Spring Cleanse/Detox Diet ©Deborah Barr

Click Here to read Lighten Up, it's Spring to learn more about how this season impacts your health with lots of tips for staying healthy with the seasons.

Cleansing and detoxification are neither appropriate nor recommended for pregnant and lactating women; those with serious physical and mental degenerations; or those who are deficient, frail, weak, or underweight.

This cleanse is geared for the Spring Season. You’ll receive the most benefit if you follow this for 3-10 days some time between March 10 and mid-April. If the weather is still really cold in March, I’d wait until the end of March of early April. If you can't maintain this for more than one day, then do this cleanse one day a week for 4-6 weeks throughout the above time period.

This is a general gentle cleanse. If you have health or weight issues contact Deborah at 412.361.8600 or via email at deborah@wholehealthresources.com for a 30 minute Introductory Holistic Counseling session. Many people do serious damage to their metabolic, digestive, and overall health with extreme cleanses and products. Many people need regeneration rather than detoxification. It's best to talk to a qualified health professional.

Deborah works with clients long distance by phone and in her Pittsburgh office. There are many effective, holistic solutions to all of your problems. Click here to read what clients have said about her work.

Before you Begin

Set your intention at the start of the cleanse. Identify your personal reasons for doing this, whether it be to rid your body of excess fats and toxins, to restore and improve the health of your organs, for spiritual reasons, more mental clarity and focus, and/or to initiate better habits. You may have more reasons. Once they are identified and intended, you give much more power to the effects of the cleanse.

Create a plan for the cleansing diet. For a 2-5 days before the cleanse, eliminate coffee, all caffeine, alcohol, intoxicants, processed and chemical foods, and sugar. If you have trouble with the caffeine, avoid coffee, but use black tea which has less caffeine than coffee. For 2 days before the cleanse, eliminate animal products, eggs, and all milk products, including cheese and yogurt.

First thing in morning: Have a 12 ounce glass of room temperature or warm water with 2 TB. of fresh squeezed lemon or lime. You may also have a cup of herbal tea.

Breakfast: A bowl Spring Detox and Renewal Soup. Click here for recipe.

Mid-morning: a piece of fruit, if desired—apple, pear, berries, or grapefruit (or a small serving of vegetables). Have a glass of the lemon or lime water.

Lunch: 2-3 cups vegetables, some lightly steamed and some raw (salads are fine—no dressing except for flax oil, lemon or lime, organic apple cider vinegar, Umeboshi vinegar, or sauerkraut). Emphasize dark leafy greens like kale, collard greens, dandelion greens, watercress, and other greens, as well as leeks, radishes and/or daikon. Include sprouts. You can buy fresh alfalfa sprouts and add them raw to the cooked veggies. Drink the broth from the steamed veggies. You can also toss the vegetables with some good quality unpastuerized sauerkraut, or drizzle cold-pressed flax oil over the veggies. Do not heat flax oil. Barlean’s is one of the better brands of flax oil.

Try Spring Renewal Salad. Leave the tahini out during the cleanse. This is an excellent salad for spring and summer.

Dinner: Same as lunch.

Drink 4-8 eight ounce glasses of spring water with fresh lemon or lime.

Beverages: spring or filtered water and herbal teas, such as astra diet tea, peppermint, spearmint, ginger, dandelion, burdock, chamomile, pau d’arco, green tea, kukicha or bancha tea. Unlimited.

NOTE: If you’re trying to do this for 5 or more days and it’s too difficult, then add a bowl of grains at breakfast, or lunch, or mid day. Hato Mugi (Job's Tears) and hulled barley are excellent grains for spring. Barley contains gluten; hato mugi does not. Brown rice and millet are acceptable and are gluten-free. Cook grains with unrefined sea salt or kombu. Click here to order Hato Mugi (Job's Tears) grain.

High Chlorophyll products are very helpful during a cleanse and throughout the spring season, and Vitamineral Greens powder is one of my favorites. It combines many of the green products with added enzymes, alfalfa and sea vegetables. It is organic, nourishing, rebuilding, cleansing, detoxifying, enhances regularity, supports liver, kidneys, blood, bones, circulation and immune function. Use 2-4 TB. in a glass of water. Click here to order Vitamineral Greens.

Chew well. This alkalizes the food and improves digestion.

Sit down and eat in a relaxed way.

Do not drink with meals, but after eating and between meals.

Do not eat anything after dinner.

Get outdoors daily. Take a walk and practice deep breathing.

Go to bed by 11 p.m. or earlier.

Get enough sleep. You may need more during the cleanse.

Slow down the pace of your life during a cleanse.

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Deborah Barr has 25 years professional training and clinical experience as a Holistic Health and Nutrition Counselor/Coach, speaker, and author. She has helped thousands of national clients reverse health and weight issues; achieve emotional harmony; radiant health; and passionate, peaceful living. In 1985 she founded Whole Health Resources, the premier Holistic Health Center in Pittsburgh. Click here for complete bio.