Although we have decided that January 1 is the start of a new year, many cultures have and do celebrate the beginning of Spring as the true new year. It makes sense: On January 1st, we are still in the doldrums of a Canadian winter, making resolutions harder to stick to. Why not choose April 1 as a start date for your commitment to a healthier and happier you instead? With the longer days and better weather, you may be better able to stick to that new exercise routine or dietary change. It is also a great time to get rid of leftover holiday treats and junk foods in your cupboards and fill your fridge with delicious spring fruits and vegetables such as asparagus or baby lettuces. Many people choose Spring as a good time to do a “cleanse”, cutting out alcohol and processed and sugary foods and replacing them with whole foods and water. Some choose a prepackaged cleanse product to support their efforts: make sure to read the label for ingredients you may be allergic to, and assess the dietary suggestions to ensure you are getting enough nutrition to support your cleanse. Research has shown that 7-10 day cleanses are not sufficient to change most chronic health problems: three weeks is usually the minimum time needed to see results that will last, and to change unhealthy habits over the long term.  Most people will feel some discomfort at the beginning of a cleanse: common symptoms are headache, morning nausea, bowel changes,  flu-like symptoms such as aches, mild fever and fatigue, and food cravings, especially for sugar or junk food. However, consult your naturopathic doctor if these symptoms persist for more than one week, as they may be indications that a given cleanse is not right for you.

In the Traditional Chinese Medicine system, Spring is a time for the element Earth, and its associated organ, the Stomach. Efforts to improve your diet will have most success at this time, as the Earth element holds dominance over the other organs of the body. Earth is also associated with emotional states of tranquility (if healthy) and anxiety/ungroundedness if unhealthy. Therefore Spring is also a good time to work on removing those elements of your life or thought patterns which cause you the most anxiety or stress. Acupuncture and cognitive therapies are both effective at reducing anxiety, as are specific herbal formulas and homeopathics available from your ND.

Why not make this Spring a New Year for your health?