Registered Dietitian, Ashley Koff, says you can do the same for your body and health, but you want to make sure you know the do's and don'ts.
What are some of the DO's?
Approach your cupboards and freezers the way you would your closet. "I didn't wear/eat this all winter long; it needs to go away." Check the dates of your supplements and spices and clear out to make space for fresher, healthier products. Put away some of the "comfort foods" just as you do with your big, bulky sweaters.
DO, think about the new produce coming about with the change of seasons. Eating Spring produce will actually trigger your body to realize that Spring is here.
Try to incorporate apple cider vinegar every day. You can drink it with lemon and honey or make it into a dressing to put on salads.
What is a big DON'T?
Don't be discouraged if you've fallen off the wagon with New Year's resolutions, which 60-65 percent of us have done. You might have milestones coming up, like Spring Break vacations (get out that bikini) or a High School Reunion. Work on realistic expectations and results. Don't do anything that will compromise your health now or your future results. And, certainly don't fall prey to harsh detox methods.
What if you want to do a light cleanse?
The best cleanse you can do is to get rid of any of the "chemistry lab projects;" that is, anything that makes your body have to think or work harder to digest and process or not get the nutrients it needs.
Also, you want to take a hard look at your digestion. There's nothing wrong with taking one or two days off solid foods and doing a liquid cleanse with juices/smoothies to get your digestion back on track.
If you don't want to give up food, take a few days and see how many colors of the rainbow you incorporate into your daily diet and assess from there. And, no, that doesn't mean Skittles. Broccoli contains one of the best detoxifying antioxidants you can get.
In the accompanying audio segment, Ashley Koff, RD, joins Andrea and Lisa to share more of the do's and don'ts of Spring cleaning your body.
In the accompanying audio segment, Ashley Koff, RD, joins Andrea and Lisa to share more of the do's and don'ts of Spring cleaning your body.
Ashley Koff is an internationally-renowned registered dietitian who believes better nutrition is simple and is on a mission to help anyone achieve their personal health goals by providing simple but highly effective tips and strategies. A self-described “Qualitarian,” Koff emphasizes the value of quality nutritional choices in achieving optimal health and has developed tools such as The AKA Qualitarian Nutrition Plan and The AKA Personal Shopper to help facilitate this.