How to Reclaim Your Health This Spring

March 22, 2018 By Sarah WhiteNo Comments

Spring is the perfect time to make changes to better yourself and your health. Warmer weather is just around the corner and these are my favourite tips to help my patients to reclaim their health this spring:

Do a Mental Spring Cleaning: The start of a new season gives you the opportunity to clear your mind, eliminate bad habits and start creating the life you want. Start meditating, spend 10 minutes in nature every day, or start a journalling ritual (you can get my favourite journal here). This spring I challenge you to do more activities that nourish your brain – read a new book, visit an art gallery, or learn a new language.
Eat Seasonal Spring Fruits & Veg: Spring is an excellent time to conduct a diet audit and see which areas can be improved. It’s important to change your diet seasonally for optimal digestion and immune function. Our ancestors didn’t have access to fruits and vegetables from all over the world and had to eat only what was local and in season. This seasonal diversity reduces your chances of developing food sensitivities because your digestive tract and immune system are meant to encounter a variety of different foods throughout the year. The following produce will be at it’s freshest this spring, try and purchase Ontario-grown as often as possible: Asparagus, Beets, Cabbage, Carrots, Cucumber, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Onions, Parsnips, Peppers, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabaga, Spinach, Sprouts, Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Rhubarb and Strawberries.
Check-in with your Naturopathic doctor: Studies show that 50% of adults experience changes to their health throughout the change in seasons. Common complaints include more frequent headaches, joint pain, tiredness, and cold and flu symptoms. There are even some diseases, including autoimmune diseases and some forms of cancer (specifically breast and prostate) that are worsened by, and more commonly diagnosed, in the springtime. This makes spring an excellent time to audit your health in order to ensure that you’re happy and healthy while transitioning between seasons. Get a jump start on your overall health and wellness by checking in with your Naturopathic doctor. Periodic preventative ‘well-exams’ gives you the opportunity to learn more about beneficial health habits as well as an overall view of the best ways to take care of yourself and your family through the upcoming season. Your Naturopathic doctor can assess your immune status, help you prepare for the upcoming allergy season and may even recommend a medically supported seasonal detox.
Start an Exercise Routine: The weather is finally warming up and the days are longer, which makes spring the perfect time to start a new outdoor exercise routine. I recommend that my patients walk, run or jog outdoors for at least 30 minutes daily. Do whatever you need to do to make exercise something you’d enjoy: download a new audiobook, treat yourself to a new pair of sneakers or purchase a piece of wearable technology that can record your exercise time (aim for at least 10,000 steps daily).
Spring Clean Your Home: Resetting your health this season doesn’t have to be an overwhelming journey. Health simply means coming back to who you really are, and a big part of that is returning to nature. Houseplants are my favourite way to reconnect with Mother Earth and as a bonus they actually clean the air in your home. Studies show that plants can also boost your immune system (key this time of year), increase happiness, & promote healing. We’re obviously partial to the beautiful monstera plant pictured above.
Get an Energy Tune-up with Acupuncture: Acupuncture can help ensure the smooth flow of energy throughout the body during the change of season. According to Chinese medicine, the spring influences the health of your liver and gall bladder. If these organ systems are unbalanced, it can be reflected in what we feel in our bodies as springtime arrives. Your physical symptoms are your body’s way of communicating with you, giving you constant information about what’s going on in your health. Physical symptoms that arise through the change of seasons are a reflection of our own internal energy. Here are some common Chinese Medicine Liver-related symptoms: headaches, elevated blood pressure, mood swings (liver maintains the smooth unimpeded flow of emotions), eye problems and digestive issues. Using acupuncture to balance and support the liver and gall bladder during the spring will benefit the entire body and set you up with a strong foundation for health for the upcoming season.