Rejuvenation from the inside out
What is Rejuvenation?
Rejuvenation is an Ayurvedic practice that is used to replenish the vital energy of the body from a cellular level. It is most often done after a cleanse when the body and mind are feeling light. A cleanse is like bleaching a piece of fabric and rejuvenation is dying the fabric with the colors and designs that are going to support our long term health. Rejuvenation ultimately is the point of cleansing. Removing toxicity from the system allows us to improve the cellular nutrition and re-invigorate the intelligence of the body from the ground up.
What’s An Appropriate Period of Time?
While more is usually better when it comes to rejuvenation a general recommendation is to perform rejuvenation for an equal amount of time that you performed a cleanse. For example if you just completed a two week cleanse then you would want to do rejuvenation for 14 days. Most people really enjoy rejuvenation as it is very nourishing to the body, emotions, and mind.
How to do rejuvenation
It can be helpful to determine which of the doshas (bio-energetic principles) need to be rejuvenated before embarking on a rejuvenation protocol. That being said many of the herbs, practices and foods can be beneficial for everyone. Consider receiving individualized advice to improve the results of rejuvenation. Here is the basic structure behind a rejuvenation program:
Dietary Rejuvenatives
After a cleanse it is very important not to overwhelm digestion. Choose the foods below, but remember that these are high quality foods and do not need to be taken in high quantity.
Nuts and Seeds – choose nuts and seeds from the below list. A ½ cup of soaked nuts or seeds a day is the best way to rejuvenate the tissues. You can soak the nuts for eight hours with sea salt for extra flavor and put them in a toaster oven on low heat for 20-30 minutes to make them more crunchy.
· Almonds
· Cashews
· Brazil nuts
· Sesame seeds
· Coconut
· Hemp seeds
Fruits – fruits are best taken alone or with other carbohydrates like grains or vegetables. Eat less than 2 tablespoons of fat or protein if included with fruits. The fruits below build the blood and the vital fluids.
· Wild fruits: huckleberry, juneberry, hawthorn, thimbleberry
· Cultivated berries: strawberry, raspberry, cranberry, etc
· Stone fruits: apricot, plum peach, cherry
· Stewed dried fruit: dates, raisins, and gogi berries
Grains – support the body and mind by bringing a feeling of satisfaction and fullness. They are great for rejuvenation, but like everything else diversity and moderation are key. In order to improve vitality choose non-grass cereal grains.
· Teff
· Amaranth
· Kamut
· Wild rice
· Buckwheat
· Millet
· Oat
· Barley
Dairy – in nationalities that tolerate dairy well it can be a great addition to a rejuvenation program as it nourishes the entire body by a very precise blend of fat, sugar, and protein. ½-1 cup of warm milk with a pinch of cardamom 3-5 times a week as a snack or meal replacement can be a great addition to rejuvenation.
· Raw goat and cow milk or heavy cream
· Hemp mik
· Almond milk
· Hazelnut milk
Meat – the nutrient density in meat makes it remarkable for nourishing the body. As it is higher on the food chain it also has a high concentrations to chemicals that are accumulated from the air, soil and water. For this reason it is best to eat meat 3-5 times a week or less. The best meat sources are wild game meats but free range organic meat is also fine. Making a stock with the bones of these animals is the best way to receive the nutrition from meat without compromising digestion.
· Wild game meats- venison, elk, caribou and moose
· Wild cold water fish- salmon, pike, char, sardines, smelt, herring
· Pasture raised poultry- chicken, duck, turkey and pheasant
· Free range meats – lamb, goat, bison and mutton
Spices – the foods that provide the most benefit for rejuvenation are nutrient dense foods that are fully digested. Spices can help in this regard by facilitating the conversion of this dense nutrition in bioavailable nutrients for the body. Choose spices that are warming and slightly sweet to improve digestion.
