5 reasons to Detox

Most of us equate a detox with deprivation—or worse. We think hunger, weird food, kale juice and colonics. We might feel better at the end, but is it really worth the pain and suffering? The thing is, you don’t have to suffer. There’s another kind of detox that’s all about fabulous, delicious food. It’s a new kind of detox that’s a giant jumpstart for your health and a reboot for your metabolism. It’s fun, easy to do and a direct route to feeling fabulous. It’s what I do with my patients, and you can do it in just 10 days.

5 Reasons You Need to Detox

1. You have FLC Syndrome: Feel Like Crap.

You wake up feeling less than vital, vibrant, alive, joyful and full of energy. Even if you are thin but have symptoms of being toxic like fatigue, brain fog, achiness, digestive issues, allergies, headaches—really any symptoms at all—the detox can help heal you quickly. Most of us don’t connect what we’re eating to how we feel. In the 10-day “feel good with good stuff” plan—the program in my new book, The Blood Sugar Solution 10-Day Detox Diet—you will learn how you have put up with needless suffering. Feeling good is only a few days away.

2. You can’t lose weight and keep it off (you want to fit into your jeans).

The scientific establishment has convinced us that losing weight is just a matter of calories in/calories out, that it’s about energy balance, about eating less and exercising more. How’s that working out for you? Probably not so well! Problem is, the scientific establishment is different from the established science. The science says sugar and flour calories are WAY different. First, they trigger addiction and overeating. Second, they spike insulin and inflammation, which makes you store belly fat and blocks your ability to feel full. The verdict is in: Sugar calories are worse than whole food calories. Sugar spikes insulin and triggers inflammation, a double whammy guaranteed to mess up any attempt at long-term weight loss.

3. You can’t control your sugar and carb cravings (you may be suffering from food addiction).

The fact is that sugar and flour are biologically addictive. The science behind it is clear and conclusive. Yet we blame the fat person for being a lazy glutton, which leads to shame and guilt. I am here to tell you it’s not your fault. Your biology has been hijacked by the food industry. They have done a hostile takeover of your taste buds, brain chemistry, hormones and metabolism. More than 300 food industry insiders spilled the beans to Michael Moss in his book, Salt, Sugar and Fat, explaining they hire “craving experts” to create the “bliss point” of junk food to create “heavy users” and increase their “stomach share.” Sugar is the new nicotine. In fact, sugar is eight times more addictive than cocaine. If you are trying to use willpower to lose weight you will fail. You have to use science to unhook yourself from the addictive power of sugar, flour and hyper-processed, hyper-palatable food-like substances (or “non-food junk” as my friend Dr. Aviva Romm calls it).

4. You never have detoxed.

Most of us have never in our life taken 10 days to put nothing in our bodies but delicious, whole clean food. Just 10 days. Even if you think you are healthy and feel good, you may not realize that your normal state is not your optimal state. Think of it as a tune-up, a super-quick, super-easy way to supercharge your health.

5. You need a STAYCATION.

All of us stray from living in a way that supports our health: too little sleep, too little exercise, too much bad food, too much stress, not enough time for ourselves. The best way to reset your life is a 10-day detox. Simple, delicious foods. No toxins or drugs, by which I mean sugar, flour, processed foods, caffeine or alcohol. Self-nurturing practices: deep breathing, sleeping 7-8 hours a night, a little exercise, self-love. All this works to get your body and mind back to their original factory settings—and quickly!

Source-http://drhyman.com/blog/2014/03/08/5-reasons-need-detox-5-ways-detox-lose-weight-feel-great/

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Detox- Benefits and how to Detox

Detoxing can do more than make your eyes sparkle and your skin glow – it can boost energy levels, improve digestion and help shift a few unwanted kilos too.

While it may look like a fad diet – no grains, no alcohol, no milk, no sugar (and no fun) – a detox is far from a quick fix for weight loss. The purpose of any detox plan is to take the load off the organs that detoxify the body – the liver, kidneys and bowel – while at the same time supporting and improving their performance. If you want to fast track your health, give your body a break, or just want to detox diet for a short time, follow this safe and do-able seven-day program.

What to do

Check your diary and mark a week where you have a clean break from functions or events that might derail your detox, such as weddings, birthdays or special occasion meals. Some people may experience a 'cleansing' reaction in the first few days of detox, including headaches or loose bowel movements. This is due to the sudden withdrawal of certain foods, in addition to stimulation of detoxifying organs. These symptoms should subside in 24 to 48 hours.

