Spring Alkaline Eating for Vitality
Spring is upon us: Flowers are blooming. April Showers sprinkle us with rain water, and along with the buds and blooms-- Seasonal allergies accompany the changes in season. Just as all five seasons have certain chakra and organ functionalities, with such knowledge and implementation can enhance your energy, vitality, and longevity. With the emergence of Spring, also lends itself to more susceptibility to inflammation. Alkaline eating elevates to a front row seat!
As the temperatures increase, so does the addition to raw foods and vegetables: Cold weather= hot/cooked foods; Hot weather= raw foods. This is a direct correlation to ‘Ying and Yang’ in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In addition, as the sun is warmer on your skin, thus the detoxification focus points to your liver and allowing it to clean—just like ‘spring house cleaning’—clean the house of your body.
So let’s delve into this time of renewal and detoxification, particularly in the realm of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In TCM, spring is closely associated with the liver, making it essential to focus on foods that promote liver health and support the body’s natural detoxification processes. Incorporating alkaline foods into your diet during this season can significantly enhance your well-being.
Alkaline Foods for Spring: Foundational Foods to Nourish your Liver
1. Leafy Greens
Examples: Spinach, kale, arugula, and Swiss chard.
Benefits: These greens are rich in nutrients that promote liver health, helping to detoxify and rejuvenate the body.
2. Cruciferous Vegetables
Examples: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage.
Benefits: Known for their detoxification
3. Spring Onions and Garlic
Benefits: Both spring onions and garlic assist in cleansing the liver and improving circulation, making them powerful allies in liver health.
Sinus/Allergy Tip: Use two large-size cloves
4. The “A” List Vegetables: Asparagus, Artichokes, Avocados:
Benefits: Asparagus is recognized for its diuretic properties, aiding in detoxification and promoting kidney health.
Benefits: Artichokes support liver function and digestion, making them a great addition to your spring diet.
Benefits: High in healthy fats and nutrients, avocados support liver health and aid in the production of glutathione, a compound essential for detoxification.
5. Fruits—SPRING is FRUIT TIME—Take your ‘pick’—Pun is intended and try going to a patch to pick your own!
Examples: Lemons, limes, apples, and pears.
Benefits: These fruits provide hydration and essential vitamins while supporting liver detoxification.
Grapefruit Benefits: Packed with antioxidants like naringenin and naringin, grapefruit may help protect the liver and enhance fat burning.
Berries Examples: Blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries.
Benefits: These fruits are loaded with antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and protect liver cells.
Pineapple Benefits: Contains bromelain, an enzyme that aids digestion and may reduce inflammation in the liver.
Papaya Benefits: Rich in enzymes and antioxidants, papaya supports liver health and aids digestion.
Watermelon Benefits: High in water content, watermelon helps hydrate the body while supporting kidney and liver function.
Apples Benefits: Apples are rich in pectin, which helps cleanse the digestive tract and support liver function. The peelings are filled with Vitamin C.
TIP: Remember to eat fruits as stand ‘alones’—Reference: Blog on Food Combining.
6. Sprouts
Just as seeds sprout up from the ground— So your body will enjoy these sprouts for new life in you.
Examples: Alfalfa, mung bean, and broccoli sprouts.
Benefits: High in nutrients and enzymes, sprouts aid digestion and enhance detoxification processes.
7. Nuts and Seeds
Examples: Almonds, walnuts, and flaxseeds.
Benefits: These foods provide healthy fats and support overall health, including liver function, and allow the bile ducts to clean.
Incorporating these alkaline foods into your diet during spring not only promotes liver health but also enhances your body’s natural detoxification processes. Aligning your eating habits with the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine can lead to improved vitality and well-being. Embrace the season of renewal by nourishing and re-vitalizing your body with these beneficial foods.