Spring - A Fresh Start

Spring has arrived; we can see it in the longer days, feel it in the warming temperatures and for some, experience it in the onset of seasonal allergies (sneezing attacks anyone?).

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), spring represents the yang within the yin; it is the seed of yang sprouting. In other words, spring is the light and warmth transitioning out of the darkness and heaviness of winter. While winter is a time for introspection, for slowing down and for conserving energy, spring is for cleansing, rejuvenation and new beginnings. It is a time to take advantage of the warmer weather, the longer days and the energy of motivation that comes along with this season.

TCM correlates spring with the liver which is considered to be the organ that houses our passion and creativity and that is responsible for organization and strategic planning. This makes spring the ultimate time to start working towards our goals and to begin sprouting and moving forward with new plans and ideas. Like a deep spring clean, now is a great time to focus on positive change and to clean up or eliminate material things, relationships, people, old habits or thought patterns that might be holding us back from being able to grow. In TCM, each season is also represented by an element of nature; spring is represented by the wood element. Think of wood as a new tree beginning to grow - it is strong yet flexible. We must learn to cultivate a balance between strategizing and executing our plans while being flexible when roadblocks arise and when things don't necessarily go as planned.

Nutrition-wise, now is when we want to focus on cleansing and supporting the liver. This is the ideal time to abstain from - or at the very least minimize - toxins in our diet and lifestyle. This includes deep fried or extremely fatty foods (especially low quality fats and oils), poor quality meats, sugar, white flour and other highly processed foods, pesticides, chemical preservatives, and artificial colourings as well as alcohol and other intoxicants, household chemicals and chemical products that we regularly put on our bodies. These things all put extra stress on the liver and keep it from doing its job effectively. It also helps to avoid overeating, to eat slow and mindfully and to stay hydrated. Consider adding lemon to your water; lemon is great for the liver and sour is the taste that TCM correlates with liver, wood and spring.

Begin to incorporate more fresh and raw into your diet. With the warmer temperatures, our digestive fire is also starting to increase and we intuitively shift away from a diet that consists of mainly cooked and warm foods. Bring in more light greens, sprouts, salads and smoothies and take advantage of the fresh food that's becoming more widely available, with an emphasis on foods that are locally grown when possible.

Lastly, the liver is said to be responsible for the smooth flow of qi (or energy) throughout the body. This action affects all of the other organs in a very direct way. A smooth functioning liver is the foundation for all else running smoothly in the body - both physically and emotionally speaking. Along with supporting the liver, one of the best ways to maintain this smooth flow of qi and to prevent stagnation is through movement. Now is an especially important time to incorporate some form of movement into your everyday life. Even better, get out and move outdoors! Spend time around the sprouting flowers and the new greenery, because incase you hadn't guessed it, green is the colour associated with spring in TCM.

Need some help getting motivated for spring? Interested in learning more about how to support your liver with nutrition or in doing a spring cleanse or detox the healthy way? Want some quick and simple recipes or a complete spring meal plan? Lets work together! Shoot me an email at info@wholehealingnutrition.com or book here. I'd love to work with you to support your body through this season and to help create a healthy foundation moving forward into summer.