Foods to avoid

• Alcohol
• Cigarettes
• Milk products (except ½ cup unsweetened yoghurt with acidophilus each day)
• Sugar, honey, maple syrup, artificial sweeteners
• Coffee
• Grains: wheat (bread, biscuits, cakes, pasta), rye, barley, oats, spelt and rice 
• Dried fruit

Foods to enjoy

• Fruit: any and all fresh fruit
• Vegetables: any and all fresh vegetables
• Fish: fresh, canned in water or olive oil
• Lean red meat, chicken (without the skin). Limit to two serves per week.
• Legumes: dried or canned, such as kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils
• Eggs: preferably organic
• Olive oil (preferably extra virgin), Coconut oil (unprocessed)
• Nuts: raw unsalted almonds, walnuts, macadamias and cashews
• Seeds: raw unsalted sesame, pumpkin and sunflower seeds
• Green tea, white tea, weak black tea (decaffeinated)
• Water: from one to three litres of water per day

Detox plan for the next seven days

1. Morning lemon juice: This is an oldie but a goodie to kick start the digestion and cleanse the system. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon in a cup of hot water. Drink first thing in the morning before breakfast.

2. Exercise: During detox aim to exercise for one hour daily. And not just any exercise – something that makes you pant and puff and raise a sweat like a spin class, jog along the beach, walking uphill, hot yoga session or boxing. Vigorous exercise increases lymph flow and circulation to help sweat out toxins.

3. Raw foods: Aim to cut out the cooking process and eat mainly raw foods. Raw foods contain more nutrients and enzymes. Try adding fresh sprouts to a salad daily.

4. Detox the mind: While you're detoxing the body, its good to clear the clutter from the mind too. Aim for 15 minutes of meditation per day. If you don't know how to meditate, try belly breathing. Start by placing hands palm down on your lower belly. Breathe in through your nose, counting slowly to 3 or 4 counts. Feel your tummy rise with the breath. Breathe out just as slowly, allowing the belly to drop. Do this for 15 minutes daily.

5. Drink: Aim to drink three litres of fluid daily. This will help move the lymph and support kidney detoxification. Choose from pure spring water, fresh vegetable juice and herbal detox teas. Or make your own brew by mixing one or a combination of Dandelion root and nettle, cleavers, calendula, burdock and red clover. Add one teaspoon of the dried herbs to a cup of boiling water. Leave to steep for five minutes, strain and drink.

6. Body brushing: Doing this daily will support circulation and increase skin detoxification. Using a loofah or natural fibre body brush, brush the skin with firm circular strokes before you step into the shower. Start from the feet and hands, moving up the legs and towards the arms, avoiding the delicate area of throat and face, and any rash or sore spots. Then jump in the shower. Finish your shower with a one-minute burst cold water which brings the blood circulation to the skin.

7. Chew: Aim to chew each mouthful of food 10 to 12 times before swallowing. Bringing mindfulness to mealtimes improves digestion, allowing you to feel a sense of fullness without a need to overeat.

Note: Don't detox if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, elderly, have high blood pressure, are underweight or against your health practitioner's recommendation.

Source-http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/weight+loss/diets/the+7+day+detox+plan,16373

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The Best Slimming Foods...

Banish that muffin top with our pick of the best stomach-slimming ingredients!

Rock that slim look with pride this summer with these deliciously healthy foods. Then now is the perfect time to kick-start a summer eating plan so you look and feel amazing in time for take-off. 

Quinoa 

This ancient South American grain packs a healthy protein punch, making it an excellent slimming aid. Super-versatile, it can be used to bulk out soups and stews and used in place of your usual carb choice. 

Cherries 

Looking for a fruit that works overtime for your health? Cherries are rich in the antioxidant anthocyanins, which increase fat-fighting enzymes. Plus, these little beauties could maximise workout results by warding off post-exercise muscle pain. 

Salmon 

Want to wage war on wobles? Stock up on salmon when hunger hits. This oily fish is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which keep skin cells plump, whilst keeping you full - curbing the the urge to snack.

Garlic 

Wonderful for adding flavour to food, garlic helps the liver to filter out toxins in the body. These pungent cloves are also packed with a molecule called allicin, which helps keep your immune system healthy, reducing the risk of summer sniffles. 

