In my first post in this series, I outlined the first step in a natural brain care cleanse: Balance. That’s where we assess the role sugar takes in our cognitive health. You can read that post here. In Part 2, Repair, I wrote about the importance of a healthy gut lining, read that post here.
As the third step in our cleanse to clear the mental clutter, let’s take a look at Support. All too often I find that cleanses are depleting, leaving the cleanser feeling deprived, hungry and unsupported. A superior cleanse does more than simply provide a list of everything you should not eat. It should also provide a list of foods that support good brain function, as well as foods that nourish and protect the liver and adrenal glands.
Key to a successful brain cleanse is to eat enough to feel both satisfied and energized. How that goal is achieved varies immensely from person to person. For some, the inclusion of animal protein might be essential to maintain nutrients essential for energy and repair. Others might do best juicing vegetables for micronutrients that are readily absorbed into the system.
Foods rich in healthy fats can contribute to better blood sugar balance and feelings of satisfaction after a meal. Avocados, soaked nuts and seeds, sustainably raised sardines, coconut, chlorella and ghee are delicious and filling.
Phytonutrients from turmeric, ginger, baical skullcap, berries, dark leafy greens, celery, parsley, rosemary, and highly pigmented fruits and vegetables have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect on the brain and body. These nutrients can be an essential part of any cleanse, especially one targeted to support brain health.
And let’s not forget vegetables. One of the simplest ways to improve health is to eat more vegetables, especially highly pigmented ones. Kale, chard, cress, baby greens, sprouts, beets, radishes, tomatoes, yams, leeks, garlic, onions, artichokes and asparagus offer a wonderful array of phytonutrients and fiber. Fiber slows the absorption of sugars into the blood stream, stabilizing blood sugar and helping us feel more satisfied after a meal. Even more important, fiber provides fuel for our anti-inflammatory, health promoting beneficial microbes in our gut. Fermented vegetables, such as sauerkraut can promote our beneficial bacteria even more. Vegetables should be the predominant item on your plate during a cleanse, every single meal.
In addition to eating the right foods to support better brain health, we also need to seek others who are supportive of our efforts to take care of ourselves with natural methods, who honor our cleansing process and do not seek to undermine our determination by teasing or tempting us to breech our self-commitment. It may be important to communicate your plan to household members and ask for their support and respect for your process. Joining a support group online, or in person, can be a fantastic way to keep you on track and inspire you with new ideas and the success of others.
Before starting your cleanse, make a plan. Make sure you have lots of healthy food options in your refrigerator and set your mindset towards self-support and fulfillment, rather than deprivation and despair.
Ready to get started with your own personal cleanse? Download Clear the Mental Clutter, a free guide to the first steps you can take to better brain health!
Join our private Facebook support group, Clear the Mental Clutter to build a community of people supporting each other in this process.