Monday 22 March 2010

Spring Foods, Detox and Health

Has anyone experienced headaches, rashes, bloating, irritability, nausea, cravings, achy limbs, flu or lack of energy recently? These symptoms are signs that the toxins leaving your body are overwhelming your lymph, blood and liver. Well this is quite normal for spring time. Your body is going through a natural spring cleanse whether you like it or not.

With all the detoxification your body is going through you can support yourself at this time and reduce those symptoms by following these guidelines:
  • Eat seasonally and start to alter the foods you eat to match the energy of the spring.
  • Make the transition towards a lighter diet with lots of chlorophyll-rich green vegetables.
  • Slowly increase your raw intake but still include some warming soups and stews.
  • Start the day with a mug of warm water with ½ a squeezed lemon to stimulate your liver.
  • Skin brush with a natural bristle brush towards your heart to stimulate your lymphatic system. And keep those toxins moving out of the body with 8 glasses of water spread throughout the day.
  • For breakfast, have some protein to help avoid blood sugar symptoms listed above.
  • Move away from the porridge and try a smoothie made with soaked almonds and seeds, fruit, natural yoghurt and soaked linseeds.
  • Start your meals with some sprouted seeds and pulses - mung beans and alfalfa are superfoods, high in nutrients and digestive enzymes which have a powerful effect on the liver.
  • Include ginger and quinoa (a complete protein and great for energy) to support your kidneys.
  • Increase potassium rich foods – green leafy vegetables, parsley, watercress, peas, bananas, apples, avocados, raisins, apricots, seeds and nuts and oily fish.
  • Finally, you can use naturopathic techniques such as skin brushing, Epsom salt baths and enemas to help support and clear organs that may be struggling. A colonic at this time can be very helpful.

Spring Recipe: Beetroot, Carrot and Apple Coleslaw

Grate a beetroot, 2 Carrots and an apple

2 spring onions or red onions – finely sliced

Handful of soaked sunflower and pumpkin seeds

Handful of mixed vine fruits (or raisins)

Handful of parsley – chopped

Mix all ingredients together.

Dress with French dressing (olive oil, cider vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, mustard).

Serve with watercress, avocado, sprouted mung beans and quinoa.Enjoy!

For 1-to-1 nutritional advice call me, Nicki Edgell on 07786405366 or visit my website at www.nutritionandhealing.co.uk for information on talks and workshops. Find all foods mentioned at Pulse, Brighton Open Market, or Infinity Foods.

3 comments:

  1. Hi Nicki - it's Debbie! Am now a follower of your blog. Was looking at the above recipe for coleslaw but looks like you may have mixed things up a bit! BTW, where's a good place to buy a body brush?

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  2. Hi Debbie
    You are quite right I've missed some key ingredients out!
    It should also include grated beetroot, carrot and apple!! Will amend...
    Try body shop or M&S or just google dry skin brush. You want to use a soft natural fiber brush with a long handle, so that you are able to reach all areas of your body. One with a removable head with a strap for your hand is a good choice.
    A health food store may sell it over your way too?
    Also you were asking about a good cook book. I recommend the "Cooking without" by Barbara Cousins. It's got simple recipes that are gluten and sugar free.
    I'm thinking about publishing a cook book too!! Watch this space.

    All the best
    Nicki

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  3. Thanks Nicki. How exciting about the book. I'm really looking forward to staying with you and hopefully getting a cooking masterclass!!

    ReplyDelete