Spring Clean Light and Green

Not quite a traditional Easter message but look as you already know health isn't just about nutrition and nutrition isn't just about food. You probably already know this of course - it's about fresh air clean fresh air that's a challenge in the current climate, exercise, sleep, avoiding toxins and getting enough sunlight and enough darkness at the right time. Health is also about social interaction leisure time, having meaningful creative soul nourishing pursuits.

Being clean isn't simply about eating organic food that hasn't been sprayed by pesticides hasn't been injected with synthetic hormones and hasn't been fed antibiotics.

However, sadly most plant crops these days are treated with pesticides and weed killers and insecticides. Cows and pigs often injected with synthetic hormones to improve growth, which isn't allowed by the EU but in the UK at least 30% of our meat is imported from other countries where these practises are allowed. And unfortunately, that percentage is rising when if we are being mindful of reducing food miles and sustainability and local produce it should really be falling.

That why I personally support Riverford organics its about ethics and ethos – making a positive impact through organic farming, as local as possible. From thoughtful packaging to charity partnerships, modern slavery to equal pay, their heart and soul is with families of growers and makers. In essence, they are deeply connected with sustainability and the earth we inhabit, as well as real people not just faceless shareholders and profit. Here are some fantastic spring recipes to try from the Riverford kitchen - I'm making broad bean hummus and quinoa falafals and a Vegan Orange, Chocolate & Olive Oil Torte check out my recipes if you want to give this one ago

Unfortunately, many of the antibiotics used in husbandry are creating risky antibiotic infections in the animals themselves so guess what happens if we're eating them.

When xenobiotics (things that are foreign to the body) Get into the body they can wreak havoc upsetting neuroendocrine function, digestion, and absorption, add to that the stresses of modern day overworking, over training, overthinking you end up using nutrients very fast especially B vitamins vitamin C and magnesium.

Of course, real food doesn't come in a tin or in a plastic package and doesn't need an ingredients list.

However, many of us need to carry it around a magnifying glass to read all the vast lists of ingredients in things these days. There is no exception when you go to the chemist or the supermarket where toiletries appeared to be full of toxic ingredients that can then go into your body through your skin.

Even in health food shops the latest herbal shampoo may contain some extracts but also some harsh chemicals too, the same goes for the healthy protein bar that's loaded with sugar. If a label says free from artificial flavourings and colourings.

That's not the end of the story you need to check it out look and learn and know more about the ingredients that go into many of the products we consume and apply.

Hoorah!! The energy is rising the morning and evenings are getting lighter time to come out of hibernation and start afresh. Now is a great time for a body reset and get your metabolic mojo in order. THINK GREEN THINK CLEAN

This is a great time to think about taking care of that winter waistline that may have gone up a few notches over the winter. More activity, checking in on the fasting regime that accompanies this time of year provides a great opportunity to indulge in a prolonged fast to lighten the load. A few fresh greens juices, more sunlight for Vitamin D the happy hormone stimulator. You can request a vitamin D test from me here if you’re interested in finding out what your current status is. It comes with a free Vitamin D spray just for good measure - put Vitamin D request in the subject header.

This should also be a time for spring cleaning YOUR GUT NOT YOUR HOUSE since you only have one body to live in and one ecosystem that you have most control over.

The reason I mention the physical body and not the house in relation to cleaning is an important one. Just think all those chemical furniture polish laundry cleaners, detergents, disinfectants and how harmful they may be to your body. The degree of accumulation over time i.e toxic exposure may well be absorbed by the skin. In some cases, they may be more toxic than aerosols.

There is mounting evidence that our obsession with cleaning everything to death, literally is making our kids more vulnerable to all sorts of allergies and our immune systems are definitely NOT thanking us.

Here's my latest recommendation for improving your gut microbiome ION from Dr Zach Bush 

Take home Tips for Spring

• Rise early get natural light into the eyes take a moment to meditate think - Mental health gratitude check-in

• At least 500ml filtered water room temperature water in the morning to hydrate the body after overnight fast (add some electrolytes or pinch of Himalayan Sea salt if required.

• Spring clean your GUT – prolonged 5 day fasting mimicking diet or one -2 day fast for a metabolic body reset.

• Activity – get moving extended walking, Yoga, swimming whatever you enjoy most

• Waistline – body composition balance – reduce or cut back on empty calories bread, pasta snacks, processed food and sugar – include healthy spring greens, leeks, asparagus, hemp seed

• Sprout some seeds on windowsill in jars - new energy is in the air and alfalfa, radish, sunflower are full of fibre prebiotics B-Group vitamins and minerals

Here’s to a cleaner greener lighter YOU and do let us know what your favourite Spring Cleaning Tips are…

Best in Optimised Health

Don