· Three C’s: cumin, coriander, and cardamom
· Saffron, ginger, and vanilla
· Oregano, citrus, and fennel
· Allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg
· Curry powder, turmeric, and fenugreek
Oils - they are a remarkable food that is a testament to the energy that goes into their extraction. Because of this complicated process oils are also relatively fragile and can degrade when exposed to heat. The most fragile oils are walnut, hemp, borage, and fish oils. These oils oxidize swiftly and should not be consumed unless you are making them yourself. Other options are:
· Extra virgin sesame oil: low-medium heat, 350F/175C
· Extra virgin coconut oil (not copra): low medium heat, 350F/175C
· Extra virgin olive oil: medium heat 405F/210C
· Extra virgin almond oil: medium heat, 420F/216C
· Organic palm and palm kernel oil: medium heat, 455F/235C
· Organic grass fed ghee: high heat: 485F/252C
· Extra virgin avocado oil: high heat, 520F/271C
Rejuvenative Herbs – the synergy that is able to happen in an herbal formula usually exceeds the benefits that can be derived from taking a singular herb. Rejuvenative herbs are tonifying, adaptogenic, and building for the entire system. Choose a formula that includes some of the following herbs:
Rejuvenative Lifestyle – rejuvenation is similar to cleansing in that it requires us to slow down so that we can use our energy for self repair and internal activities instead of using all of our energy to accomplish external taskes. Some routines that can be beneficial during rejuvenation are:
Cultivating vitality and internal strength allows us to refill our tank so that we can make the journey of our life with ease. Taking time now to do rejuvenation will make us more resilient toward disease. Consider following this years cleanse with some more nutrient dense foods, healing herbs, and a couple more weeks of slowing down.
The above are affiliate links which means I receive a commission if you buy their products. Thanks for your support.
Rejuvenation is an Ayurvedic practice that is used to replenish the vital energy of the body from a cellular level. It is most often done after a cleanse when the body and mind are feeling light. A cleanse is like bleaching a piece of fabric and rejuvenation is dying the fabric with the colors and designs that are going to support our long term health. Rejuvenation ultimately is the point of cleansing. Removing toxicity from the system allows us to improve the cellular nutrition and re-invigorate the intelligence of the body from the ground up.
What’s An Appropriate Period of Time?
While more is usually better when it comes to rejuvenation a general recommendation is to perform rejuvenation for an equal amount of time that you performed a cleanse. For example if you just completed a two week cleanse then you would want to do rejuvenation for 14 days. Most people really enjoy rejuvenation as it is very nourishing to the body, emotions, and mind.
How to do rejuvenation
It can be helpful to determine which of the doshas (bio-energetic principles) need to be rejuvenated before embarking on a rejuvenation protocol. That being said many of the herbs, practices and foods can be beneficial for everyone. Consider receiving individualized advice to improve the results of rejuvenation. Here is the basic structure behind a rejuvenation program:
Dietary Rejuvenatives
After a cleanse it is very important not to overwhelm digestion. Choose the foods below, but remember that these are high quality foods and do not need to be taken in high quantity.
Nuts and Seeds – choose nuts and seeds from the below list. A ½ cup of soaked nuts or seeds a day is the best way to rejuvenate the tissues. You can soak the nuts for eight hours with sea salt for extra flavor and put them in a toaster oven on low heat for 20-30 minutes to make them more crunchy.
· Almonds
· Cashews
· Brazil nuts
· Sesame seeds
· Coconut
· Hemp seeds
Fruits – fruits are best taken alone or with other carbohydrates like grains or vegetables. Eat less than 2 tablespoons of fat or protein if included with fruits. The fruits below build the blood and the vital fluids.
· Wild fruits: huckleberry, juneberry, hawthorn, thimbleberry
· Cultivated berries: strawberry, raspberry, cranberry, etc
· Stone fruits: apricot, plum peach, cherry
· Stewed dried fruit: dates, raisins, and gogi berries
Grains – support the body and mind by bringing a feeling of satisfaction and fullness. They are great for rejuvenation, but like everything else diversity and moderation are key. In order to improve vitality choose non-grass cereal grains.
