As soon as the weather turned from humid summer to autumn cool, did you get plagued with allergies? Does the chill in the air leave you craving sugary foods worse than a kid in a candy store? Or are you tossing and turning all night long for no apparent good reason?
The truth of the matter is that these seven health woes may indicate that you need to naturally detox (*not necessarily a juice cleanse, but an elimination of harmful foods and a swap for healthy foods and activities) to help reset your body and mind in preparation for fall…
Extremely Low Energy
Do you need an extra cup of coffee or two lately to get you going on chilly fall mornings? If no amount of coffee, caffeinated teas, or energy drinks seem to do the trick—chances are your system is oversaturated with stimulants (i.e., caffeine and taurine) and you may be suffering from adrenal fatigue.
To put the pep back in your step, give the caffeinated beverages, alcohol, refined sugars, and chocolate a rest and naturally stimulate your body with gentle yoga, walking, and foods high in magnesium, such as raw nuts, spinach, pumpkin seeds, and seaweed.
Craving the Sweet Stuff
If you jones for chocolate, soda, or a donut on a daily basis, you’re likely tired due to the lack of four essential nutrients—sulfur, tryptophan, chromium, and carbon phosphorus. According to New York-based dietician Elizabeth DeRobertis, the body naturally craves simple carbs (i.e., refined sugar and processed carbs) when it’s lacking essentials because they’re quicker to digest.
However, while the brief energy burst may come sooner; so will the inevitable crash. Instead, fill up on natural sugars in fruits and complex carbohydrates that will fuel you for longer periods.
ACHOO—Seasonal Allergies
If you’re suddenly stricken with seasonal allergies or yours are more extreme than they were last fall, don’t blame it on potent pollen. Allergies usually indicate that the body is run down, according to Dr. Joseph Mercola, osteopathic physician and best-selling New York Times author.
Dr. Mercola points out that with roughly 80-percent of your immune system located in your gut, digestive wellness and limiting the intake of processed foods in favor of organically-grown fresh and local foods is your primary defense against allergies and asthma. This natural type of detox will ultimately improve allergy symptoms.
Feeling Blue
We already know food and mood are closely linked—I don’t need to remind you about the last time you came home hungry (or “hangry”) and almost ripped your spouse’s head off. However, if you’re feeling blue, it may be an indication that you’ve been fueling with too many low-quality, toxic foods.
A collaborative study conducted by the UK Mental Health Foundation and Sustain, link increasing rates of depression and anxiety to a diet that’s void of essential nutrients needed to keep the brain healthy. Processed foods full of additives, preservatives, empty carbohydrates, and refined sugars can block vital nutrients from reaching the brain.
Sleep Deprived
If you toss and turn all night or wake up mid zzzzz’s unable to get back to sleep, your liver might be overstressed with toxins like alcohol, chemicals, and medications. As the main detoxifying organ in the body, an over-stressed liver will work through the night to catch up on detoxification, keeping you awake.
If you have a glass of wine or booze before bedtime to help you fall asleep faster, researchers from the Henry Ford Hospital, Sleep Disorders and Research Center claim that you’re actually hindering sleep—by causing sudden dream and waking periods and reduced rapid eye movement. Instead of imbibing on caffeine and alcohol, promote relaxation with a warm bath and herbal tea before bedtime.
PMS Symptoms
If irritability, bloating, and stomach cramps plague you each month, a detoxification type diet that cuts processed and refined foods and comes packed with mighty magnesium may help ease PMS symptoms. According to several health studies, foods high in magnesium (i.e., spinach) soothe stress, inflammation, irritability, migraines, and fatigue.
Blemishes
If you suffer from allergies that turn up as spotty, itchy, red hives, examine your fall diet. Inflammation within the body is often caused when we eat foods with histamine-producing effects (a natural immune response).
Eliminating inflammatory foods—such as processed or pre-packaged foods, fast foods filled with hydrogenated and trans fats, and baked goods made with harmful oils, refined sugar and artificial sweeteners—will prevent chronic inflammation and serious future health conditions (i.e., diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and obesity).
