cleanse Archives - Spring Integrative Health

New Year New You

Posted on December 30, 2019January 7, 2024 by Whitney Board

5 Nutrition tips for kicking off the new year right!

The number one question I get asked by my clients is “what is the BEST thing I can do to detox my body and start fresh for the new year?” After practicing nutrition and dietary counseling with hundreds of clients over the years, I always answer this the same way. Daily gentle detoxification is the best way to go. I’m all about gently upgrading your lifestyle to make these changes and dietary modifications a habit and part of your everyday.

As a holistic practitioner, I love tying in all things mind/body when it comes to detoxification. I have put together a list of my top 5 go-to lifestyle AND dietary upgrades that are simple to implement into your daily life, and are amazing for the body, for increasing energy and yes, for detox.

#1. CCF tea

If you are a client of mine, you have already heard me talk about this! Cumin, Coriander and Fennel tea is an ancient Ayurvedic recipe (over 3000 years old) and is a gentle and amazing liver detoxifier. This recipe tastes and smells a little bit like a ‘taco tea’ but I promise you will like it, and better yet, your body will crave it. This tea is known for igniting your digestive fires, supports a gentle yet effective flushing of toxins and can greatly reduce any digestive discomfort. This is a go-to for me every single morning.

Make it a part of your daily life: My best hack for making this a part of your daily life is to make this tea in your coffee cup, and make yourself DRINK this tea first, and reward yourself with a cup of coffee. I also love making this in a french press and keeping it near me though out the day so I see it and drink it all day!

#2. Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is an age old Ayurveda process, it works on the detoxifying the body and promoting its natural healing process. It is also amazing for cleaning and detoxify teeth and gums. Even better- it can actually whiten teeth naturally and freshen your breath.

Make it a part of your daily life: Upon waking (or stepping into the shower), take 1 Tablespoon of coconut oil (organic and unrefined is best) or organic sesame oil. For 5-20 minutes, swish through your teeth, as if it was mouthwash. Spit (in the garbage) and rinse mouth out with warm water. You can do this daily, or try adding this into your regular weekly morning routine.

#3. Declutter

You know that amazing feeling you get when you go through your closet drawers and pull out all of the old stuff creating space and better energy in your closet! The new year is a perfect time to do this. We of course LOVE all things Marie Kondo and her book ‘The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up,’ but if you haven’t read it, challenge yourself to go int your closet TODAY and pull out 10 things. You will be surprised how good it feels and how it creates space for new! And, you will be surprised how you just ‘feel better’ body/mind when you do something like this on a regular basis.

Make it a part of your daily life: My rule of thumb is if I buy a new article of clothing, I ditch something I currently have. So if I get a new sweater, I donate a sweater. Simple!

#4. Get Green

Greens have a magic way of supporting the body in a safe and effective detoxification process. The darker the greens, the more detoxifying to the liver and kidneys. But sometimes salads don’t sound all that good in the winter. That is why I love suggesting to make a morning Gregg juice. If you have a juicer, that is just fine (but takes a lot longer.) Try this blended green juice recipe. Unlike juicing, blending is much more filling because of the fiber content. I love fiber as it aids in digestion and supports elimination. Fiber also helps to fill you up! Don’t be afraid to mix up your ingredients to this recipe. You can try adding a scoop of protein powder, ground flaxseeds, chia seeds, and more to make them even more nutritious and more like a meal.

NourishMint’s Green Machine Juice Recipe (blended)

1 large green apple
1 cup kale or spinach
1/2 English cucumber
Juice of one lemon or lime, or 1-2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1” piece of ginger
1-2 stocks of celery

Water (cover all ingredients with filtered water)

2-3 Ice cubes

Make it a part of your daily life: Making a green juice every day doesn’t have to be a 30 minute endeavor. If you have your system in place it can be simple! Simple chop all ingredients and place in a bag or Tupperware the night before. In the morning pop into the blender, cover with water and enjoy!

#5. Tongue Scraping

This is a ritual that once you do it, you won’t want to stop! It clears toxins and bacteria from the tongue, eliminates bad breath, promotes oral and digestive health.

