Beets, grapefruit and dandelion are the three spring cleanse foods. Beets thin and support the flow of bile which decongests the liver. Beets also support the blood and have a laxative cleansing effect. Lemon juice is a powerful cholagogue that also flushes bile and empties the gall bladder. Parsley is a digestive and diuretic.

Spring is nature's detox and cleanse season. The sweet cheesecake, buttery pecan pie and rich pork chops we ate from early winter through New Year's reflect a natural need to insulate against the cold. These foods might still be lingering in your fat tissue, just as gooey, thick and heavy in the body as they were on your plate. Now that the sun is returning, our body prepares for springtime by releasing the excess fats and sugars. That makes spring a perfect time to shed those holiday pounds. Late winter is also a popular time for seasonal affective disorder and last minute plane tickets to the tropics; the mind as well as the body is ready to be done with the cold.

As holiday excesses melt away the toxins trapped in our fat tissue enter the bloodstream. The appetite wanes for cheesecake, pecan pie, and holiday roasts, which might seem off-putting or even nauseating by mid-January. While our appetite could easily accommodate 2-3 slices of cheesecake mid-December, a sliver of cheesecake mid February leaves behind an awful after-taste on the tongue, post nasal drip and mucus masquerading as the flu. Although we enjoyed them New Year's eve, strong drinks and pungent foods like spiced rum, late night double espressos, and jalapeno french fries are acidic and irritating once stored in the body. If you've noticed more headaches, frustration, sciatica or have been feeling achy in the joints, you are feeling those drinks and spicy choices on their way out.

Why Detox Juice Works

Detox juice is designed to assist the body in this process of releasing these fats, sugars and toxins. Each of the components of this recipe work together to neutralize the symptoms of detoxification that you may be experiencing now and also set a good foundation for springtime. Beets, radish, and garlic cleanse the liver and gall bladder, organs and tissues that are working hard to breakdown stored fats, oils and sugars. The pigment that gives beets their bright color helps to neutralize the toxins from alcohol and spicy appetizers, balancing blood chemistry. The beta carotene in carrots cools the blood, noticeable as a cooling effect in the eyes which can feel inflamed, itchy and irritated when the body releases fats. Beta carotene is also an important nutrient to counteract seasonal depression as it helps the skin to absorb the most from the limited sunlight during Winter.

If any of your holiday foods and drinks left you with indigestion and reflux, black pepper and raw garlic are powerful spices that rebuild digestive fire. Beets and raw garlic flush the intestines, cleansing them. Celery and parsley flush the urine and the entire body of stagnant water weight. Garlic, black pepper and celery flush the pores of the skin which may feel dry, irritated or prone to breakouts as the body detoxes. The spiciness of black pepper is also a cardiac stimulant that helps metabolize toxins within tissues. It destroys mucus and is a lung tonic for mid February sniffles, strengthening your immune system against the fluctuating temperatures of early spring.

Vegetable Juicing in Ayurveda

One of the quickest ways to deliver nutrients to these important organs in one simple recipe is through freshly prepared vegetable juices. Your juicer acts like mechanical teeth, breaking down the cell walls of the vegetables, allowing the nutrients to reach the bloodstream quicker. Vegetable juices are easy to digest because grinding and straining removes all fiber content.

Spices help to break up mucous and the gooeyness of yogurt. They improve taste and digestion!

Sweet and oils balanced by bitters, this dish borders on tridoshic depending on the relative quantities of Kale versus sweet potato.