Spring Cleansing Recipes

During the seasonal transition from winter to spring, do you get sick, have excess mucus, gain weight, feel heavy & congested, suffer from sinus issues, flus & colds, and experience unexplained dullness and lethargy? While the world of medicine looks at such health concerns yet another episode of seasonal issue, the ancient Eastern Ayurveda medicine has a deeper explanation to put forth!

According to Ayurveda, the guidance for seasonal transition from winter to spring is projected beautifully in the nature. The season of spring signifies renewal and breaking free from the stagnation of winters. The phenomenon reflects as vibrance of the Earth reflecting in the new life emerging form the darkness & coldness of the soil and creating vibrance in the form of new plants and trees emerging in space, days getting longer, light getting brighter, new colorful blooms beautifying the Earth. 

Similar energies of excitement, upward active energies, and a sense of vibrance builds within us during spring. However, if you are carrying forward the burden of dullness and coldness of winters, it all reflects in seasonal health breakouts and it is a strong signal from the nature guiding you towards the need to cleanse yourself of all the heaviness & mucus induced conditions causing stagnation, and to get ready for the vibrance ahead!

Spring Cleansing Recipes:

Kichadi:

Khichadi is a staple cleanse recipe in Ayurveda. Traditionally made with basmati rice, split yellow mung beans, vegetables, spices, and ghee, it is a perfect recipe to nourish the body with ingredients that are light, easily digestible and provide energy to sustain the cleanse.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 1/3 cup basmati rice
• 2/3 cup split yellow mung beans
• 1 tablespoon ghee
• 6 cups water approximately
• 1/2 inch grated ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander seed powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 pinch of asafoetida
• ¼ cup chopped cilantro leaves
• 1 cup seasonal vegetables like broccoli, dandelion greens, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, leeks and onions

Directions

• Presoak rice and mung beans in filtered water for 30 minutes.
• Heat ghee in a wide cooking pot and sauté cumin seeds, turmeric, hing and grated ginger. Sauté vegetables in the pot.
• Drain out water from the rice and mung beans and add it with 6 cups water to the pot. Let it boil on high flame and let it cook on medium heat for next few minutes until soft (about 20-30 minutes). Keep stirring to avoid burning of dal and rice grains.
• Add other spices and top it with cilantro leaves.

CCF Tea:

CCF Tea stands for cumin, coriander, and fennel tea. Known in Ayurveda for its properties to cleanse the digestive tract of undigested matter, CCF tea is a staple in Ayurveda for igniting digestive fire and detoxifying the gut.

Ingredients: (Serves 1)

• ¼ teaspoon of coriander seeds
• ¼ teaspoon of cumin seeds
• ¼ teaspoon of fennel seeds

Directions

Rinse the seeds well & add CCF seeds in a cup of water. Boil in a covered pan for nearly 15-20 minutes on low flame until the color of the tea turns golden tan. Strain & consume.

Golden Milk:

Golden milk is also known as turmeric milk in Ayurveda, the golden milk helps lower inflammation in the body. When made with a combination of spices it induces warmth and circulation to promote detoxification.

Ingredients: (Serves 1)

• 1 cup whole milk/plant-based milk
• 1 nutmeg
• 1/4 inch grated ginger
• 1 cardamom pod
• ¼ teaspoon dry holy basil
• ½ tsp ground turmeric
• A pinch black pepper
• Date sugar to sweeten to taste

Directions

Pour the milk in a pan and dilute it with little water to avoid sticking on the pan. Boil the ingredients together for 10-15 minutes on low flame except date sugar. Once done, sweeten to taste, strain and consume hot.

Spring Detox Smoothie:

Liver is the organ for spring season, and stagnation of winters leaves much for the liver to deal with. Supporting liver in its tasks is the quickest way to shed all that stagnation and look forward to a vibrant health in the upcoming months. This liver supporting green smoothie helps helps to detoxify and dramatically increase your energy and quality of life!

Ingredients: (Serves 2)

• 1 pear, chopped
• 1 green apple, chopped
• 1 kiwi, chopped
• ½ inch grated ginger
• 2 cups chopped kale
• Handful cilantro leaves, chopped
• 1 cup dandelion greens
• 1 inch grated fresh turmeric root
• 1 lemon with the peel, chopped and de-seeded
• 2 cups water
• 1 handful fresh mint

Directions

Blend all ingredients together with water in a high-speed blender, except green leafy vegetables. Once the desired consistency is achieved, add green leafy vegetables and blend again. Add more water if required. Consume fresh to support your liver!