With the Fall season finally here – it’s a great time of year for Fall Cleansing.
Although the body is designed by nature to cleanse itself, its ability to do so has been rapidly slowing down over the last 75 years.
Wondering what makes Fall Cleansing different than other cleanses?
Firstly, Fall cleanses are best when combined with warm, nourishing, whole foods.
Often consumed while Fall Cleansing:
- Root vegetables
- Artichoke
- Warm apples or pears
- Legumes like kidney beans
- Warming spices
- Warm herbal teas that contain detoxifying ingredients like Milk Thistle and Dandelion
As we know, diet alone won’t eliminate toxins, which means the addition of herbal cleansing ingredients such as dandelion, milk thistle, and burdock root can make all the difference.
I encourage my patients to use a variety of herbs that naturally enhance detoxification from various organs in the body.
No matter how hard we try to avoid toxic chemicals, we are exposed to them every single day. Truly, it is inevitable in today’s world – pesticides, preservatives, and parabens are literally showing up everywhere.
This is due to increased levels of stress, an unhealthy lifestyle and the rise in man-made chemicals.
The good news is that we can support detoxification with herbal cleansing 2 – 4 times per year.
Herbs have been used for centuries to enhance toxin removal from the 7 channels of elimination – the liver, kidneys, colon, blood, skin, lymphatic system, and lungs.
Even with healthy organic eating, toxins from the environment (pollution) and ingredients found in many cleaning and body care products can still enter the body through inhalation or skin absorption.
If we don’t do anything to get rid of these harmful substances, they can build up and affect various systems in the body.
In my clinical practice, I recommend cleansing to patients with:
- allergies
- skin problems
- a weak immune system
- headaches
- difficulty losing weight
- digestive issues like constipation, gas and bloating
- fatigue
- poor concentration
For those of you who are excited to start your Fall cleanse, today I’m sharing my top 3 quick tips to help you get started.
#1. Load Up on Warming Foods
With the colder weather, the body needs more warming foods (according to Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy).
I encourage my patients to add a variety of warming vegetables to their diet such as squash, beets, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin.
Onions, leeks, and chives are also great additions – especially in soups.
#2. Load Up on Warming Spices
Spices are on every Fall cleansing grocery list.
Some of my favourite spices when Fall Cleansing include:
- chilli
- clove
- cinnamon
- coriander
- fennel seed
- ginger
- rosemary
Natural spices are always better than chemical-containing sauces that often have high fructose corn syrup, MSG, and other additives.
#3. Load Up on Warming Detoxifying Teas
Herbal teas count towards your water intake.
So shop for a variety of nourishing detox teas such as,
- milk thistle
- ginger
- dandelion
- cilantro
- apple cinnamon
- peppermint
Happy Fall Cleansing!
Dr. Sara has appeared on multiple radio shows/podcasts, the W Network, Breakfast Television and CP24. For almost 5 years, she worked as the National Spokesperson for a well-known digestive wellness brand, educating across the globe on gut health. Dr. Sara has been named a rising star in Canada receiving the Generation Next award for her outstanding contribution to shaping the future of Canada’s grocery industry. She frequently contributes to large publications and has been published in Best Health Magazine, The Globe and Mail, Sweat Equity, Grocery Business, Inside Fitness, Canadian Living, Elevate, HELLO, and ELLE Canada.
Dr. Sara’s approach to healthcare is not as easy as taking a pill. The “quick-fix” approach is not one she subscribes to. While there’s a pill for just about everything, rarely do prescription drugs stop the course of disease - they merely mask symptoms. Dr. Sara believes true health requires a commitment from both the doctor and the patient.
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