Spring Detox: How To Refresh Your Mental And Physical Health This Spring
Every spring, many people take cues from nature to start anew with healthier habits. Spring tends to represent a time of new beginnings, which can be an ideal time to make lifestyle changes that enhance both mental and physical health. This process can involve adding or eliminating certain habits from one’s routines. Keep reading to learn more about spring detox ideas for making positive changes this season.
What is spring detox?
A spring detox can look different for each person. Some people choose to focus on finding more balance in their eating patterns or using better weather to get outside and exercise more. Other people might aim to eliminate a habit they find unhelpful on their health journey, like drinking alcohol or smoking. Still others plan to cultivate habits that can positively influence mental health, like adopting a meditation practice or getting involved in their community. Cleaning one’s home and getting rid of excess clutter can also be part of a person’s spring detox practice.
A spring detox for nutrition: about the natural detoxification process
The body already has a natural detoxification process in place. By limiting or removing certain foods from their regular eating habits, individuals may be able to support their body’s natural detoxification response.
Specifically, the liver and kidneys play important roles in eliminating waste materials that the body stores (toxins). The liver secretes bile, which carries waste away in addition to clearing drugs and other substances from the blood. To help improve liver function, eating plenty of fiber and healthy fats (avocados, nuts, olive oil, etc.) can be helpful for many people, as can limiting alcohol and not smoking.
The kidneys filter the blood and remove waste, extra fluid, and acid that the body’s cells produce. To protect the kidneys, it may support optimal health to regularly drink enough water, maintain a healthy body weight for you, and check with your doctor before taking vitamins or supplements, some of which may harm kidney health over the long term.
Ultra-processed foods, pesticides, and other potential toxins to consider addressing
When possible, it can also help to aim to reduce or eliminate toxins in the foods one eats as much as possible. Ultra-processed foods can contain oils, additives, and dyes that may be harmful to health, especially in large quantities.
Toxins can also come from pesticides, which are used in some foods more than in others. Organic foods tend to have fewer pesticides, though it may be important to research what some companies mean by “organic.” Some labels may be misleading. That said, fresh fruit and vegetables that are organic are often more expensive and, in some cases, cost-prohibitive. You may be able to reduce the pesticides in fresh produce by washing items thoroughly and cooking them when possible. If you can buy some items organic, you might focus on those that tend to have the most pesticides or on buying non-organic foods that tend to have the lowest amount of pesticides.
Getting more exercise this spring
Exercise may also help flush toxins out of the body—such as by reducing inflammation, which can help the body’s detox mechanism work appropriately. In many places in the northern hemisphere, the weather starts to improve during spring. This can bring new opportunities to engage in outdoor forms of exercise that allow the additional benefit of getting fresh air, such as biking, hiking, taking walks, or swimming. Setting realistic goals for your exercise habits this spring may be a helpful addition to a detox plan.
Spring detox strategies for mental health
A spring detox plan can also involve actions to improve mental health. Some strategies for a mental health detox can include:
- Taking a break from social media and/or setting limits on screen use
- Considering whether you're setting healthy boundaries and speaking up for your needs in relationships
- Practicing mindfulness to become more aware of tension in your body or distress in your thoughts
- Making it a habit to spend more time in nature
- Clearing out your email inbox and unsubscribing from unnecessary emails that aren’t helpful to you
- Cultivating a regular gratitude practice
How a mental health professional may help with a spring detox
If you’re feeling the need to refresh your mental health or cultivate more positive habits this spring, you might find it useful to speak with a mental health professional. A licensed therapist can help you identify and address habits that might not be helping you, and they can support you in cultivating new skills for things like stress management and mindfulness.
Online therapy during a spring detox
Some people may not have time to commute to and from traditional in-person therapy sessions. Others might live in an area with few therapists. In such cases, there is still help available through online therapy. With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, individuals can speak with a therapist remotely via phone, video, in-app messaging, or a combination of these methods. Also, BetterHelp allows individuals to reach out to their therapist at any time via in-app messaging, and their therapist will respond as soon as they can.
