Let's Do a Spring Cleanse
- Mar 22
- 6 min read
During the big seasonal shifts (Winter to Spring and Summer to Fall), we are often inspired to cleanse our bodies and our homes. Some people go crazy with an over-the-top cleanse/detox program. They subject themselves to very strict regimens of fasting, juicing, and even enemas. That is not my style. I am a fan of moderation and prefer a simple, gentle, seasonal cleanse.
Do We Need to Detoxify
I see the word "detox" thrown around a lot this time of year. Many wellness professionals I love offer special detox events and programs to help us clean up our bodies as we move out of Winter and into Spring. I struggle with this a little, because yes, we might feel called to do something to shed the heaviness of late Winter, but I feel like detox is the wrong word for it.
Our bodies know how to detoxify. We do it every day. However, there is a marked shift in energy between Winter and Spring. And I think there are benefits to a very gentle cleanse that helps our bodies and our minds make the shift from Winter to Spring.
Watch Me
Why Do a Spring Cleanse, an Ayurvedic Perspective
A Spring cleanse, or Spring reset, is part of living in rhythm with the seasons. Let's talk Ayurveda for a moment to explain why this is.
If you consider the change in energy between one season and another, the shift from Winter to Spring is probably the greatest. Mid-winter, at least here in the Northeast US, has strong VATA energy. It is cold, dark, dry, light (as in not heavy), rough, and very mobile energy. High VATA energy on its own can leave us feeling unbalanced. Unfortunately, when you live somewhere that is cold and dark in the winter, you tend to hibernate a bit. This, in itself, is not a bad thing, as long as we find a way to balance hibernation with some exercise, fun, and sunlight. If we don't do a good job balancing the mid-winter energy, we end up carrying too much Kapha energy in our bodies (and minds).
What is Kapha energy? It's heavy, sluggish, dense, and sticky energy. And to make matters worse, this Kapha energy is the energy of Spring. This is too much Kapha, and we need to find balance.
{Vata and Kapha are common Ayurvedic terms. You can check out this previous blog post or YouTube video to learn more.}
Which Brings Us to a Spring Cleanse
To bring balance to this out-of-balance Kapha energy, we can do a GENTLE Spring Cleanse. When you think of what we typically do during a cleanse, you begin to see how it might balance that Kapha energy. During a typical cleanse, you would be eating a diet that is light, pungent, bitter, and astringent; a diet full of salads, vegetable juices, or soups. We also cut back on or eliminate the things we know are making us feel worse (alcohol, sugary foods, fatty or heavy foods, sedentary habits). Instead, we focus on eating fresh seasonal foods, getting more exercise, meditating, and taking on projects we feel good about.
As I said at the beginning, some people go all in on their Spring Cleanse, fast for several days, and then eat nothing but juice or soup for several days. For most people, this isn't a good idea. To do a cleanse program like that, you really want to work up to it. A program like that is really only appropriate for someone who has been doing seasonal cleanses for years and increases the intensity each year.
Even for seasoned "cleansers", I don't think multiple days of fasting or juicing is a good idea. It's too much. It's an overcorrection of the energy. I believe the best way to bring balance is gently. Our bodies and our minds do best when we are nice and gentle with ourselves. Be your own best friend.
When To Do a Spring Cleanse?
While you can do a cleanse anytime, late Winter/early Spring is always a good time. I prefer early April.
What Does a Cleanse Look Like?
As I said above, I think it is best to keep a cleanse simple and gentle. However, if you want to do a 24-hour water fast or a juice fast, you can. I wouldn't recommend a longer fast than that. It's up to you. But this is what cleansing looks like in my house:
It is typically 3-5 days long.
I often alternate between a regular (but healthy and light) eating schedule and intermittent fasting (skipping evening snacks and breakfast). Note: Throughout the year, I use intermittent fasting (IF) to keep my weight down and avoid mindless eating. If you haven't tried IF, this might be a good time to experiment. You can learn a little more HERE.
I plan a menu that is mostly made up of seasonal vegetables, lean protein, and some fruit and whole grains. I try to get my fat from things like fish and avocados. I avoid anything processed and/or sweetened. I avoid store-bought bread, processed side-dishes, and sweet baked goods.
