Photo: Mr Wabu

Punxsutawney Phil may have foretold “six more weeks of winter” February second, but in the San Francisco Bay Area, spring is always alive and kicking by mid-February.

Bougainvilleas are one among many blooms, dotting green and fragrant hills. People’s thoughts turn to gardening, spring training and flip flop fashion. My own sign of spring fever? I start scanning the calendar for an optimal three-week chunk of time in which to do a detox cleanse.

Cleansing may not sound so romantic, but for me, it’s become as much a part of seasonal festivities as pink hearts and green clovers. It’s an internal spring cleaning of sorts – a chance to physically let go of last year’s toxins and clear the digestive slate for a new year. It’s also a good way to lose a few pounds, if you’re interested.

Cleaning Up the Details

Photo: Pink Sherbet Photography

This will be the fourth cleanse I’ve done in recent history, and I’m documenting the experience here over the course of the next few weeks. My hope is to introduce the process to people who have never cleansed, maybe draw some advice from cleansing veterans, and have a little fun in the process.

It also never hurts to have some added accountability – so thank you for reading, and I hope you find something that inspires you toward your own spring fever!

The system of products bought for a cleanse usually includes a shake mix, cleansing herbs, and a fiber source. Preparation also requires choosing a specific diet to follow for a set amount of time.

Many cleanse programs available today include specific dietary recommendations, ranging from minimal caloric intake to a more substantial diet. My daily plan allows for two 4-oz portions of lean meat, unlimited fresh organic vegetables, unlimited fresh organic fruit (although the fruit/veggie ratio needs to be 1:2), 1 serving of brown rice and 1-2 eggs. Two to three protein shakes a day and two doses of fiber drink round out the program.

Before I begin, I always schedule an appointment with my Naturopathic doctor to get a check-up, talk over goals and concerns, and flesh out a game plan.

One more detail that will differentiate this three-week cleanse from previous experiences: I’m following it up with a 28-day elimination diet.This is a diet I’ve been eying for over a year now, wanting to get a better handle on exactly what foods work and don’t work for me, and feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the whole thought of it.

Doing it directly after a cleanse makes all the sense in the world, from a purely logical standpoint. Psychologically? It may be psycho. We’ll see.

For the record, I’m not pledging to change my diet forever based on what I learn from the elimination diet; it’ll just be good to know. In any case, I hope you’ll wish me courage and an intrepid sense of humor.

I look forward to reading your comments and responding to your questions!

Check back every Tuesday for the next few weeks to find out how the cleansing process is working for Kendra.

Disclaimer: Kendra Mellinger is not a healthcare professional, and therefore does not prescribe or recommend any treatment for disease or health concerns. Any cleansing program should only be done under the supervision of an experienced healthcare practitioner.