Spring is the perfect time for a holistic detox as the season is synonymous with the symbolism of rebirth and new life. A detox shouldn’t be about deprivation, rather an opportunity to reenergise your routine and mindset and assess what in your life is working – and what isn’t. It can help you let go of any habits or beliefs that are no longer serving you to make space for something new and fresh.
Before you begin, you need to determine the length of your detox. A detox timeline will help keep you motivated and make you feel accomplished when you reach the end date! I recommend anywhere from 10 to 28 days - choose a length that is realistic for you.
We talk a lot about detoxing our bodies but what about the other areas of our life – like detoxing our mind from negative thoughts and environment from toxic products, dirt and clutter. For some helpful tips on detoxing your mind, body + soul continue reading.
PHYSICAL WAYS TO DETOX
1. Eat a predominantly plant-based diet
Eliminate wheat, gluten, sugar, alcohol, coffee + processed foods and reduce your intake of animal-based products like dairy and meat protein.
Replace with wholefood fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, plant-based proteins like nuts, seeds, legumes, and Healthy Chef Organic Pea Protein or Body Shaping Shake.
Add green goodness to your diet as well. Spring foods consist of spinach, kale, silverbeet, asparagus, peas, lettuce, broccoli, green beans and Asian greens. The chlorophyll in greens help cleanse the liver and support our bodies natural ability to detox. To boost your daily intake of greens why not incorporate Healthy Chef Everyday Greens into your diet? A delicious pineapple flavour blend that is loaded with probiotics + L-glutamine for a healthy and happy gut. The organic greens in this blend create a chlorophyll-rich elixir that works to support gentle detoxification and elimination of waste, while assisting in healing and restoring the gut.
2. Stay Hydrated
Start your day with a big glass of water and a squeeze of lemon. Throughout the day why not drink herbal teas to keep your water intake up? Healthy Chef Botanical Tisanes + Teas come in 6 different flavours and are absolutely delicious.
Make the habit of taking your water bottle with you wherever you go!
3. Sweat It Out
Exercise for 30 – 60 minutes every day or hit the sauna to work up a sweat and flush out toxins. Remember that your body is working hard to get rid of toxins during the detox period, so instead of doing intense workouts, opt for gentle forms of exercise like yoga, pilates and walking.
MENTAL WAYS TO DETOX
4. Take a break from your devices
A detox from technology can do your mind wonders. In fact, the constant texts, emails, phone calls, dings and notifications from our devices actually release cortisol - our stress hormone, by keeping our brains on “high alert” and increase your feelings of distraction.
Try turning off your notifications or only checking your phone at scheduled times during the day, to reduce distraction. On the weekend, why not try a total digital detox?
5. Get Outside and into nature
We spend so much time indoors during Winter, so Spring is the perfect time to break the bubble and get outside.
Spending time outside has the power to create inspiration, increase energy levels, lower stress levels, enhance your ability to concentrate, and quiet the mind.
With the warmer weather, blue skies and new florals in bloom, I find getting outdoors one of the best ways to detox the mind.
6. Practice meditation and mindfulness
Mediation is an effective tool to calm your mind and allows us to clear away the information overload that builds up and contributes to our stress. Having a regular practice will also detox your mind from negative thoughts over time.
ENVIRONMENTAL WAYS TO DETOX
7. De-clutter
When you live in a cluttered environment, often, your life feels cluttered too! Whether it be your home, your office, your desk, your closet (or all of the above), dedicate some time to clear away the clutter in your life.
8. Spring ‘clean’ your home and office
Get to work with a little dusting, scrubbing and organising to detox your home from all the dirty that may have accumulated during the winter months.
Start with one room at a time and divide your home between days or a couple of weekends, to avoid overwhelm of trying to do it all at once.
9. Reduce the use of toxic products
Consider what products you use in your beauty regime and for cleaning the house. Many common skincare products, cleaning products and make up products are full of chemicals that contribute to the body’s toxic load. Read your labels and opt for natural/organic alternatives to lighten the load on your liver.
My Favourite Blends For Detoxing
Everyday Greens
Healthy Chef Everyday Greens is your daily health supplement formulated using a combination of organic green superfoods, herbal extracts, L-glutamine, digestive enzymes and probiotics.
The organic greens in this blend create a chlorophyll-rich elixir that works to support gentle detoxification and elimination of waste, while assisting in healing and restoring the gut.
If you haven't tried Everyday Greens yet, it’s such a great blend to kickstart your body’s detoxing functions in time for the warmer months ahead.
Organic Pea Protein
Healthy Chef Organic Pea Protein is your go-to plant-based protein that is gentle on the digestive system, is low FODMAP, gluten-free and low in carbohydrates. Did you know protein helps rid the body of toxins, and through this process prevents toxins from building up?
Matcha Tea
Healthy Chef certified organic Matcha Tea is sourced from only the finest and youngest tea leaves. It’s an excellent source of chlorophyll, which is an antioxidant that can support liver function and detoxification. It’s also great for cleansing the digestive system and a gentler way of getting your caffeine fix while detoxing.
Botanical Tisanes + Teas
Healthy Chef Botanical Tisanes + Teas are fantastic beverages for detoxing and also another way to keep hydrated throughout the day. Our hand-blended formulas for Stress, Beauty, Energy, Sleep, Digestion and Immunity will nourish and help support health, balance, and vitality.