Make it a part of your daily life: Purchase a stainless steel tongue scraper. After brushing your teeth, gently scrape tongue 6-7 times until any plaque is removed. Rinse mouth with water or hydrogen peroxide.

Detoxification – Just What the Body Needs

Posted on June 10, 2019 by Whitney Board

By Jennifer Krieger, ND

Detoxification is a complex biochemical process that is designed to remove wastes and toxins and cleanse the body’s cells. People often ask: Can you actually detox your body? The main ways our bodies detox is through the liver and gastrointestinal tract. Everything that is put into our mouths (medications, food, drink, supplements, alcohol, junk food) will pass through the liver for elimination before being dispersed throughout the rest of the body. We are also exposed to environmental toxins on a daily basis – pesticides, herbicides, solvents, heavy metals, plastics, chemicals – through our water, air, soil and food supplies. In addition to these external environmental factors, our bodies will create free radicals through the internal metabolism of breakdown of hormones and various biochemical reactions as a means of life.

Wouldn’t you want to help out your body and give your liver a little extra love if you could? Did you know that you can? You can support your body’s natural detoxification process through various supplements that are aimed at liver support and gastrointestinal elimination, and give these processes an extra boost by also eating an anti-inflammatory and organic diet. I recommend patients perform a detoxification cleanse twice yearly to give their bodies the best outcome at overall health. Detoxification is also something I discuss with my patients who have gone through conventional cancer treatments as well.

A detox might be indicated for you if you suffer from any of these symptoms:

Early aging
Headaches
Multiple chemical sensitivity
Allergies
Fatigue
Acne
Brain fog, difficulty concentrating
Foul smelling breath or stools
Pain – joint & muscle
Nasal congestion, chronic sinusitis
Rashes
Mood swings
Difficulty sleeping
Hormone issues, imbalances

If you are interested in a medically guided detoxification program, please contact the clinic by Clicking here for a complimentary fifteen minute visit to learn more and to see if detoxification is appropriate for you! or Call Us at 406-586-2626!

The Whole Life Cleanse: A Family Approach to Detox

Posted on October 3, 2017May 21, 2019 by kincade

By: Dr. Alisun Bonville

Autumn is in the air and my family is “falling” into our cold-weather routine. I like the consistency of getting up at the same time each morning and getting the kids ready for their daily activities, making lunches, attending athletic events, and making homemade dinners. My husband and I fall into our routine of pick-ups and drop-offs, and we get a little more time as a couple with the kids in school, which is nice. But what I don’t like about the “back-to-school” season is the onset of colds, junk-food school snacks, rushed dinners, and my uncanny knack for over-extending myself.

Join me on the Whole Life Cleanse, a journey through each area of life and how to get rid of what is not needed and enjoying the items that nourish us.

Cleansing is not just about physical detox, but about feeling healthy in all areas of life–at work, with friends and family, with the products in your home, with diet, and with your personal routine.

Start by shopping smart. As you restock your pantry and shelves with school year snacks and other food fuel, make healthy choices; organic, whole food ingredients and BPA-free containers for storing leftovers and lunches-to-go. We also shop smart when restocking cleaning supplies such as dish soap, detergents, tampons and paper towels. We chose soaps and detergents that are free of artificial scents and dyes so we aren’t picking up unnecessary toxins from our dishes and through our skin. Unbleached, organic cotton tampons are a gentler choice and lower the female body-burden of potential toxins for the gals in your household. Using recycled paper goods like paper towels, tissues, and toilet paper is one way to support the environment, which in turn supports the joy we derive from our beautiful natural world.

Once the larders and shelves are stocked, we make a mindful effort to find time to slow down each day. Busy, active kids and working parents can make this a real challenge. My husband and I find time to meditate together just after we put the kids to bed. This routine helps us unwind and touch base with our home world each evening. As for kids, reading a bed time story, or taking a moment before meals to say Grace or hold hands in silence can be just the right amount of slow-down that busy kids need.

