A Spring Cleanse: tip #2

Going on a cleanse is no easy work. It takes a lot of stamina and COURAGE to say no to things that you want to eat. So tip #2 is staying away from processed sugars. What does this look like? Well basically anything that contains white sugar. Processed foods are really hard to digest, and more often than not results in toxin build up in our bodies. When you are cleansing, you want to stick to foods that are easy to digest. 

Think about it this way. What is the purpose of cleansing? To detox and get rid of unnecessary build up in your body. Quite frankly, that takes a lot of work for your body to do. Just imagine, every single nook and cranny, your body has to expend the energy to pull the nastiness from all of those areas. Well, on the other hand, the whole process of digestion takes a lot of energy as well. So, the more foods you eat that require a lot of energy, the less energy your body has to do its job of cleansing. 

Processed sugars are also inflammatory in nature. Again, this doesn't help in the detox process. In general, while cleansing, you want to avoid sugar as much as possible. If you are really needing something, opt for more natural sources of sugar. Honey is a great one, as it has a scraping quality to it, which will help in the cleansing process as well (although, this doesn't mean that you should go buck wild and have loads of honey!). This should generally be your rule of thumb even when you're not cleansing (maple syrup, dates, and jaggery are also two other good options for natural sweeteners to use while not on a cleanse). 

Let me tell you a quick story. I love dessert. I am an avid baker, so sugary sweets are right up my alley. Yesterday, I was extremely tempted to have some ice cream cake at work to celebrate a co-worker's birthday. I mean c'mon! Ice cream AND cake, all wrapped up in one!? Who can say no to that?! But, the feeling you get when you say no to something that you know isn't good for you--well, that feeling beats anything in the world. Having that conquering mentality will help you get through your cleanse.

You start to realize and see that food doesn't have to control you, as it does for so many people (myself included so many times!). You have the capability to control your food, which in my opinion, results in a more mindful process of eating, and the whole act becomes way more enjoyable. 

Have a great cleanse everyone! Enjoy your food, and know that you are in control! 

*If you're looking for some help in what kinds of sugars are good and bad for you and your constitution, be sure to contact me. Let's chat and find the diet that works best for you!