In Ayurvedic medicine the Spring and Fall are the two times of the year that we cleanse the body and mind. One simple way of doing this is to add a bit of this lovely refreshing Beet Liver Cleanser to your meals as an appetizer or side.
This dish helps the body detox by supporting the creation and flow of bile. Bile is the substance that the liver uses to carry away waste and toxins from the body into the intestines to be released.
Having a healthy liver can lead to:
- An improvement in overall health
- Optimal weight management
- Clear skin
- Increased energy
- Increased immune function
- Feeling and looking younger
In addition to cleansing the body, our minds can also use a break from the toxins that we “ingest” through our other senses. Now is a good time to consider the impact of the mental and emotional stimuli that we allow into our beings. Activities like watching the news, or violent shows and movies, as well as the comparative suffering that emerges from scrolling social media can also impact our wellbeing. I’d like to invite you to consider a media fast, or a reduction in the amount of time spent on social media, watching activating shows, or even being around individuals that are challenging to your balance. You might consider removing social media or news apps from your phone. When you get the urge to scroll, watch, read the news, or call a friend to gossip, try taking three deep breaths. You might also try replacing one of the social media apps with a meditation app like Insight Timer, Headspace, or Calm. We also have a free weekly online meditation that you can join and feel the benefits of some intentional breathwork and centeredness. Check it out here.
If you’d like to learn more about cleansing, check out our previous blog on Purification.
If you’d like a personalized cleansing plan contact us for a Functional Medicine consult with Dr. Ruth or Dr. Jake.
Ingredients
Beet Liver Cleanser
2 raw beets, grated
The juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp lemon zest
1tsp grated ginger root
1 small apple, unpeeled, grated
1tsp mustard (yellow, dijon, or brown)
Optional chopped fresh cilantro, one handful
Directions
Once all the ingredients are prepared, mix together and enjoy. This dish gets better as it marinates and is usually better after a day in the fridge.
If you’d like a more simplified version, try mixing grated beets with fresh citrus juice and zest.
Recipe is from the wonderful book The Mind Body Cleanse by Ronly Blau and Adrian Nowland