Cleansing doesn’t have to be all about food, exercise, and a strict regimen. Feel free to start slow! Pick one or two of these things to focus on each week or month, sometimes that really is the only way these things can happen. Oh, and lastly, please don’t forget to get outside and enjoy our beautiful Bozeman fall before winter hits!

~Dr. B

What is up with Plastics? The Whole Life Cleanse.

Posted on November 20, 2014March 4, 2019 by kincade

Plastic. Plastic wrap, plastic water bottles, plastic bags, plastic containers. We all use it and love the convenience and versatility that goes along with it. In this edition of the Whole Life Cleanse I want to highlight some of the harmful effects of plastics and ways to avoid over-use of plastics in our daily lives.

Plastic is usually made out of petrochemical polymers (polyethylene and polypropylene to name a few), sourced from fossil fuels. Plastic can leach these polymers into food, drinks, body products and the air around us with temperature changes. Even containers that are microwave or oven safe have the potential to leach polymers and other plastic chemicals. Some types of plastics that have been shown to leach are PVC, styrene, and polycarbonate. Not to say that other plastics do not leach, they just have not been studied as extensively.

BPA, a carbon compound use to make some types of plastic, is one of the well known products that can leach. By now most of us have heard of BPA, but what exactly is the problem with BPA and other plastic constituents when they leach into our food or water? These compounds can stimulate hormone receptors and promote certain types of cancers. They are called endocrine-disruptors and potentially worsen many health problems such as PMS, female cancers, obesity, and birth defects.

DEHA is known as a “softener” used in plastic like PVC, and cling wrap. DEHA leaches into oily and fatty foods when heated and is linked to kidney, liver and spleen problems, along with many other negative effect which are still being studied.

Styrene is toxic to the brain and nervous system. The most common way we are exposed to styrene is through off gassing (ie “new car smell, new building smell), exhaust fumes, and through our drinking water.

Now what can we do to limit exposures to these chemicals? Do not heat plastic, ever! Try to use metal or glass containers, it reduces your exposure AND cuts down on garbage. Bring your own to-go containers when you go out to eat or when buying in bulk. Be cautious when using plastic wrap and never heat it. Use metal water bottles (a dear friend of mine always finds them at local thrift stores). Be creative and involve your family and children on why we need to become aware of the effect of plastic usage on our bodies and on our planet.

The Whole Life Cleanse: A Family Approach to Balance and Detox

Posted on November 4, 2014May 21, 2019 by kincade

By Dr. Alisun Bonville

The Whole Life Cleanse: A Family Approach to Detoxification and Balance

Creating balance in your life may seem impossible at times. We are all busy with a multitude of tasks such as walking the dog, making lunches, grocery shopping, laundry, work projects, dishes….the list goes on! Balance is about increasing the “good stuff” in life and managing the things that cause physical or mental stress. But who has time for cultivating serenity, clean living, and balance?

In my experience, balance is something that has to be woven into the fabric of daily living or it will simply not happen.

This blog series is about the approach my husband, my kiddos, and I have taken to create balance in our lives and to create a healthy home. Life is happening to all of us…illness, work, school, stress. The Whole Life Cleanse is about changing our perspective and increasing our resources so that when times get tough we have enough stamina, reserve, and balance to weather the journey.

The Whole Life Cleanse is also about keeping our day-to-day activities fulfilling and non-toxic. This is not always easy and I admit we are not always perfect at my house. We have days we eat donuts, the kids watch too much TV or I skip my work-outs. Being perfect is something I try NOT to do–It stresses me out. So, I live by the 80-20 rule…if I can take a healthy approach to life 80% of the time, then the 20% of donut-eating days are okay. I always tell my patients, “you have to live in this world,” and for our family that means eating a donut or two.

But for the other 80% of the time, I will outline strategies we use for balance. Tips on how to reduce home chemical exposure and healthy dietary suggestions that the whole family will like. I will also give you tips for reducing toxic relationships, cutting back on the technology “drain” and some key tips for stress management. So stay tuned…

~Dr. B