Detoxing, Gut Health & Fermented Foods!
Detoxing, Gut Health & Fermented Foods!
This time of the year is extremely supportive to start any kind of detoxing process. Detoxing can mean simply de-clutter our house, get rid of some old clothes or address the paper pile in our desks.
With our bodies, the process is not very different and the spring time is ideal to reinforce gut health and strengthening our immune system as an essential step of our detoxing process. Several detox programs refer to the importance of cleansing the liver, but beforehand the gut needs to be clear to avoid any toxicity purged from Liver, doesn´t get trapped in the exit passage, the colon.
Eating fermented foods is a great place to start. Why?
The fermentation process means that sugars and carbohydrates have been broken down by beneficial bacteria and have been converted into lactic acid. This lactic acid enhances digestion, promotes growth of “good” bacteria in the lining of the gut which is crucial for the balance of gut flora. Lactic acid also reduces the pH which inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria and accumulation of toxic waste.
Fermented foods are rich in probiotics which are micro-organisms that balance the good bacteria in the gut and strengthen the immune system. You can take them as a supplement or you can take it directly from fermented foods like:
- Kimchi
- Miso soup
- Kefir
- Sauerkraut
- Yoghurt (vegan or non-vegan)
I always like to work with the creating space in your diet. If you are adding new foods to your diet like the fermented foods, then you also need to take something out in order to not overload your system. Substances to take out our excessive sugary foods, alcohol and gluten. Try this for a period of seven days while you introduce the fermented foods.
When the lining of the gut is a healthy we deal much better with the challenges of the spring time, being allergies, infections or rashes.
This is an ideal time to pay attention to this part of our bodies, adjust our lifestyle and facilitate the process for spring detox.
Once you have spent 1 week introducing fermented foods to your gut flora, you can start a gentle liver cleanse mainly consists of a diet rich in:
- Green leafy vegetables
- Sea vegetables like algaes
- Barley
- Fermented Foods
- Green Juices – Celery, Spinach, Carrots, Ginger & Orange
- Infused Water – Mint, Lemon, Grapefruit
Start your day with this Spring Liver Tonic. In a high speed blender mix the following ingredients: 1tbs. of fresh chopped turmeric, ½ tsp. of black pepper (to activate the turmeric), 1cm ginger root, roughly chopped, 1 tbs raw honey, juice of a ½ lemon
and 2 cups of filtered water. Drink this during your morning.
Magic Ingredient: turmeric, has anti-septic, antibiotic and anti-viral properties and it helps in protecting liver cells.
Enjoy the clarity, lightness and focus that comes from spending this time looking out for your own health!
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