A time for cleansing and renewal
Across traditions spring is known as a time for cleansing and renewal. This can be applied to many aspects of our lives, but is especially good to mind in terms of our diets. During the winter our body’s natural pull towards hibernation and grounding with warming, heavy foods can leave us feeling a little sluggish as we move into the more fluid energy of spring. To cultivate a more graceful transition during the changing of the seasons we have to do our part in supporting the body while it adapts to the energetic shift.
A Perfect Duo To Lift The Spirit While Staying Grounded
One actionable step we can take to lift the spirit, is to lighten the load on our digestion. Juicing together with the inclusion of bone broth is a perfect duo for giving the digestive system a break. Feeding your body with these two very different sources of liquid nutrition will supply the body with a boost of vitality from newly available nutrients found in fresh spring harvested veggies and fruits, while maintaining balance with highly absorbent, mineral and collagen rich bone broth.
If you’ve ever done a pure juice fast or a Master Cleanse, you might have experienced a sense of being “in the clouds,” or feeling ungrounded. This does not have to be part of the cleanse experience. Although there are many philosophies and perspectives on fasting, unless you feel 100% drawn to a particular ideology, I suggest you do this light cleanse.
It’s certain to support your body with an array of nutrients while allowing the organs to purge toxins and the digestive tract to recover and restore. All without risking feeling light-headed by overloading the body with fruit sugars and subjecting your organs to undue stress.
Treading Lightly
This fast includes one easily digestible afternoon meal, supplemented by plenty of bone broth and fresh veggie juice. Without the presence of grains, legumes and meats, mineral rich bone broth will help the body and digestive tract become supremely hydrated and remineralized, while morning and evening juices will supply the body with a boost of vitamins.
Follow these simple steps for 1 to 3 days for a light and supportive cleansing fast:
- Drink 16 ounces of water with fresh squeezed juice of a whole lemon first thing in the morning. Allow for 30 minute to pass before your morning juice.
- Juice for your first meal.
- Sip on bone broth and drink plenty of water until lunch.
- For a light lunch it’s best to eat a brothy vegetable soup and a spoonful of fermented veggies. But a light salad with easy to digest greens like arugula or lettuces also works well, especially with the inclusion of steamed veggies like sweet potato and EVOO or ghee.
- Continue to sip on bone broth to stay hydrated.
- Juice again in the evening.
Make enough bone broth to allow for at least 16 ounces of broth per day, but you can easily do 32 oz. Follow my Basic Bone Broth recipe to make a big batch of this incredibly healing elixir.
Try making these delicious juices for morning and evening meals:
Avoid all dairy, nuts, grains, beans and meat – not including bone broth. These are all foods that are harder to digest, and although each of them can be a healthy part of your regular diet, when cleansing these fiber and protein rich foods will slow down digestion, and prevent the body from being able to rest and reset. Be sure to drink plenty of water, preferably with fresh lemon juice.
Juicing Tips
As we move deeper into spring, you’ll start to see many fruits and vegetables that have been out of season for several months. With lighter greens, berries and other fruits and veggies beginning to show up at your local Farmer’s Market, it’s easy to come up with tasty combinations for juicing.
The main of rule of thumb is to include both sweet elements like apple, beets or carrots, together with astringent and bitter veggies like kale, dandelion greens or parsley. A hint of tart lemon or lime, and the sharp flavor of ginger help to brighten almost any juice combination.
Going Deep
How deep you want to go with cleansing your body internally is entirely dependent on your needs, but extremes like several days long liquids-only fasts are not necessary to reap great benefits. In fact, many experts believe that light fasts are the healthier choice. Try the above routine and see how you feel. I promise your skin will glow and mind will light up with mental clarity!
