During a spring cleanse when we are transitioning from the dry cold winter season to the warm and wet spring season, we should be looking to eat more foods that are Pungent (Spicy), Bitter, Astringent / Light, Dry, Warm: such as flavorful steamed veggies, brothy soups, brown rice. Eat less foods that are Sweet, Sour, Salty / Heavy, Cold, Oily: such as fried foods, ice cream, heavy dairy.
Below is my personal shopping list for the upcoming week. Please remember you always want fresh, never frozen or canned and always look for organic, local and non-GMO. Herbs can be fresh or dried.
Again, as I previously mentioned in my original post about the basics of this 7-day cleanse, this isn’t a specific cleanse and I am not a medical professional. I base what I will be eating on this cleanse both on traditional Ayurvedic knowledge and knowing my own body well enough to know what gives me difficulties. Your cleanse and your shopping list will likely look different. Ayurveda doesn’t limit corn, soy or dairy, or even lean meats and fish, on many of it’s cleanses, I however find that I have issues and troubles digesting these things in large amounts and I am choosing to remove them on this particular cleanse to give my body the rest it needs at this time to heal, energize and rejuvenate in preparation for the new season ahead.
Vegetables
Artichokes
Avocados
Asparagus
Beets
Bell Peppers
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Carrots
Celery
Collard Greens
Fennel
Garlic
Ginger
Green Beans
Kale
Leeks
Mushrooms
Mustard Greens
Onions
Peas
Spinach
Swiss Chard
Watercress
Fruits
Apples
Blueberries
Coconut (fresh and dried)
Grapefruit
Lemons
Limes
Papaya
Pears
Pomegranates
Strawberries
All Berries
Legumes
Any Sprouted Beans
Adzuki
Garbanzo
Kidney
Lentils
Lima
Mung
Split Pea
Grains (sparingly)
Amaranth
Brown Rice
Brown Basmati Rice
Millet
Quinoa
Oils
Olive Oil (in moderation)
Ghee (in moderation)
Nuts and Seeds
Flax Seeds
Chia Seeds
Pumpkin Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Spices and Herbs
(Really anything goes, but here are the ones I like to make sure to have around during a cleanse)
Black Pepper
Cardamom
Cayenne
Cinnamon
Clove
Cilantro (fresh)
Coriander
Cumin
Fennel
Fenugreek
Ginger (fresh and dried)
Turmeric (fresh and dried)
Additional
Almond Milk (unsweetened, use sparingly)
Coconut Milk (use sparingly)
Honey
Herbal Teas such as hibiscus, chicory, cinnamon, dandelion, jasmine, lemon balm lemon grass, peppermint, yerba mate, etc
6 Responses
Wow you are so, so knowledgeable about Ayurveda!! I think the Ayurveda ideas are so interesting and useful. This cleanse looks wonderful.
Thanks Alissa. I wish I knew so much more. I like to read up and I have a few books, but I would really really love to be able to see an Ayurvedic doctor! Maybe some day.
Thanks again.
This cleanse looks so good! I’m definitely going go try it!! I have a hard time with eating very many grains. Therefore, it becomes hard for me to eat sometimes 🙂
I am totally gluten free anyway as I have celiac … among other autoimmune issues. But I definitely need a cleanse right now! Glad to be able to follow along with you.
Thanks Saundra. I am glad you are going to be following along. I am on day 3 now. Yesterday was a hard one, I got those nasty headaches that come along with detoxing and cleansing. Woke up this morning feeling a little beat up, but now that I am up and moving I am feeling pretty good. I cannot wait to be on the other side of the first few days, when I know I will be feeling amazing!! Thanks again.
You are beautiful. I have recently changed my eating habits in accordance with the Kimberly Snyder program, which means I have cut out gluten, dairy, meat, sugar, caffeine, soda, nearly everything I used to eat. Your cleanse is very similar to the food she recommends, and it is based on the same principles (digestion and riding your body of toxins). I stumbled upon your blog…and I will be back. Thank you for all of the amazing suggestions.
A couple of questions. Can this cleanse be used now during the summer months? Also did you post recipes for how you cooked and prepared the foods? Can you have raw fruits such as pineapple, melons and things like that?