With the time change and the weather heating up outside, it is clear that spring has arrived in San Diego. Spring is a time of renewal. Holistic medicine practitioners will recommend liver flushes and detoxification during the spring. The body is awakening from a winter slumber and is ready for its own “spring cleaning,” and a fresh start.

One place full of fresh is the produce aisle. Spring seasonal fruits and veggies are bursting with color, flavor and nutrition – strawberries being one of my favorites! Strawberries are one of the most delicious and nutritious fruits.

Strawberries have the ability to remove harmful toxins from the blood. It is also recommended for a sluggish liver, gout, rheumatism, constipation, high blood pressure, catarrh and even skin cancer. Strawberry is a rich source of folic acid and folic acid helps prevent or reduce birth defects involving the brain.

The fragrant, sweet juiciness and deep red color of strawberries can brighten up the taste and presentation of any meal – it is no wonder strawberries are the most popular berry fruit in the world. Although strawberries have become increasingly available year-round, they are at the peak of their season from April through July. That is when they are the most delicious and abundant.

Although strawberries are good on their own or in a protein shake, they can dance and play on your palette when combined with veggies in a salad. Light and clean, our recipe this week, a sprinach and strawberry salad, is quick and delicious! It’s best eaten in small portions, and it’s great to bring to a bring to a brunch.

Trivia tip of the week: Never fry with olive oil. Olive oil is healthy at low temperatures, but once it passes the smoking point, (approximately 200 degrees) it burns, creating a large amount of free radicals that are not good for you. If frying or deep-frying in a pan, use grape seed oil, which is neutral and light with a smoking point much higher than olive oill. It is equally good for you. Grape seed oil can reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise good cholesterol (HDL). Peanut and coconut oil are also used for deep frying, but are not as healthy as grape seed oil.

Questions, comments or suggestions for a topic? E-mail me at gltrecipebox@gmail.com.

Strawberry and spinach salad

2 bunches spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-sized pieces

4 cups sliced strawberries

1/2 cup vegetable oil (grape seed)

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 teaspoon paprika

2 tablespoons sesame seeds

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Directions: In a large bowl, toss together the spinach and strawberries.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, sugar, paprika, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds. Pour over the spinach and strawberries, and toss to coat. Kirk Pfeiffer is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist in private practice on University Avenue in Hillcrest. He can be reached at 619-339-9980 or online at www.uptownacupuncture.net