Just like trees let go of their leaves in Fall, this can be a time of letting go what you don’t need. Physically, it can be a time to let go of what isn't needed in your diet and add what is needed with a Fall Cleanse. Gut health promotes mental clarity, emotional well-being, a balanced nervous system, enhanced immunity, and decreased inflammation.
A Fall cleanse doesn’t have to be juicing or fasting, but simply eating a more anti-inflammatory diet. The book, Fix It With Food by Michael Symon, offers a 10-day meal plan (grocery list included!) of simple breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes, as well as a guide to identify “trigger foods”. Michael is a chef who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. To decrease the inflammation in his body he let go of eating red meat, white flour, sugar, dairy, and alcohol and added more vegetables and good proteins. Last night I learned how to make delicious “mashed potatoes” from cauliflower. On his website, he offers a recipe of making “Mac and Cheese” from cauliflower. I will definitely be trying that!
Ayurvedic Cleanse
Another option is eating according to your Ayurvedic constitution, or Dosha. This quiz at Kripalu or Banyan Botanicals helps you to determine your constitution (of whether you tend to have too much heat, cold, or water retention in your body). Then, choose and cook foods according to your Dosha to promote health and wellness. For example, I’m a Vata, meaning that I get cold and dry easily. I need to eat warm food, especially in the winter, and LOTS of healthful oils. In my past yoga teacher training, we did an Ayurvedic Cleanse eating Vegetable Kitchari, a meal of mung beans, turmeric, and vegetables. You can eat this vegan and gluten free meal 3x/day for 3 to 7 days. This diet is meant to heal and rebalance all the doshas. It is easy to digest, and helps to relieve pain & inflammation and stop food cravings.
The Brain Cleanse
too long ago, researchers discovered that the brain and spinal cord-our central nervous system-has its own cleaning system known as the Glymphatic System. How do you enhance your brain's ability to remove wastes? 1. With Sleep! They found that the Glymphatic System worked its magic mostly during sleep. So don't push yourself into the wee hours. Get the sleep you need. There's a reason you feel mentally clearer after a good night's sleep.
2. With Hydration. About 75% of our brain is made of water. Wow! Even if we get 2% dehydrated, our brain’s functions can be affected, causing acute changes in memory and attention. You might want to add some electrolytes to your water. Electrolytes have essential minerals such as sodium, magnesium, calcium, and potassium that are vital for your cellular functioning and nerve conduction, as well as balancing fluid in the brain.
Electrolytes may help you if you suffer from low blood pressure, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, Dysautonomia, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), COVID or Long COVID, Small Nerve Fiber Damage, and the list goes on. For those of you who need a lot of sodium, a client recently told me about LMNT. This electrolyte powder contains 1,000mg of salt. It takes good even with all that salt! There are other powders with less salt, such as Ultima and Nuun, but be careful if Stevia bothers your stomach. Find electrolyte drinks and powders that have the purest ingredients. It’s important to talk with your doctor about the ingredients. If you have high blood pressure, you do not want too much salt intake. If you have diabetes, you want to refrain from sugar. Here are some great recipes to make your own electrolyte drinks!
As you Fall into wellness, most importantly, don't forget to not just nourish your body, but yourself with love and kindness. Open your heart to yourself and feel its healing energies.