Easing out of Cleanse mode

YOUR BOUNTY OF BENEFITS

After a time spent in purification and cleansing, many people feel better than they’ve ever felt before; it can be like a rebirth – some may call it a spiritual experience. If a detox is done properly, you should feel lighter and cleaner. Many people report having more energy, with other physical benefits including clearer skin and better digestion. You may also feel a renewed sense of drive and focus after a whole-body cleanse. Cleanses can be a real journey — you get a lot of mental clarity and can experience lots of emotional ups and downs.

BREAKING YOUR CLEANSE But you won’t keep your glow by jumping back into a diet filled with heavy, fried, or fatty foods. Breaking a cleanse correctly is almost as important as the cleanse itself. It’s important to end gradually, slowly incorporating your regular foods back into your diet. It might sound like the cleanse after the cleanse, but it’s important if you want to maintain those detox benefits. The most important rule for weaning yourself off your detox diet is to keep it simple with easy-to-digest foods. These can include steamed or puréed vegetables or lightly sautéed greens, as well as proteins such as nuts, legumes, and eggs. If you plan to re-introduce meat into your diet, do so slowly, starting with organic poultry or seafood rather than beef. Try to eat smaller portions. During a detox people often realize that they don’t need to eat as much as they think they do. When you eat slowly and eat smaller portions, you’ll discover how much/little food you really need to feel full. In Ayurveda, we say to eat half what you normally would – try this on for a while and see if you can retain the habit of eating less.

WHEN TO CLEANSE AGAIN? So how will you know when you need to detox again? Your body will tell you; the rule of thumb is twice per year, once in the Spring and in the Fall. Some signs include poor elimination, sinus congestion, coughing, fatigue, trouble sleeping, skin problems, cravings for sugar or rich foods, and anxiety. Also, when you notice your immunity is down or you’re becoming sensitive to fluctuations in weather conditions, that’s a good indicator that you may need to cleanse. Detoxing seasonally is a way of transitioning into a new time of the year. You can also use a cleanse as a way to get yourself back on track with healthy eating and to give your body a rest from any junk you’ve been putting in it.

MAINTAINING THE AGNI AND AMA BALANCE Take these concepts into your consciousness – live them every day. Agni fosters health and creates internal environment for you to flourish. Ama blocks this as well as the flow of consciousness. Consciousness has two key components: 1. Energy (prana) 2. Intelligence (vidya) Intelligence enables us to learn from yesterday. Prana (wind) literally moves the intelligence into our cells, giving us inspiration and desire for action. Ama gets in the way of this all going down. EVERYDAY FOODS TO MAINTAIN THIS BALANCE Here's more advice on how to break your cleanse the right way and how to make cleansing part of your daily routine. Remember, Ayurveda recommends cooked foods over raw, warm liquids over cold. • Chew slowly. Digestion begins in the mouth. • Drink more water. It’s the best way to flush toxins out of the body. • Avoid overeating. Less is more, especially when breaking a cleanse. • Keep it simple. Avoid eating too many different foods in one meal to ease digestion. • Find a good probiotic. Good bacteria keep your digestive tract healthy. • Pay attention to your elimination habits. • Eat organic and avoid processed foods. Cleaner food means fewer toxins. • Avoid alcohol. It’s toxic. • Exercise. You’ll sweat out toxins as you move. • Take time to meditate. Deep breathing helps cleanse the body. • Get plenty of sleep. Your body heals itself as you rest. Detoxifying foods that you can add to any diet. Find the foods most suitable to you Dosha from the list: • Hot water with lemon • Dandelion root tea • Cranberry juice and water • Ground flax and chia seeds • Unsweetened yogurt • Artichokes • Beets • Celery • Asparagus • Leafy greens • Daikon radishes • Onions • Garlic • Cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage) • Broccoli sprouts

Good luck!