BY Eileen Z. Fuentes (@TheSpeachGal)
After a grueling winter, spring is finally upon us. We literally had the snowiest January in history and I’m still a little skeptic that we won’t have more! I don’t know about you but I intend to spend my time outdoors after being a hermit for most of this season. It feels amazing to get up in the morning and hear the birds chirping and finally see the sun shining. So how does one get out that mindset and start a new way of thinking? Well, the best way to adopt a consistent healthy regimen is to ease into it slowly. This past weekend I took part in a women’s wellness retreat in Pennsylvania and started my day with yoga, specifically the sun salutation series. These 12 poses felt incredible! All you need is a couple of minutes first thing in the morning to invigorate you and work out all the kinks. You can view the video version, by clicking here.
Spring is also the time where some of the best and locally abundant produce becomes available. My favorite foods are avocadoes and mangoes so I am extremely excited as they make their grand re-entrance into my life and with them come the associated health benefits. Strawberries and Cherries also become available but my advice is to get them from your local farm or farmers market as both of these fruits are highly sprayed with pesticides. If you’re shopping in a supermarket, it’s definitely worth paying a little extra for the organic variety. Greens, the forgotten food, should continue to be consumed but raw instead of steamed for its cooling benefits. Seasonal spring vegetables like collards, dandelion greens, mustard greens, spinach, watercress and lettuces have a wonderful way of detoxifying the body of all the decadent winter foods. Other vegetables such as carrots, asparagus, peas and artichokes can also be included on your seasonal plate. Eating in season eliminates the environmental damage caused by shipping foods from far away and you will be able to enjoy the health benefits of eating fresh, unprocessed foods.
Here’s a recipe that incorporates seasonal vegetables and fruits. You can prepare some immediately after doing your morning exercise and start your day the right way!
Spring Smoothie
1 cup coconut water
1 mango peeled, pitted
1 cup frozen organic cherries
½ apricot pitted
½ frozen banana
½ cup peeled cucumber
1 cup fresh spinach, washed
½ cup chopped fresh broccoli
¼-½ avocado peeled, pitted
1 cup ice cubes
Place all fruits and vegetables in a blender, adding the ice last and mix until the appropriate consistency is reached. ENJOY!
