Wealden Times | WT182 | April 2017 | Gardens supplement inside

Health
The Big Mind &
Body Spring Clean
Our bodies are pre-programmed to spring clean themselves if we let them, as Julie Simpson explains...
It’s April, and time for a clear out. In the rush to
throw open the windows and defrost the fridge,
don’t forget to put aside some time for a self
spring clean to re-energise your mind and body.
This isn’t as hard as you think, in fact it’s really simple!
Nature designed our bodies with a built-in elimination
system to get rid of toxins and make way for the fuel we
need for perfect health. The message is, look after your
elimination system and it’ll look after you. All you need to
do is to move out of its way and let it get on with its job ...
Here are four easy ways to give yourself a spring clean in April
EAT HEALTHILY
Give your digestive system a rest so the main digestive
elimination organs - the liver and kidneys - can do their
job. Use whole foods and prepare meals from scratch. Eat
mainly plant foods (whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans)
with small amounts of good quality protein (free-range
meat and poultry, fish and eggs) and cut out processed
foods. Eat your last meal of the day early to allow a
13-hour fast between supper and breakfast. This gives
your body time to process food and your cells to renew.
A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP
7-8 hours sleep a night allows the brain to process the day’s
information, detoxing the mind while the body rests and
repairs. For a good night’s sleep, cut out caffeine and alcohol
( a nightcap may help you drop off but you’ll be up again at
3am); create a ‘sleeping space’ (soft lighting, comfy bedding and
ban the telly and mobile phone); establish a sleep routine and
rituals (a warm bath, lavender oil on the pillow) and avoid all
screen time for at least a couple of hours before you turn in.
STAY HYDRATED
Our bodies are between 50-75% water and it’s vital to drink
to stay hydrated. The kidneys filter 120-150 quarts of fluid
daily and need water to do their job. Flush out your system
with plenty of water and cut the bad boys caffeine and
alcohol because, as well as overburdening the liver, they are
also dehydrating. The jury’s out on the exact amount we
should drink each day but feeling thirsty and passing dark,
strong smelling urine are both signs of de-hydration. The
government recommends eight glasses a day, and, for the
purposes of loving your elimination system, make these water.
BREATHE
The lungs are one of the largest organs in the body, and,
with each inhalation they supply the body with the oxygen
it needs while the inhalation carries away the stale air. For
the full benefits, aim for good steady breathing with each
breath starting in the abdomen, then filling the lungs and
rising to the top lobes, just below the collarbone, aiming for
a slightly longer inhalation than inhalation. Seek out green
spaces away from traffic pollution – trees are natural air
filters – or walk along the beach so your lungs can take in
good quality air, and exhale the stale stuff you don’t need.
So, by all means sign up to a boot camp or fully fledged fast if
that suits your purse and personality but don’t underestimate the
power of the body to cleanse itself. All you have to do is allow
it a little space and kindness and get out of its way for a while.