One of the most prominent Ayurvedic doctors in the nation, Dr. Nancy Lonsdorf has a private practice in integrative medicine and Ayurveda, including Wellness Consultations by phone, and teaches Maharishi AyurVeda® in affiliation with the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine and the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Center for Integrative Medicine.

Ever notice that around the equinox, at the end of March, you may feel a little “off,” fatigued, less hungry, or even sense a subtle “flow” in your system? Good!

Maharishi AyurVeda explains that ama or impurities deep in the body begin to loosen and “flow” out at this time of year, not unlike how the snow on a mountain melts and begins to trickle down towards the plains.

It’s spring, and your body knows it! According to timeless Ayurvedic wisdom, these bodily shifts are nature’s version of “spring cleaning”—and we can take advantage of this innate cycle by adjusting our diet and lifestyle during this time.

How Our Genes Express Themselves Seasonally

This is more than simply an interesting idea. A landmark study published in Nature Communications validates that our genes themselves change expression depending on the season: over 5,000 genes—nearly 25 percent of those tested—vary seasonally.

As a result, for example, inflammatory tendencies are greater in the winter, while immunity is stronger in the summer—ever notice how rarely you get a July cold?

Very likely we are now only a few years away from “discovering” in a future study that the genes that enhance detoxification and elimination are especially active every spring, validating Ayurvedic wisdom yet again.

So what should you do now in light of this fascinating and important fact of your seismic seasonal genomic shift? Take advantage of it!

6 Quick Tips to Detox Now!

Here are your Quick Detox Tips* for 2017. Do them now while your detox genes are up and ready. Six weeks is ideal, but even a week or two will make a big difference. After all, Spring has sprung!

1. Drink half a cup of boiled, warm/hot spring water every hour until 6:00 p.m.

2.  Add fresh ginger root to your daily diet. A thin slice with a dash of rock salt and lemon before each meal will stoke your detox fire.

3.  Avoid or reduce cheese, yogurt (except as lassi, a fresh yogurt drink; see recipe below), cold drinks and foods like ice cream and other frozen desserts, red meat, chocolate, sugar, and alcohol.

4. Include these detox enhancers in your daily diet, ideally in each meal:

• turmeric powder, an amazing detox enhancer

• coriander, which supports liver detox enzymes

• hot water

• fresh probiotic sources, such as homemade lassi or kefir

• fresh, steamed or sautéed greens, such as chard, kale, dandelion, mustard

5. Follow your body’s inclination for more rest, which itself aids detox. Go to bed early and be regular in your twice-daily practice of the Transcendental Meditation® (TM) technique.

6.  Finally, spend time with family, friends, and favorite hobbies, and give yourself permission to laze around. This will also help mellow out any accompanying emotional detox.

Enjoy this Spring with a naturally uplifted body, mind, and spirit!

Detox and Digestive Lassi

• 1/2 cup of fresh, plain nonfat yogurt (ideally made fresh at home the night before)
• 1 cup of water
• 1 pinch of rock salt
• 1 pinch of black pepper
• 1 pinch of cumin powder (lightly toasted in a dry pan on the stove is ideal)
• mint leaves or cilantro, finely chopped
• Blend all ingredients, and drink with your meal.

*If you have a health condition or take medication, please consult your physician before adopting any new dietary recommendations. Although unlikely, if any discomfort occurs, stop the above recommendations.

For more information on Dr. Lonsdorf’s practice, visit www.drlonsdorf.com. To schedule an Ayurvedic Wellness Consultation by phone or teleconference, please contact Dr. Lonsdorf’s office at 641-469-3174 or healthoffice@drlonsdorf.com.

Copyright 2017, Nancy K. Lonsdorf, M.D. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without written permission of the author.