Have you felt the urge to clean out a closet, pantry, or junk drawer lately? The same “spring cleaning” mechanism happens internally, too. As we move into spring, it’s natural to crave less food and lighter foods. In particular, the liver needs attention and a chance to self-clean during this season.

The liver can become congested after a long winter of heavy, rich foods. It’s the liver’s full-time job to clear excess hormones, fats, pesticides, and toxins from the rest of the body. Even if you haven’t spent the entire winter overindulging, it’s helpful to give this important organ a break by cutting back on heavy foods and allowing it to attend to its own needs during the spring season.

Fortunately, nature provides the ideal foods to support your liver’s cleansing process during the spring season. Fresh, young, tender vegetables, prepared simply or eaten raw, are perfect for nourishing the body without putting an excess strain on the liver. It’s best to lightly steam your vegetables during this time. See the Clark Wellness April Recipe for one great preparation idea, or make up your own!

Listen to your body. If you feel like eating lighter foods or just less food in general as the weather warms up, respect your body’s wish — your liver will thank you!

If you’re interested in learning more about the power of food and its impact on your health, I’m happy to offer you my free 30-minute initial consultation as a beginning for your individual holistic health counseling program with me. In your session, we will discuss your food/life history, your current concerns and goals, and how Clark Wellness can make a difference for you. Contact me for more information!

The Clark Wellness Recipes of the Month are archived! Please visit ClarkWellness.net/rotm.cfm to peruse the growing recipe collection using the gold box on the right side of the page. Enjoy!

One of my favorite things about spring is that it’s a wonderful time of year to discover some delicious new veggies. Farmer’s markets are reopening or expanding after the winter season, and they’re always a fun place to make new produce discoveries. Even the regular supermarkets will have more fresh and local produce in the coming weeks.

This month, I challenge you to bring home one new-to-you vegetable each time you go to the market. Some of my favorite spring finds from past years are pea shoots (they taste like delicious peas in leaf form), garlic scapes (taste like garlic but look like curly chives), and even good old-fashioned asparagus (which you’ve probably seen but may not have tried). Let me know what new veggie loves you find!

Serves 6

1 bunch rainbow chard, stems removed, leaves finely chopped
2 cups shredded red cabbage
3 carrots, grated
1 cup toasted walnuts
2 large cloves garlic, pressed
1/4 cup brown rice vinegar
1/3 cup walnut oil
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil

Combine chard, cabbage, carrots, and walnuts in a large serving bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the garlic, brown rice vinegar, and oils. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to mix. Serve.

Isabel Clark is a holistic health and wellness counselor with a focus on holistic nutrition and food and lifestyle coaching. Her personalized wellness programs and fun and lively classes make natural, wholesome, healthful, home-prepared foods and supportive, healthful, positive lifestyle choices accessible to women looking to achieve balanced wellness.

In her holistic health counseling practice, Clark Wellness, Isabel works primarily with individual clients to empower them to make appropriate food choices for their unique situations. She shares her knowledge of natural foods selection and preparation along with coaching on menu planning, goal setting, and positive lifestyle changes to help her clients create the happy, healthy lives they were born to live!

I hope you have enjoyed Clark Wellness ForkBytes as much as I’ve enjoyed sharing it with you. Please feel free to forward it to friends, family members, and colleagues who you think might also find it interesting and inspiring!