Do I need a detox?

It's that time of year... I'm noticing puppy nose smudges on the windows and dust on the baseboards and it's time for a deep spring clean.

Does our body need one too?

It's a great question. Detoxes and "cleanses" are very popular and many go to the extreme. You do not need to do a juice cleanse or maple syrup cayenne drink to cleanse your body. Those extreme measures starve your body of key nutrients.

The good news is that your liver and kidneys are always working to detoxify the body.

However, it is also true that we are exposed to more toxins than ever: through air pollution, paint and particle board furniture, carpets, pesticides in our yards and foods... it's impossible to avoid. And these can take a toll on the body over time. Genetically, some people are more susceptible than others to environmental toxins and research is continuing to explore the link to chronic disease.

But we can all support our body's natural detoxifying processes by supplying the nutrients needed in the detox process: vitamin and mineral rich foods and adequate protein to supply amino acids. Specifically, B vitamins, vitamin C,magnesium, selenium, prebiotics and probiotics all play an important role.

Nature provides us with many detoxifying vegetables as the weather warms up: spring's early greens, cabbage, cruciferous vegetables, garlic, and beets are a few of spring's way of easing the transition from heavier winter foods to lighter, fresher spring and summer foods as they support the detoxification pathways.

So as you deep clean your house this spring, choose to load up on nutrient dense foods to support your internal scrub as well.

As always, if you'd like support and accountability, you can join our spring reset and do it with the group!

For more of a scientific explanation of the detoxification pathways, check out this article.