It’s one of the most common New Year’s intentions you hear…”This year I want to clean up my diet!” Yet every January, we find ourselves slow to pick up the good habits we seek. Here are a few simple ways to cleanse your temple–inside and out!
- Buy more organic produce–If you are like most folks, buying all-organic, all the time is not an option your wallet can afford. However, by simply selecting more items than you did last year, you can begin to make some progress in purifying your diet. I recommend visiting www.foodnews.org for a list of which fruits and veggies are the most contaminated with pesticides. Commit to buying those as organics. Then watch your grocer’s fliers and stock up on those items when they go on sale. A good organic sale will often give you an item at the same price as non-organics, so why not go for it?
- Start juicing–Buying a juicer changed my nutrition life, and my body has never been happier! It is obvious that with every glass I am adding easily absorbed, live raw nutrients to my body. If you cannot afford a juicer, start a “juicer fund” with your spare change. By year’s end you will be closer to purchasing a model that will help you jump-start next year’s NY intention for better health. I love the web site of juicing expert Sheree Clark at www.fork-road.com . Check out juicer models online and read reviews; there is a machine out there for every budget and preference!
- Do a cleanse–Lots of people have a preferred method of cleansing, so if you have not tried one yet, start asking around. Nutritionists do not recommend total fasting, so look for options like juice or raw food cleanses. I like asking folks in the health food stores what they have tried; first-hand experience is always the best. And don’t be confused by “colon cleanse” pills that are just diuretics in disguise. A good cleanse should include lots of organic juices, possibly teas, as well as supplements like antioxidants, fiber (like ground flax) and liver support supplements or herbs. It may sound like a lot of work, but once you have a method you like, you can reuse the regimen any time of year you want to detox and start fresh!
- Drink more water–Are you sick of hearing this one yet? I am adding it here not because it is new, but to share a personal anecdote with you. I have never been a good water drinker and often found myself going a week on just a few glasses of water. Then, I moved to the desert and started drinking water like crazy. Why? Ice cubes. Now I know, I know–many health regimens ask you to swear off using ice or drinking cold beverages for the sake of your digestion. But hear me out: by adding ice to my drinking water I found myself draining glass after glass, easily twice as much as I had consumed before. It just worked for me! Maybe for you, the trick is to add a slice of refreshing cucumber; maybe you like hot water with lemon. Whatever it is that works for you, start trying options until you find something you like, then always drink your water that way. If you’re like me, you will find yourself peering into another empty glass, mystified and wondering, “Where did my water go?” True story!
- Start body-brushing–Skin brushing is done just before you shower with a special body brush (check your health food store). You lightly brush the skin in strokes moving toward your heart to stimulate the flow of lymphatic tissue. Your toxins are then ushered toward the liver for elimination, helping your body stay healthy and happy. This makes a nice ritual, especially if you are like me and always shower by candle light. Any day of the week feels like a vacation when you shower with candles, brush your skin lightly before and apply a cruelty-free lotion afterward. Marvelous!
These simple practices can be started any time of year, so be sure not to overload yourself. One of my favorite techniques is to grab my day-planner and schedule myself to begin a different type of purification each month. January is more water, February is body-brushing, March is juicing…By the fall, you’re on your way to a healthier, more radiant body that makes you smile and say, “I love my temple!”
Happy health to you in 2012!
Grace and Clarity 