Bring in Spring With Postive Health Changes
By Holly Johnson
From the April 2006
Issue of Applaud Magazine

With spring right around the corner, many of us find ourselves in a better mood as we look forward to warmer weather and longer days. We naturally become more motivated to look at things that need to be done and start formulating our lists. Usually these lists consist of tasks like washing windows, swapping out wardrobes, and yard clean up...sound familiar? How about considering making some positive changes to your internal house this coming spring? Spring Cleaning In our every day life, we tend to hold onto “stuff” year after year. We save, keep and eventually stock up on things we really don’t know what to do with anymore. Maybe we keep things because they hold precious memories of days gone by, or they remind us of our parents, grandparents, past loves or childhood. To part with these precious possessions seems out of the question. There is a saying that goes, “You have to get rid of the old to make way for the new.” Keeping this in mind can be very freeing. As a measure of good health, both of our “houses” need to be spring-cleaned: our physical body and our dwelling. Just as we accumulate “stuff” in the form of outgrown clothes, magazines, rusty bicycles, tools, etc., our bodies store unwanted toxins that we no longer need. To clean out your body, try giving it a break from rich or complicated food by either cleansing or fasting for a period of time. Cleansing means paring down what you are eating to simple foods like fruits, vegetables, lots of water and perhaps whole grains. Fasting means giving your body a chance to rid itself of anything old and unnecessary by limiting most foods, drinking lots of water, fresh vegetable and fruit juices, teas and soups. Without most of your energy going towards digestion, more energy is available to the rest of you. Cleansing and fasting can have significant effects on both the body and the mind: it can sharpen concentration, help you gain insight into the nature of the mind, and even develop spiritual awareness. While you’re giving thought to cleaning out your body, home and mind – don’t forget to spring clean your heart. Throw away those negative thoughts and habits that you’ve been harboring that no longer serve you. A clean heart will allow you to receive all the good that awaits you each and every day. If you are full to the brim, there is no room for life’s gifts and surprises to enter in. Food Focus: Greens Leafy Greens are one of the greatest groups of vegetables to incorporate into your daily routine. Containing a highly packed punch of energy, nutrients and health-supportive benefits, they grow upwards towards the sky, absorbing the sun’s light while producing oxygen. The members of this royal green family are kale, collard greens, swiss chard, mustard greens, arugula, dandelion greens, broccoli rabe, watercress, beet greens, bok choy, nappa cabbage, red or green cabbage, spinach and broccoli. How do they benefit our bodies? Green is associated with spring – a time of renewal and refreshing, vital energy. In oriental medicine green is related to the liver, emotional stability and creativity. Nutritionally, greens are very high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous and zinc, and are a powerhouse for vitamins A, C, E and K. In addition, they are crammed full of fiber, folic acid, chlorophyll, and many other micronutrients and phytochemicals. Greens aid in purifying blood, strengthening the immune system, improving liver, gall bladder and kidney function, fighting depression, clearing congestion, improving circulation and keeping your skin clear and blemish free. Holly Johnson is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and is a Board Certified Holistic Health Counselor through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. Holly has a private health counseling practice with an office at Full Spectrum Wellness in Manchester where she works with clients on weight management, eating for energy, and creating a healthy lifestyle. For more information on how you can create a personalized eating plan that keeps you balanced and full, please contact Holly at 603-296-0830 X3. You can also learn more about Holly and her specific programs by going to www.healthypursuits.net.