Written by Malua team 

There’s something about that new spring-is-in-the-air feeling that makes us all want to become the best version of ourselves. Perhaps that is, in large part, because we’ve been some version of the less-than-perfect version of ourselves throughout winter--and this winter, in particular. Hibernation took on an entirely new meaning as we all became relegated to a life indoors. And sometimes, that can affect the way we eat, drink, and sleep. 

But enter the well-intentioned season: spring. A chance to cleanse our spirits, our palates, and our guts. As warm temperatures begin to creep into focus, things just naturally begin to look and feel lighter and brighter. And as we clean out our closets and double-down on deep-cleaning our homes, we might also want to take a closer look at our refrigerators and pantries. Step one to spring cleaning our guts: clean up the way we stock our kitchens.  

Instead of dairy milk, try oat milk

Dairy milks are tricky. They’re delicious in our coffees and our bowls of cereal and can add richness to our favorite comfort food recipes. But the bad news about dairy milk is that most people are sensitive to dairy--generally speaking. What this means is that, for the majority of people, digesting the proteins and lactose in milk is challenging, and consuming it over time has the possibility of damaging the gut. And though there are a dizzying number of milk alternatives on the market right now, the trend is here to stay--and for good reason. Oat milk, for one, is an amazing substitute to dairy milk. And high in soluble fiber, it means that you reap health benefits too. And don’t get us wrong; nut milks and coconut milk are lovely, too. But what we love about oat milk is that it tends to be the most similar consistency as dairy milk. So if you love the real thing, you’ll probably love oat milk too. 

Instead of shredded cheese, try nutritional yeast flakes 

With a similar flavor profile to cheese, nutritional yeast is an incredible--and much healthier--alternative to the sometimes seemingly irresistible real thing. And, because it comes in a dry flake form, it’s easily adaptable to whatever your cravings may be. The perfect complement to popcorn, sliced avocado, or mashed potato, you can sneak this into almost any snack or meal to become a guilty pleasure--hold the guilt. Nutritional yeast is especially healthy, offering up all nine essential amino acids, B vitamins, and trace minerals. 

Instead of coffee, try cacao tea 

Coffee is so much more than a pick-me-up--it’s a daily ritual. But it can be harmful to the gut because of its highly acidic content (most varieties are known to contain a pH value of between 4.85 to 5.10). You may have heard of trying green tea as an alternative to your morning brew, but cacao tea is another amazing substitute. Cacao tea benefits the heart, muscle and even nerve function because it’s rich in iron, zinc, magnesium, and antioxidants. 

Instead of butter, try ghee 

We’ve known that butter isn’t healthy, credit to its high calorie and fat content, and particularly saturated fat which has been linked to heart disease. But finding a healthy option to swap isn’t as difficult as you might think. Ghee, for one, is also rich in fat, but it happens to contain high levels of omega-3’s (that actually help maintain a healthy and happy heart). 

Spring is our opportunity to start fresh. And, with this list, you’ll be on the fast-track to feeling totally clean--inside and out--with the health benefits to take you through next season, and beyond.