step #2 – Add in these foods

1. WATER – Like it’s your job!
2. Greens and other veggies
3. Berries and seasonal fruit
4. Garlic, onion, ginger, turmeric
5. Fermented foods: kraut, Kim chee, miso, kefir (coconut)
6. Broths
7. Beans and lentils
8. Animal protein – depending on what makes you feel good
9. Good fats – avocados, olive oil (not for cooking), nuts, seeds, coconut products

Step #3 – Self Care

1. Slow down!
2. Mindful meals – eat a meal with NO distractions!  No media, books, TV, newspaper, Kindle, Ipad, or phone. Panic!  You are right, this is very challenging but very necessary!
3. Journal your thoughts, feelings, and food.
4. Take a bath
5. Exercise gently
6. Body scrub
7. Meditate
8. SLEEP!

Start Your Detox Today

Just like any other commitment to your health, you need to determine how far you would like to go.  Here are some things to think about before you embark on your detox.

1. Be realistic about your goals: are you ready for radical change, or would an incremental style work best for you?

2. Is this your first exposure to a cleanse, or have you been proactive in cleaning up your diet before?

3. You need to realize the level of energy required for your life.  Taking care of your kids, your business and your home requires you to be present and at least awake!  Make sure you choose steps that provide you with adequate nutrition for your lifestyle.  A real food cleanse usually suits a busy mother’s lifestyle best.

4. Can you hold yourself accountable?  Do you work better with a partner?  A group? A professional?

5. Who in your life will support you in your goals?

6. Would you like to have more education before you make changes?  Working with a professional can give you not only education but support and accountability – all very useful for a first-time detoxer.

Take a look out the window: see the new leaves making their way into the world, regenerating after a long winter? Here you can find your inspiration to clean out, spruce up, and refresh yourself to bask in the birth of spring.  Grab hold of this information, share it with your friends, form a group, and get clean today.

For more information on detoxing, visit this great resource: 5-Day Beginner Detox.

*This article is not meant to claim a cure for a disease. If you have any medical problems, please speak to a healthcare professional before embarking on any radical dietary change.

Have you ever done a detox or cleanse? Is it something you’re ready to try now?