Spring Clean Your Body in Ten Easy Steps

As winter loses its gray, icy grip, spring is beginning to make all things new, and our thoughts turn towards cleaning and renewal. For most of us, our bodies need a good sprucing up just as much as our homes and yards. I am often asked what is most important in bringing the body toward health and wellness. Below is a list of ten basic steps that can help restore your health and steer you back towards overall wellness. Spring is a time for "new beginnings." Forget past failures. Begin today!

--Detoxify: Digestive tract health is important to the overall health and wellness of your body. A great place to begin is by cleansing the body of accumulated waste and toxins. I suggest my Optimum Wellness Liver & Gallbladder Cleansing Kit which contains a quality oxygenated colon cleanser together with a liver/gallbladder cleanse. The digestive tract is so critical for the absorption of nutrients and the health of the immune system, as well as for eliminating wastes. If it is unhealthy or constipated, it cannot operate efficiently, and can lead to numerous health problems. The liver and gallbladder are also vital for filtering the body of waste and providing proper digestion. A parasite cleanse will help rid the body of unwanted organisms that interfere with many bodily functions and rob us of nutrients. Many people also experience Candida symptoms. I would suggest performing the Optimum Wellness Candida Cleanse after the above mentioned cleanses.

--Purge your home of chemicals: The quality of indoor air is statistically much worse than most outdoor air. Chemical toxins from cleaning products, carpeting, construction materials, and other sources can alter brain chemistry and contribute to a variety of both mental and physical illnesses. Consider using ionizer air purification to cleanse the air in your home environment. Be careful about hazardous chemicals that may be used in lawn care too. Look for natural fertilizers and pesticides/herbicides. They will provide you with a healthy and weed-free lawn without toxic chemicals.

--Pure water: Drinking and bathing in pure, filtered water is essential. Your body needs ample amounts of water to maximize the function of all your organs and systems. The skin is the largest organ of the body, and bathing in water laced with fluoride, chlorine, and other toxins is dangerous. I suggest Wellness Filters on sinks and the shower.

--Stress reduction: There are many ways to reduce stress in your life, but it is imperative to your wellness that you do so. Physical and mental stress do untold damage to both mind and body. Some suggestions for managing it include: sleeping at least 8-9 hours every night; relaxing with good music; simply resting your mind and body by being quiet and alone for thirty minutes daily; relaxing herbal baths; Pilates; massage; Yoga; prayer and meditation. Find something that you like to do and make a hobby of it. Gardening is one of the best stress relievers that I know.

--Exercise: Getting daily physical exercise is foundational for a healthy lifestyle. Choose something you enjoy -- whether it be walking, biking, using a treadmill, rollerblading -- and be consistent. Rebounding on a mini-trampoline is also an excellent addition to your routine, both increasing circulation and stimulating your lymphatic system,and thus significantly increasing the amount of waste products eliminated from your body.

--Sunshine: On average, about 30-40 minutes of direct sunshine daily, without sunscreen and sunglasses, is recommended. The best times for this exposure are just after sunrise and just before sunset. Our bodies cannot produce vitamin D without sunshine, and this nutrient is critical for wellness (see #7 below). If you should need to be out in the sun for longer time periods, I suggest using an organic sunscreen such as Soleo Organics Natural Sunscreen. For "after sun" care for your skin, AloeCalm and Hydra-Tone are all-natural and very healing to the skin.

--Vitamin D: Vitamin D is essential for bone health, but is also a preventative factor in cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, and many autoimmune illnesses such as lupus and fibromyalgia. Sunshine is the best source of vitamin D, but most people need to supplement with a quality Vitamin D-3 emulsified product. Emulsified means that the Vitamin D oil has been dispersed into microscopic particles to aid absorption and assimilation. The emulsified, liquid form of Vitamin D-3 is a proven form of Vitamin D-3 that helps increase Vitamin D levels in the body.

--Organic Multivitamin/mineral supplement: Everyone needs to consume a foundation organic supplement in this day in age because the foods we typically eat are grown in soil that is depleted of the many vitamins and minerals our bodies need on a daily basis. Be sure to choose a product that is highly bioavailable, and one containing fulvic acid. This amazing natural substance increases the body's ability to absorb nutrients and excrete wastes on the cellular level, which is of key importance to overall wellness.

--Grow your own produce: Whether you live in the city, suburbs, or in a rural area, it is possible to practice organic gardening. This is the best and most economical way to secure nutritious, non-toxic foods. If you choose to eat meats, only consume those that are produced without the use of harmful hormones and antibiotics, and ones that are naturally free-range fed, not grain-fed. Above all, take steps to direct your diet toward being organic and healthy. Eliminate fast food and pre-packaged foods and begin to eat as close to nature as possible.

--Personal care products: Go through your skin and personal care products and get rid of any that are not organic and not made from natural, toxin-free ingredients. The skin can easily absorb such poisons and quickly spread them throughout the body. Replace these products with organic skincare that is nutritious, natural, safe, and will not expose your body to harmful, dangerous chemicals.

Spring cleaning our homes provides a sense of peace, calm, and cleanliness. When cleaning the body, and keeping it clean, the very same sense of peace, calm, and cleanliness will be experienced. Added benefits will be supporting the immune system, providing more energy and less stress. It's just a win-win situation!