Pain arises in many forms – physical, emotional, chronic, intermittent, mild and extreme. While your health care team guides you and supports you in your healing process, you may also wish to explore some self-care options.
Spring Cleaning is not just for houses and homes, let’s also use the momentum of this season to clean out the fatigue and sluggishness of our bodies.
A few days ago, I wrote to you about breathing exercises for stress management and pain relief. Today, I would like to discuss some very simple ideas about menu planning for cleansing and pain relief.
Your body needs nourishment in the form of food and fluids on a regular and predictable basis. Consistent meal times and bedtimes allow your body’s metabolism to function in a rhythmic and harmonious manner at every level: nourishment, cleansing, resting and repairing. When you eat and sleep on a regular schedule seven days a week, metabolic stress will lessen.
To plan a menu for cleaning of the organs, tissues and glands is quite simple. Clean water taken 3-4 times a day in 8-12 ounce quantities is very helpful. Additionally, here is an old adage that says the best way to purify water is to filter it through a plant. Your favorite plant juice: carrot juice, apple juice, orange juice, grapefruit juice, homemade lemonade – all of these can supplement your consumption of water.
Solid foods come next… fresh foods, organic foods, and whole grains are excellent choices. Cleansing happens best when your foods are home-cooked, free of unknown oils and preservatives. Most folks start with adding some fruit into their diet each morning and evening, and then add in a salad on their lunch hour. If fresh fruits and vegetables are new to you, then this will produce great healthy benefits for you over time.
As this blog is written for adults and my advice is of a very general nature, I count on you to be prudent and wise with what you and your doctor say is best for you. With that understanding, here are some beginning suggestions for your consideration and exploration:
Water — 8-12 ounces taken 3-4 times a day
Fruit – banana in the morning; an apple or a ruby red grapefruit before your evening meal
Vegetables – an organic salad with 5 or fewer ingredients and a simple salad dressing, preferably homemade.
Whole Grains – oatmeal, multi-grain toast
To lessen inflammation and pain, you may find that avoiding coffee, caffeine, carbonated drinks, sugar and cigarettes will be helpful. Tomato and corn can also irritate inflammatory conditions.
These suggestions are to be blended in with the rest of your normal diet, making any substitutions that you wish.
