Winter Detoxing and Internal Cleansing for the New Year…

After two months of holidays from October to the New Year…heavy rich foods, and excessive sweets & processed foods overload the body with toxicity, acidity and weight. Doing a winter cleanse to alkalize the body…take off some pounds and bring the system back into balance is just what the body needs to be freed up and move forward into the New Year with a positive attitude and fulfilled resolutions.

Winter takes us deep into hibernation – staying warm, adding a few pounds, and eating heavy stews, hearty casseroles and warming soups. The water element governs kidney- bladder energy. The foods to eat should include salty and bitter flavors which take the heat deeper into the body. These can include vegetable miso soup, cooked greens, burdock root, sea vegetables, barley, whole oats and quinoa. Eating raw, cooling foods weakens the digestion and chills the body. Seasonal winter foods include beets, cabbage, carrots, citrus fruits, daikon radishes, onions, rutabagas, turnips and winter squash.

Many times during a detox “You may feel worse before you feel better”…which is a holistic term called retracing. This is a good sign that your body is responding but overwhelmed with what is being released. To counter “die off” reactions, your body needs fresh vegetable juices and lots of water to help wash out the toxins (See December blog on ORP and Alkaline Ionized water which will dramatically increase your ability to flush out toxins given its antioxidant effect). You want to eat potassium rich foods, because you are losing this important mineral with excessive urination, diarrhea, and perspiration. Potassium brings balance to your cells, clears out excess sodium, and is a great boost for inner cleansing.

Here’s a great recipe for a Potassium Broth which makes about 12 cups.
2 cups celery
2 cups carrot, grated
2 large beets
½ Head of Red Cabbage
2 quarts Alkaline Ionized Antioxidant water
4 red skinned potatoes, chopped
1 bunch parsley
1 bunch cilantro
Pinch of sea salt (or Sun Fire Salt from Radical Health)
Combine all ingredients in a heavy saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Serve with toasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds and a teaspoon of light miso (optional).