As we move into the warmer months, we naturally shed clothing, reveal skin and contemplate cleansing in order to feel lighter, leaner and as a vital as a spring day!
The best way to commence any Spring Cleanse is to Spring Clean your pantry and fridge. Vast arrays of toxins are found in the everyday foods and fluids we consume. Adding to the bodily load, many processed foods are devoid of nutrition, hard to digest and cause bloating, irregular bowel motions and intolerances. They can be a source of toxic cooking by-products that are pro inflammatory and carcinogenic. In short, get them out and usher the good stuff in!
The following are 5 easy steps to help you achieve a clean, whole food and healthy pantry and fridge:
- Sort it into categories. Condiments/pastes/sauces, fresh grocery (veggies, fruit, dairy, meat, fish, poultry and eggs), drinks, dried and fresh herbs & spices etc. This creates an organised kitchen with everything you need on hand to whip up incredible meals. No pre-packaged nasties required!
- Discard expired products. Many forgotten & dusty old products clutter pantry shelves, not only gathering dust but also offering little nutrition, keeping healthier alternatives out. Clearing space is a feel-good part of the process!
- Read the labels on your foodstuffs:
a. The most relevant and honest part of any packaging is the ingredients. Ignore the slogans or one-liners. The ingredients reveal what your product is truly made from. (Unfortunately it doesn’t reveal how it is made – e.g. the type of processing involved, chemical processing or heat applied) - Ingredients to avoid:
a. Chemical additives. These are usually present as numbers or words: food acids, flavours, enhancers, agents, colours, emulsifiers, thickeners, stabilisers, sweeteners, antibiotics and synthetic vitamins. There is a lot of controversy surrounding the health risks of food additives – linked with cancer, digestive problems, neurological conditions, ADHD, heart disease, obesity and more acute reactions such as hives or anaphylactic shock. We’d prefer to err on the side of caution and keep it au natural, despite the conflicting evidence.b. Natural additives such as table salt, sugar, fructose, starch, vegetable oil, soy lecithin, milk solids, white flour, soy flour and yeast. These are highly processed ingredients that are made via chemical processing. Be aware that ingredients within ingredients do not need to be listed. Neither does the processing method involved or detrimental cooking by-products. - Rules to live by: If it is a ready-to-eat food, it is best avoided. A prime example is breakfast cereal, composed of processed ingredients that are then further processed to create a product devoid of natural life force and nutrition.
For the simplest & most effective Spring Cleanse, focus on making every mouthful count & relishing real, clean, whole foods from healthy sources. Always be mindful of the plant, animal, soil & farming method from which your food is derived, and consider its processing & preparation method. Source and processing determines whether a food is healthy, nutrient dense and considerate of humanity, flora and fauna.
Fill your fridge with fresh food; organic or pastured meat, chicken, eggs and dairy, organic fruit and vegetables, cold pressed extra virgin oils, cultured and traditionally fermented foods such as apple cider vinegar & pickles, biodynamic or organic grains, beans, nuts and seeds, wild fish and seafood. If it is a processed food, make sure it is comprised of simple, natural and comprehensible ingredients.
Embracing these principles of whole food eating will see you burst into bloom this Spring like never before.
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