Spring cleaning to reset the body for warmer days ahead.
By: Kerry Foreman, Owner and Founder of Muskoka Mornings®
I’m a big fan of Dr. Kimberley O’Brien, a Naturopathic Doctor from Nelson, British Columbia. She explains detoxing like this:
“Many of the chemicals that we are exposed to on a day to day basis are fat-soluble, which means that they dissolve in fat and are stored in our fatty tissue. Fat-soluble toxins are more challenging for our bodies to process and remove than water-soluble toxins because they hide away and accumulate in our fat cells and tissues.
Fat-soluble toxins are most easily excreted either through sweating or via liver detoxification and subsequent excretion by the bowels. Water-soluble toxins are more easily excreted via the kidneys. It is important to support each of these detoxification pathways during a cleanse to support the elimination of both water-soluble and fat-soluble toxins” https://www.healthyliferedesign.com/spring-detox/ .
A spring detox should not be harsh. Treat it as a gentle way to balance your hormones and get rid of toxins in the body after a long winter. We have some simple and straightforward tips to help get you started!
1)Start your day with a little internal wash
A cleanse first thing in the morning will help break down fats and blockages in the ducts and organs. I like to make this super-hydrating drink: to 16 oz of water, add ½ squeezed lemon, some cinnamon, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, and ¼ tsp of sea salt for minerals. You can also give our delicious No Yolking Detox Skinny Latte (minus any gin) a try as a late afternoon cleanse and protein-boost!
2) Avoid caffeine (even for just a few weeks!)
Try our No Yolking Dandi Latte as a breakfast coffee alternative — the dandelion has a nice coffee flavor! The dandelion will also help cleanse the liver, while the suggested coconut oil helps encapsulate heavy metals to remove from the body. So a little “good fat” at brekkie will help fuel you for the day ahead. Be kind to yourself if you have been a habitual coffee drinker: Wean yourself off, by mixing half coffee/half dandi for a few days.
Our Golden Protein Latte is also a great morning option. The health-boosting benefits of this warming latte include easing muscle and joint pain by reducing swelling and redness. With turmeric and ginger being both high in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties it gives a boost to the immune system. (great for cold and flu season!). Cinnamon also helps regulate blood sugar along with a scoop of our No Yolking 100% Egg White Protein Powder.
3) Add cruciferous veggies and leafy greens throughout the day
Loading up on fibre by incorporating cruciferous veggies and greens to your meals throughout the day will help carry the “bad” or xenoestrogens out of the body. Pair them with one of our delicious and protein-packed dips or dressings to make things a bit more interesting!
Set yourself up for success by prepping veggies and salads ahead of time so they’re ready to go for a quick lunch, snack or dinner. A fantastic idea is making layered mason jar salads with friends! Everyone brings one or two ingredients in a bowl along with your own mason jars to fill for the week. Set up your salad bar and everyone can customize their salads in their own jars.
Check out our new Summer Salad recipe, full of suggestions for quick make-ahead Mason Jar salads. We like to follow an easy formula: salad dressing on the bottom, followed by marinating-friendly veggies over the dressing (think tomatoes, broccoli or cauliflower), then crisp veggies like cucumber. Then we like to add cooked grains, lean protein and flavor-boosters. Top it all off with fresh leafy greens such as baby spinach, arugula, or spring mix.
Why You’ll Love our Mason Jar Summer Salads:
- Great for Meal Prep! You can easily make enough salads to cover lunch for a week or as side salads for dinner.
- Saves money: You can buy seasonal veggies or sale items, plus you’ll save money compared to buying lunch every day.
- Healthier for You: Preparing mason jar salads for work lunches can make it a lot easier to resist temptation when faced with fast food options.
- Lots of variety: The combinations options are endless, so you’ll never get bored!
- Less ingredients: You don’t need to purchase a lot of ingredients. By switching out one or two ingredients, you’ll enjoy a different flavor combo each day.
- Easy clean up : Mason jars are easy to clean and since glass does not stain or retain flavors or odors, they’re easier to keep clean than plastic lunch containers.