In addition to eating healthy, I avoid alcohol and caffeine. Instead, I drink herbal teas with supportive herbs such as dandelion, nettle, and chamomile.
I often include some sort of digital detox. This could mean staying off social media for the entire cleanse, or simply setting rules about when I can and cannot use my phone.
I prioritize sleep and self-care, including self-massage, evening baths, daily walks, and yoga.
Planning Steps
Decide how many days you want to do. This can depend on what's on your calendar (don't cleanse when you have a celebration to attend), how strict you plan to be with yourself, and how different your regular lifestyle is from your cleansing plans.
Decide if you plan to add in a fast. If you do, plan your fast day for the middle of your cleanse. That way, you ease in and ease out. Note - you can incorporate juicing into the meal plan without fasting. Consider making breakfast a big glass of freshly juiced produce.
Decide if you plan to experiment with intermittent fasting. This will affect your meal planning.
Plan exactly what you intend to do during a digital detox, meditation, exercise, etc. What will you include, and what activities will you stop?
Plan your meals, including any snacks. Meal prep as much as possible to make it easy to stay on plan.
Remember, if you don't plan it and prep for it, it likely won't happen. Set yourself up for success.
Springtime Foods
Mother Nature provides us with the foods that bring the balance we need in every season! That is why eating seasonally is important year-round, not just during a cleanse. However, since we are talking about a Spring cleanse, let's talk about what is in season now. You can easily incorporate these foods into salads, soups, and snacks.
This is just a partial list, for inspiration.
Apples, asparagus, baby greens, beans, beets, berries, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chives, dandelion, eggs, fish, garlic, ginger, grapefruit, lemons, limes, mushrooms, parsley, pears, peas, pumpkin seeds, radishes, sprouts, tofu, zucchini. You might say, " Hey, where I live, lemons are never in season, or carrots are harvested in the fall". This is true; however, a food can be considered seasonal for a few reasons.
Obviously, it is currently growing and can be harvested this season.
It was harvested in the previous season, but stores well long-term and remains fresh now.
It contains an energy we are looking for now (eg, beans are astringent).
Food Preparation Options
When incorporating a ton of veggies into your diet, you need to consider how you want to prepare them. Pick the options that sound the most delicious to you while also keeping the current weather in mind (ie, If it's still cold out maybe consider more cooked veggies and soups. If it's warm, juices and salads might hit the spot).
Steamed
Roasted
Grilled
Raw/Salads (Make your own dressing!)
Soups/Stews
Juice
Sample Meal Plan
Breakfast Ideas:
1/2 grapefruit and a slice of vegetable quiche
Oatmeal with berries or apples
Poached or fried egg over a small salad with a slice of whole wheat toast
Green juice (spinach, celery, zucchini, cucumber, parsley, green apple, chunk of ginger)
Snack Ideas:
Raw veggies and hummus
Whole wheat crackers
Hard-boiled egg
Avocado toast
Fresh juice
Lunch/Dinner Ideas:
Big salad topped with fish, a slice of cornbread
Grilled Cod or Salmon with grilled asparagus and mushrooms, topped with lemon and parsley
Buddha Bowl - greens, quinoa, boiled egg, chopped veggies dressed with tahini and lemon dressing
Grilled chicken breast with roasted or steamed vegetable medley, quinoa
Vegetable & Barley Soup
Green & Beans
Taco Soup
Vegetable Pizza made with homemade crust, topped with veggies
Hydration:
Water with a lemon slice
Herbal teas (chamomile, dandelion root, nettles, mint)
Decaf coffee, black
Summary
Don't overcomplicate it. The goal is simply to give your body a break from the garbage we feed it. Eating nutritious seasonal foods, ditching the bad stuff, getting some exercise, and getting off social media are all you need to bring balance during this big seasonal change.
If this is your first attempt at a cleanse, start gently. Just reduce or eliminate processed foods, alcohol, sugar, and caffeine. Add in some seasonal vegetables. Focus on taking care of yourself.
Pin It For Later
Comments