Avocados 

Packed with healthy monounsaturated fats, avocados help your body manufacture a compound called glutathione, which is needed to detoxify harmful substances. Plus, the good fat content will help to keep summer skin looking its best while filling you up - so you snack less! 

Strawberries

Nothing says summer quite like a fresh punnet of strawberries, and the good news is that this British seasonal staple is actually a slimming food. They rank low on the glycaemic index, which means they help to control the blood sugar fluctuations responsible for food cravings. Plus, they're a powerhouse of skin-perfecting vitamin C.

Eggs 

Cheap and versatile, eggs are a fab source of appetite-curbing protein, making them a dieter's best bud. A 2008 study published in the International Journal of Obesity reported that eating eggs for brekkie helps to boost weight loss for those following a calorie-controlled diet. 

Lemons

Lemons are like a magic wand for weight loss. They're detoxifying and help to promote proper digestion, which keeps bloating at bay. If they're not already part of your morning routine, you're missing a trick. Sipping on a mug of hot water and lemon filters away any impurities in your system, boosts the metabolism and keeps your cells hydrated so your skin glows. 

Broccoli 

Make dark green vegetables like broccoli a priority on your plate and the weight will fall off! Why? This green superfood helps your body to flush out everyday environmental chemicals due to its rich sulphur-containing compounds. Steam your veg instead of boiling to keep the nutrient content intact.

Nuts 

Raw nuts act like a wake-up call for weight loss. Brazil nuts, almonds and cashews are all loaded with protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which help to speed up the slimming process to get you in swimwear-worthy shape. 

Also check out some of the online beauty courses for weight management!

Source: www.womensfitness.co.uk

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Top 10 Benefits of getting a Pedicure!

1.  Appearance! Having nice groomed, polished toes is always nice and can make you feel sexy and sleek when wearing a nice pair of opened toed heels or jandals.

2.  Dry skin! Your therapist is able to scrub and exfoliate your feet to help soften and scrape off dead dry skin especially around the heel and big toe area. However for more severe cases of  painful cracked heels your therapist may refer you to a Podiatrist who are qualified to use cutting implements to treat such foot disorders.

3. Skin or Nail Conditions! Your therapist should be able to recognise a skin or  nail condition, disorder or infection while washing your feet. Then would be able to refer you to a doctor or podiatrist so you can get the correct medical attention your feet or nails need.

4. Nail Health! Buffing your nails doesn’t just make them look nice and shiny but is also important to stimulate blood flow to the area. Blood carries nutrients which are vital for nail health and growth.  Although we clip our nails short, good nail growth can be a sign of good nail health.

5. Relaxation! Pedicures can include massage and getting your legs and feet massaged can be a great way to relax, release tension and de-stress.  And we all know how important it is for oneself to take some time out some times and regular de-stressing is vital for your health.

6. Lymphatic  and Blood Flow!  Another benefit from massage is stimulating blood and lymph flow. Your body has lymph nodes all over which are the tiny factories that help process and clean the toxins from your lymphatic fluid (lymph) into the blood which then gets taken back through the veins to the heart to get cleaned.  Lymph nodes are also known as glands which in our legs are situated behind our knees.  Also in our armpits and near our jaw and when these get overloaded with toxins they can swell and feel tender. Therefore leg massage can help our lymph to flow more easily up to our knees for better and more efficient drainage.  Drinking a glass of water after massage is also helpful as it helps to flush these toxins out of the body which then gets expelled through our urine.

7. Cuticles! Over grown dead cuticle can make your nails and feet look dry and untidy. Your therapist push back your cuticles and gently scrape off any dead cuticle off your nail plate which in turn leaves your nail plate tidy and clean ready for your nail lacquer to go on.

8.  Silky Smooth Feet! Most therapists will also use a good moisturiser on your feet and use a cuticle oil to condition your cuticles and toes leaving your feet feeling silky smooth.

9. Colours! Nail lacquers are fun and there are loads of colours to play with.  With colours to fit any season or any occasion, your therapist will also use a base coat to protect your nail plate from getting stained.  A top coat will also be used to help lock in your colour and help the lacquer last longer.

10. Feel Good!  One of the most important benefits in my opinion is the feel good factor.  Its amazing how your feet when treated can make you feel SO good about yourself and give a real confidence boost,  along with feeling relaxed, clean and pampered of course. And remember all of this doesn’t just stop at feet.  These 10 benefits are just as good for a relaxing (hand) manicure too.

Source: http://www.luxelounge.co.nz

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