Why a Seasonal Detox is Just What You Need to Feel Good

Seasonal detox. When you think of that concept, you might imagine a grueling schedule of deprivation and discipline, cravings for all things naughty and that feeling of ‘FOMO’ (fear of missing out).

OK, so you might not be able to join the party for a few days, but the benefits of seasonal detox are very real―crucial, in fact.

The truth is that if we don’t give our bodies a much-needed break now and then, they start to function like poorly oiled machines; in other words, they malfunction.

If we want to aim for the holy grail of homeostasis all year round, then it makes sense to commit to a seasonal detox or two, at the very least.

Let’s take a look at how and why a seasonal detox can literally ‘sort your life out’.

How many times a year should you do a seasonal detox?

There are no hard and fast rules here.

However, if you want to be your best self―physically and mentally (the two are intrinsically linked, by the way)―commit to at least two proper detoxes a year.

Since detoxification is a natural daily process for your body, you should be aiming to help it with this process, not burden it with excesses and junk and leaving it to fend for itself.

If you don’t want your precious body to grind to a sorry halt, why not plan a spring and autumn detox?

Metaphorically speaking, these seasons represent shedding and renewal. So it makes sense to want the same for your body’s all-important cells.

Why spring and autumn? Well, those are the milder seasons so getting yourself in tip-top shape at this time prepares your body for the seasons that take more of a toll on it.

Holiday season parties and chilly temperatures are one thing; extreme summer heat is another.

Give yourself a fighting chance of sailing through those seasons by having a good inner cleanout ahead of time.

The best ways to do a seasonal detox

The good news is that a seasonal detox doesn’t have to be as complicated as it might seem.

Granted, you can’t pour beers down your neck, you might get a little caffeine withdrawal, and you might have to suffer a few chocolate cravings… but that’s about the worst of it.

Here are some sensible seasonal detox guidelines for starters: 

1. Drink plenty of purified water―at least two liters per day. Distilled water is best, followed by reverse osmosis water.

2. Eat plenty of seasonal fruits and vegetables, all organic and ideally from a local source. Alkalizing (green) vegetables are particularly helpful, and the more you eat raw, the better.

Head for the supermarket and grab yourself some kale, broccoli, spinach, rocket, celery, and lettuce.

3. Lower acidity levels by staying away from acidic foodstuffs like coffee, soda drinks, dairy and processed meats.

Steering clear of animal products during this time is wise

A vegan, plant-based diet is a detox in itself, and no… it won’t kill you!

4. Introduce some superfoods into your diet, perhaps through a healthy morning smoothie or do a smoothie-only detox if you want to push the boat out!

Spirulina, wheatgrass, chlorella, maca root, turmeric, raw cacao and ashwagandha are excellent sources of nutrition and will help your body to flush out the debris.

5. Steer clear of processed, pre-packaged foods and ready meals, wheat, gluten, refined sugar and salt.

Prepare everything from scratch to avoid nasty additives. When you know what’s in your food, you’ve got control over your own body.

6. Try to cook without oils if possible―even raw, cold-pressed oils. This is because when your blood is thinner, it is better able to detox.

In other words, low fat is better during this time.

7. If you have the option to sweat out your sins in a sauna, do it.

This will help your lymph system as some of the toxins will be able to exit via your skin.

You might want to warn the person next to you, depending on what you’ve been up to!

How long should your seasonal detox be?

Generally speaking, the longer you do a detox for, the better. Note that you may feel a little rough as your body starts to spit out accumulated toxins.

If your body is processing a heavy load, you may suffer from the Herxheimer reaction (healing crisis).

This can make you feel quite ill, so you’ll perhaps need to slow down a little… but keep going at a pace your body can handle.

If you’re only going to do a couple of seasonal detoxes a year, two weeks is a good timeframe.

This way you’ll get a deeper cleanse and feel more of the benefits for longer.

If you really can’t stomach that idea, commit to just a week.

However, if you’re prepared to do detoxes more regularly, you can do them for three days at a time. It’s better than nothing.

What are the benefits of a seasonal detox?

Where to start? Cleansing is cleansing, so you’re bound to feel better after a few days.

Here are some specific benefits of having a seasonal detox:

• Smaller waist line… bye-bye flab!

• Lower blood cholesterol and total triglycerides

• Stabilised blood sugar (fewer junk food cravings)

• Lower blood pressure

• Glowing, hydrated skin

• Stable, happier moods

• Heightened energy levels

• More restful sleep

One of the best things about seasonal detox is that when you feel this good, it’s easier to make aspects of your protocol habitual.

Maybe you’ll swap the sludgy tap water for purified water.

Maybe you’ll ditch the processed meats and eat more clean vegetables than you did before.

This way, if you do fall off the wagon (so to speak), you’ll recover more quickly anyway.

Lastly, lymphatic drainage massage can be a big help, and watch where your thoughts are going.

While you expel the results of your physical misdemeanors, it’s a great time to let go of self-limiting thoughts and beliefs.

The same goes for negative and heavy emotions like anger, resentment and sadness.

Detoxing on all levels will have you feeling like a new person through and through, so here’s our prescription: go all in with your seasonal detox and see what you’re really capable of.

Don’t forget to check out our other articles on proper diet tips to stay healthy!