In addition to offering convenience, research suggests that online therapy can also be highly effective in many cases. For example, one study suggests that online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be effective for treating symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, depression, panic disorder, and substance use disorder, among others.
Keep in mind that it isn't necessary to have signs of a mental illness to benefit from therapy. Therapists can also help people change their habits, improve their self-talk, strengthen their relationships, or navigate major life changes.
Takeaway
How does exercise help with the natural detoxification process?
Exercise can help with the detoxification process by forcing one to breathe deeply and exhale carbon dioxide. Exercise may also help with a spring cleanse in terms of mental health by reducing stress and increasing endorphins, or feel-good hormones.
What types of toxins are in processed foods?
Processed foods can include a number of toxins. Nitrates are one example. Sodium nitrate is often used in processed meats, including bacon, frankfurters, and lunch meats. Research suggests that people who eat more meat of this type may have a greater risk of cancer of the digestive system (digestive tract), such as stomach and colon cancer.
How can a spring detox improve mental health?
A spring detox may help you evaluate which activities and relationships might be helping or hurting your mental health. This process could help you cut back on or adjust anything that’s not helping you grow on your mental health journey.
What are some good beverages to drink during spring detox?
While water alone can help the body in numerous ways, you may be looking for additional beverages to try during a spring detox. Some may find that they feel better when they regularly drink green tea, herbal tea, or warm water with fresh lemon juice.
How can you detox your lymphatic system?
One way to detox your lymphatic system may be to engage in regular exercise. It can also help to drink plenty of water to push waste and toxins out of the body.
Why do people detox in spring?
People often try detoxes in the spring season because they start to feel better as the weather improves, and want to commit to good health. Some people follow a spring detox guide, which might recommend certain whole foods, Chinese medicine practices, tai chi, Epsom salts, avoiding fast food, lavender oil, and other detox methods for a stronger immune system.
Many of these methods may not be medically backed up. Talk to your doctor before trying a detox, especially if it includes certain herbs or supplements, such as nettle leaf, dandelion root, dandelion greens, burdock root, leafy greens, and other herbs. If you have any allergies, be careful with the products you use, as they may cause skin problems, bad breath, hives over your entire body, or allergy symptoms.
The BetterHelp platform is not intended to provide any information regarding which medication or medical treatment may be appropriate for you. The content provides generalized information that is not specific to one individual. Do not take any action without consulting a qualified medical professional.
What does your body go through when you detox?
Your body can react differently to a detox, depending on the type you try. For example, a fasting detox might cause bad breath, dizziness, and bloating. Just using a more physical detox like spiritual medicine, tai chi, massage, or acupuncture may have more subtle symptoms, such as muscle soreness, headaches, or a lighter feeling in the body. Contact a doctor immediately if you notice any concerning symptoms, such as shallow breathing, fever, a lack of quality sleep, hives, or severe pain. If you’ve applied a product to your skin, like a lotion, that you’re allergic to, wash your skin with hot water and a skin brush to remove the product and reach out for medical attention if you get hives, redness, or swelling.
How do I know toxins are leaving my body?
Without medical tests with a doctor, you can never know for sure if toxins are leaving your body. However, there may be some signs, such as peeing more often, darker urine, better sleep, and a loss of fatigue. Talk to your doctor to learn more about toxins and how they are absorbed and released from the body.
How do you remove dirty thoughts from your mind?
Detoxes are often mental as well as physical. One way to “detox” your mind is to practice deep breathing and focus on observing your thoughts as they come without judging them. You can then let them pass through your head. Let them come back if they do, but try not to continue dwelling on them. Consider them like a few drops of water in a pool of thoughts that contribute to the whole pool but are not the entire picture, even if they seem like it in the moment.
How do you do a mind detox?
A mind detox can be done in many ways. Mindfulness is a common practice for reducing negative thoughts. This process involves looking at your sensory awareness in the present moment and avoiding judgment or labeling about your thoughts, sensations, or feelings. By practicing mindfulness, you may reduce rumination and refresh your body and mind simultaneously.
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