Spring has officially sprung, and that means it’s time to ditch the heavy winter meals (and extra pounds) and spring clean your diet routine.
 
Winter time is notorious for giving us the blues and dragging down energy levels. Not only do the frigid temps keep us bundled up on the couch instead of enjoying active lifestyles outdoors, but fewer hours of sunlight mean less Vitamin D and a melancholy mood.
 
Plus, holiday “comfort food” can take its toll in the form of, um, a little extra padding. Did you know that on average, we gain 1 pound every year? And never LOSE it! Whether you need to fight those pesky pounds or just want to clean out your system with a nutrient-packed detox, I’ve put together a painless diet cleanse to help you spring clean your routine.
 
Spring is the best time to cleanse, but be careful – cleansing can be the healthiest thing you do for your body, or it can wreak absolute havoc. The key to cleansing is to make sure you load up on nutrients; you can do this by incorporating liquid superfood supplements into your cleanse. This gives your digestive system a rest, cleanses out the toxins, and does not deprive your body of nutrients, like many cleanses on the market today. This spring cleanse is designed to jump-start your metabolism and boost energy levels in a healthy way.
 
Detox with a Liquid Fast
For 1-2 days, replace your meals with a glass of Genesis Today Acai Berry Juice, Cranberry Goji Juice or Pomegranate & Berries with Resveratrol and mix in 1 oz. shots of Genesis Today pure liquid Noni100, Goji100 and Mangosteen100 and a scoop of 4Fiber. First thing when you wake up, drink a glass of water with fresh-squeezed organic lemons. Drink the lemon water throughout the day and between meals to curb appetite and cleanse the liver.
 
If you want to take the plunge and go for the 5 – 7 day cleanse and really give your body a good spring cleaning, follow my step-by-step instructions here.
 
Eat the Colors of the Rainbow
With spring comes many fresh fruits and veggies in a wide variety of naturally vibrant colors. When choosing colorful foods, look for things like fresh berries, melons, bell peppers and leafy greens; I like to make a “rainbow salad” and include a vegetable of every color. Eating a color-rich diet helps boost your nutrient intake, including antioxidants and vitamins which support healthy weight, skin, and energy levels.
 
Drink Smart
This concerns both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. While we know that many alcohol beverages are high in calories, many so-called “healthy” fruit juices are also extremely high in sugar. When choosing a drink, read the labels and be smart about your drink choices. Juices should be high in nutrients and vitamins – and not sugar laden or full of ingredients that you can’t pronounce. I recommend superfruit juices, which are loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Here are some key superfruits you should get to know:
 
• Acai: Known as the “Beauty Berry,” Acai comes from Brazil and is a potent superfood. It is traditionally known for supporting healthy hair, skin and nails—thus supporting a more beautiful appearance.
 
• Resveratrol: Ever heard of the “French Paradox”? This amazing compound can help slow aging by up to 30 percent! It’s also proven to support a healthy heart. You can find Resveratrol in pomegranates, grapes, wine and certain richly colored juices.
 
• Goji: The Goji berry comes from China where it is called “the happy berry,” which says it all, because this super fruit has been known to boost your mood!
 
Snack Smarter
Come this time of year, we have all eased the winter blues with a few too many potato chips or splurged on a sweet holiday snack around the office. But snacking isn’t always a bad thing; the key is to make smart snack choices. Spring cleaning your diet is really not about not eating—it’s about eating sensibly throughout the day so you don’t blow it on a huge splurge when you come home starving.
Make sure what you put in your body is worth the calories, so pick nutrient rich snacks like organic apples, carrots or low-calorie superfood chews loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. If you like to keep a jar of chocolates on your desk, switch them out each day with something healthy. Save those chocolates for only once a week.
 
Get the Body Sweating
Get out and get moving, try to get in at least 30 minutes of exercise, 5 days a week. When exercising make sure to support your cleanse with good hydration. You can always opt for natural spring water, alkaline water or to keep your energy up and your body in top shape, try drinking coconut water, which is lower-calorie than a sports drink and has even more electrolytes – best of all, it’s all-natural. My favorite kind of coconut water is one that is power packed with additional vitamins and nutrients like Genesis Today’s Coconut Boost.
 
As the seasons change, our bodies feel the most accustomed to making changes to our diet and exercise routine. So, kick off this season with a new, improved plan and add little spring in your step – and your diet!