21 Mar Forget Detox: Nourish Yourself

Sourced: Body and Soul, 26th February

The word ‘detox’ can conjure up strict ideas of going without and raging of hunger, not to mention headaches and skin breakouts. But say the word nourish and what comes to mind is balance, wholeness and wellness.

Doing a ‘spring clean’ for your body doesn’t mean you need to go without. It means filling your diet with nutrient dense, delicious foods so you forgo the refined, sugary foods we can so easily become addicted to.

When we try to deprive our bodies of foods, as some detox programs do, we inevitably see a rebound effect weeks later. Nourishing yourself comes in many forms, but one of the most basic things you can do is eat. When we nourish ourselves properly with wholefoods, an amazing transformaiton takes place. Digestion is lightened and therefore energy is increased.

We eat every day, all day long. We eat while watching TV, in the car, on the bus. We microwave our dinners and mindlessly snack while doing work….we have lost our connection between what we eat, why we eat and how we feel. Eating well can be a profound catalyst for self esteem, vitality and productivity.

5 Simple Steps Towards Nourishing Yourself

Lighten your digestion:

Have a week of meals and snacks without any processed foods, dairy, wheat or red meat

Clean up outside while you lighten up inside:

De-clutter your workplace and your pantry so that your physical environment reflects the inner work of lightening up and letting go of what you do not need

Find some simple meal ideas:

Cooking a healthy meal can be done in less then 20 minutes

Take time to be in the sunshine:

The world will not collapse if you use 15 minutes of the day to get outside. Nourish your mind with a silent break. Sit and breathe deeply for 15 minutes in the sun. Dedicate this time to you. You will be amazed at the difference this can make to the rest of your day.

Turn down the noise:

If you reduce the external stimulation in your life – TV, radio, phones, computer – there might be more space for your own thoughts, energy and creativity