As Spring approaches, Nature instinctively initiates the rebirthing of life. As Mother Earth welcomes more illumination from the glorious Sun, this fills us with even more invigorating radiant light in the mind and body.
Can you feel the excitement building as the daylight lengthens? This light provides us with the inspiration for new opportunities for the mind and warmth to liquefy the waters of the body so that they can move and release.
All of this beckons in a time of great cleansing so that we can release toxins, reset our digestive fire, and strengthen our immunity as we shed our "Winter coat"’ and prepare for the warmer seasons of longer, action-packed days.
These longer, warmer days that cause our bodies to swell with water and mucus move our internal heat away from our core where our digestive organs are, so our appetites will instinctively become smaller and this further facilitates our heightened ability to cleanse.
In concert, Nature provides us with the right foods grown in the soil with the right microbes at the right time, so when we eat what is in season, we align with Nature and flow into this natural cleansing process during Spring.
As we shed that Winter layer, our cravings should shift away from the heavy, substantive foods of Winter, to eating lighter foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, and maybe at some point soon, salad starts to sound good to some if digestion is strong and balanced. If we’re in tune with Nature, we will naturally shift to eating less calories as Spring unfolds.
Here are some powerful ways to align with the cleansing nature of Spring:
Click here for a delicious Spring-appropriate recipe of Green Coconut Soup with Beet Greens & Zucchini.
Another great way to add cleansing power (& mighty nutrition!) to your diet is through chutneys. Click here for my Date & Pumpkin Seed Green Chutney.
#2. Lighten-up breakfast
This is a great time to make stewed fruit for breakfast or change up your morning warm cereal to a lighter grain like millet, quinoa, barley, or buckwheat.
See here for a tri-doshic Quinoa Porridge recipe.
If you don't have an appetite in the morning, skip breakfast and enjoy an early lunch. You could also employ Ginger Pickle to stimulate your appetite. The key is to follow your hunger cues.
#3 Drink warming, stimulating herbal teas between meals
Spices like ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, clove, and turmeric all make great teas that heat up and stimulate digestion. Ginger, cinnamon, and honey is a lovely combination and a powerful Spring remedy.
Click here for another powerful remedy for digestion ~ CCF tea with Ginger and Turmeric.
To learn more about how time and the changing amount of daylight affects our whole being, see my article here ~ Time Change & Circadian Rhythms.
#5 Give 13 hrs minimum between dinner & breakfast
This allows for digestive rest, which is optimal for cleansing. It's called Intermittent Fasting in the modern world today, but this is an ancient Ayurvedic practice to rest and reset digestive fire, and to support a sluggish digestion. Some can even go 18 hrs between these two meals, especially those with a more Kapha-dominant digestion.
For more powerful ways on how to adjust your diet to align with the cleansing power of Spring, see my article here.