· Teff
· Amaranth
· Kamut
· Wild rice
· Buckwheat
· Millet
· Oat
· Barley
Dairy – in nationalities that tolerate dairy well it can be a great addition to a rejuvenation program as it nourishes the entire body by a very precise blend of fat, sugar, and protein. ½-1 cup of warm milk with a pinch of cardamom 3-5 times a week as a snack or meal replacement can be a great addition to rejuvenation.
· Raw goat and cow milk or heavy cream
· Hemp mik
· Almond milk
· Hazelnut milk
Meat – the nutrient density in meat makes it remarkable for nourishing the body. As it is higher on the food chain it also has a high concentrations to chemicals that are accumulated from the air, soil and water. For this reason it is best to eat meat 3-5 times a week or less. The best meat sources are wild game meats but free range organic meat is also fine. Making a stock with the bones of these animals is the best way to receive the nutrition from meat without compromising digestion.
· Wild game meats- venison, elk, caribou and moose
· Wild cold water fish- salmon, pike, char, sardines, smelt, herring
· Pasture raised poultry- chicken, duck, turkey and pheasant
· Free range meats – lamb, goat, bison and mutton
Spices – the foods that provide the most benefit for rejuvenation are nutrient dense foods that are fully digested. Spices can help in this regard by facilitating the conversion of this dense nutrition in bioavailable nutrients for the body. Choose spices that are warming and slightly sweet to improve digestion.
· Three C’s: cumin, coriander, and cardamom
· Saffron, ginger, and vanilla
· Oregano, citrus, and fennel
· Allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg
· Curry powder, turmeric, and fenugreek
Oils - they are a remarkable food that is a testament to the energy that goes into their extraction. Because of this complicated process oils are also relatively fragile and can degrade when exposed to heat. The most fragile oils are walnut, hemp, borage, and fish oils. These oils oxidize swiftly and should not be consumed unless you are making them yourself. Other options are:
· Extra virgin sesame oil: low-medium heat, 350F/175C
· Extra virgin coconut oil (not copra): low medium heat, 350F/175C
· Extra virgin olive oil: medium heat 405F/210C
· Extra virgin almond oil: medium heat, 420F/216C
· Organic palm and palm kernel oil: medium heat, 455F/235C
· Organic grass fed ghee: high heat: 485F/252C
· Extra virgin avocado oil: high heat, 520F/271C
Rejuvenative Herbs – the synergy that is able to happen in an herbal formula usually exceeds the benefits that can be derived from taking a singular herb. Rejuvenative herbs are tonifying, adaptogenic, and building for the entire system. Choose a formula that includes some of the following herbs:
- Ashwagandha – adaptogen, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immune amphoteric, antitumor, nervine, antispasmodic, mild astringent, diuretic
- Shatavari – adaptogen, antibacterial, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, demulcent, diuretic, immune tonic, lung tonic, galactogogue, gastroprotective
- Amalaki – adaptogen, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, laxative, diuretic, lowers cholesterol
- Schizandra – adaptogen, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune tonic, astringent, hepatoprotective, nervine, expectorant
- Tulsi –adaptogen, antibacterial, antidepressant, antioxidant, antiviral, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, galactogogue, immunomodulator
- Astragulus – adaptogen, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiperspirant, heart tonic, hepatoprotective, immune tonic
- Guduchi – adaptogen, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cholertetic, diuretic, febrifuge, hepatoprotective, immune amphoteric
- Licorice – adaptogen, antiviral, antidiuretic, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, demulcent, expectorant, hepatoprotective, immunomodulator
Rejuvenative Lifestyle – rejuvenation is similar to cleansing in that it requires us to slow down so that we can use our energy for self repair and internal activities instead of using all of our energy to accomplish external taskes. Some routines that can be beneficial during rejuvenation are:
- Daily abhyanga or weekly professional massage
- Slow down, rest more
- Less time on computers
- Gentle exercise
- Consistent routine
Cultivating vitality and internal strength allows us to refill our tank so that we can make the journey of our life with ease. Taking time now to do rejuvenation will make us more resilient toward disease. Consider following this years cleanse with some more nutrient dense foods, healing herbs, and a couple more weeks of slowing down.
The above are affiliate links which means I receive a commission if you buy their products. Thanks for your support.