SPRING CLEANING FROM THE INSIDE

SPRINGFrom CLEANINGthe Inside

I can remember as a young child seeing a certain sparkle in my mom’s eyes. Out of nowhere she would announce, “IT’S SPRINGCLEANING TIME! “That meant we were going to clean the house from top to bottom and get rid of everything that no longer belonged. We don’t realize it, but we tend to hold onto things unnecessarily. When we really look around, we find so much leftover residue and clutter.

This is what happens inside the body as well. We bring in things that we don’t really need, some things that don’t digest well and a variety of toxins. And over time, it creates a traffic jam inside our bodies. It can also cause a buildup of toxins and bacteria that cause diseases and sickness. Our bodies give us the same warning signs it’s time for spring cleaning. For 20 years I’ve battled the roller coaster ride of obesity. I would lose a few pounds and then turn around and gain it back along with a couple of extra. High blood pressure and sleep apnea had come in and set up camp in my life. Then rushing towards me like a tornado were diabetes and high cholesterol. I was out of control. This was the warning sign I needed to sit down and take a hard long look at the temple God created and what I had done to it. As I started to study the body and how sickness and disease comes, and how important it is to have a clean body on the inside so it can function and fight off diseases and maintain good health; I realized that there was a serious traffic jam inside my body. There was too much clutter for my brain to get the right signals to send to the rest of my body for it to function right. Everything was out of place. I looked at my weight, the medications I was taking, my blood work, my refrigerator, my pantry, and that was it! Time to clean up! So, where do you start? Start by listening to your body. Your body will tell you it’s time in several ways.

Fatigue Aches and pains. Particularly in your joints Mood Swings Headaches Constipation Weight gain Inability to lose weight

These are all signs of toxicity. Once you have identified the problem, you can move on to preparation. It’s time to detox. That’s the term for giving your body a good spring cleaning. The first thing to do is to take inventory. Go through your refrigerator and remove those things that really don’t add value to your body. A good place to start is with sugary drinks. Make water the go to drink. Throw out processed meats, cheeses and mucus causing foods. Then go to your pantry. I can name what is in there, from the sugary cereals to the white rice, white pastas, white sugar, cookies, and snacks. Take a minute and really assess the damage that your body has gone through from the clutter that type of food has caused. Organizing makes spring cleaning possible. You can purge and clear out the rubble and then put things in their proper place.

Food addiction is very real. Your body becomes dependent on sugar, salt, and starchy foods. Prior to detoxing, take a few days and ween yourself off the addictive foods and drinks. Start cutting back and eliminating them; then increase your water intake to at least a gallon a day. When our diet is full of mucus and acid forming foods, the liver has to work overtime. Detoxing will help you cleanse the liver so that it can function better to remove the toxins. So, get that water in to give it a nice flush! Fill your refrigerator and pantry with plant based whole foods, nuts and seeds and healthy grains. Your refrigerator should look like a colorful forest. I call it eating the rainbow. ●

Leafy greens ● Gr purp een le C and abbage ●

Tomatoes

● Avocados

● Carrots Squash Zucchini

● Olives

● Fruit

● Berries

Your body craves foods high in nutrients, healthy fats, and antioxidants. These foods promote a healthy gut which wards off sickness and disease. Eating the proper foods will detoxify the kidneys and liver and will allow toxins to leave the body through healthy bowel movements, urine, sweat and breath. A natural detox is by far the most effective way to clean the body. Your body responds positively when you put the best fuel inside. All of your organs and the lymphatic system will start functioning like a well-oiled machine. You will produce healthier and cleaner blood cells. Overall, you will feel so much better.

Maintaining a cleaner healthier you is just as important as detoxing. One thing I’ve noticed from detoxing is that it takes at least 21 days to really make a difference. Once you’ve spent at least 21 days doing something different, you will have created a new habit. Once a new healthier habit is created, you will become more conscious of not allowing the clutter to build up again. That in itself is the key. If you’re like me, it might take a while; I would revert to some of my old ways and allow clutter to start rebuilding. But because I know how hard it is to declutter the inner body now, I’m less likely to get out of control. And most importantly, I know how to get my health habits back under control should I slip. I encourage you to give your body what it so deserves. Your body works hard year around to house your dreams, work, and abilities. Give it a gift in return and spring clean it.

by Anita Faye Wilson