Anti-Ageing Food Rules

Posted on: January 11th, 2012 by Natalie No Comments

The food you choose to eat is one of the major determinants of how you will age.
The type of food you put in your body differs in nutritional quality and the metabolic processes it will create. Live living foods will support the body’s biochemical processes and provide vitality and life force. However processed and denatured food will drain the body of energy and create a toxic load on the system as it tries to process the nutrient poor food.

Some food rules to assist you in ageing well:

  1. Limit your intake – research has shown that the less you eat the longer you live. This is because as food intake decreases, metabolic action decreases and free radicals formed by this metabolic process are decreased. Less free radicals means less cellular damage.
  2. Balanced sugar levels – High blood sugar causes damage to your tissues, organs and skin. Reduce your consumption of all refined sugars.
  3. Eat colourful foods – Colourful fruit and vegetables derive from pigments. These are high in antioxidants which decrease free radical damage. Include raspberries, blueberries,  carrots, beetroots
  4. Cook at Low temperatures – High heat cooking generally produces harmful substances.  Both foods high in fat and carbohydrates are known to produce carcinogenic substances. Cooking at low vegetables or steaming is a better way to preserve nutritional content, however eating more raw live foods will provide you with the most nutritional content and life force.
  5. Eat organic -  Organic foods have shown to have more nutritional value than non-organic foods.  Organic food is virtually free of contaminants such as herbicides and pesticides which place fewer demands on your body’s detoxification processes.
  6. Eat Superfoods – these foods are high in nutritional value and easy to assimilate placing less load on the body. These include acai, maca, goji and cocoa
  7. Juice daily – concentrated form of high nutrients, antioxidants and enzymes which are easily absorbed and assimilated in the body.
  8. Drink purified water – Your body is 70-80% made up of water. It regulates your metabolism and facilitates millions of biochemical processes within the body. Drink between 2-3 litres a day as drying is dying.  Drink water and stay hydrated!

Tips For Surving The Festive Season!

Posted on: December 20th, 2011 by Natalie No Comments

Christmas and New Year is here again and we all know what that usually means?
A time of over indulgence, lots of parties, celebrations, food and drink! How can we avoid putting on extra weight, feeling toxic and still have a great time? Well you can. We have listed a few helpful tips to get you through the festive season so that you can still feel and look great:
1. Drink plenty of water, at least 2 litres a day to keep the body hydrated and help flush toxins out of the body.

2. If drinking alcohol be sure to drink a glass of water in between each alcoholic drink and before going to bed drink at least 3 large glasses of water

3. Be moderate in alcohol and food intake as overindulgence is harmful to the body

4. Take the focus off food and alcohol. Focus more on joining and connecting with your loved ones

5. A large glass of warm water with a squeeze of lemon first thing in the morning will help support the liver, improve digestion and hydrate the system

6. Multivitamin and B complex provide energy and support the liver and nervous system because alcohol depletes B vitamins.
7. St Mary’s Milk Thistle silybum marianum is the number one herb for the liver. It protects, detoxifies and restores the liver.

8. Replace coffee with dandelion coffee or tea. Dandelion, taraxacum officinale is a herb that removes toxins from the organs and blood.

9. Reduce caffeine intake because it dehydrates your system and puts extra stress on the adrenal glands.

10. Drink fresh vegetable juice daily to provide living phytonutrients for greater vitality and nutritional support.

11. Apples, pears, fennel, and peppermint provide a calming effect on the stomach and digestive system.

12. Slippery Elm provides relief to any heartburn or over acidity of the stomach.

13. Hangover Fix: Banana smoothie with protein powder, spirulina, linseeds, frozen mixed berries, rice milk or water, blend and drink

14. Add liquid Chlorophyll to your water. It has the power to regenerate our bodies and is known to help cleanse and alkalise the body.

15. Probiotic supplement and ½ cup yoghurt daily to maintain the friendly gut microflora and to keep the immune system strong.

16. Homoeopathic remedy: Nux Vomica 30c is a brilliant remedy for treating hangovers, nausea, indigestion and general overindulgence.

17. Be sure to get enough sleep and rest and take that afternoon nap if needed. Adequate sleep reduces stress and cortisol levels leading to healthier eating habits and reduces sugar and stimulant cravings.

18. Don’t go to a party hungry. Eat a wholesome meal before you go to avoid overindulging in the wrong foods.

19. Don’t deny yourself 100% of the Christmas goodies. Enjoy a small amount as a treat and know when to stop.

20. Know that you don’t need to partake in all that is offered and it is ok to say no. Test and trust your willpower and self discipline.

21. Organise some fun after lunch physical activities with the family and friends whether it be a stroll together, swim at the beach or a game of cricket.

22. Dedicate half an hour a day for some time to yourself. Take a walk in the park or beach, meditate, sit in the garden, read a book or get a massage. Keep the peace and connection with self within the busy season.

Coconut Power

Posted on: December 13th, 2011 by Natalie No Comments

 

Coconut water is the clear liquid from young coconuts and is one of  nature’s most refreshing drinks consumed worldwide for its nutritious and health benefiting properties.  It contains electrolytes, calcium, potassium, magnesium, enzymes, zinc, selenium, Vit C and amino acids. It is low in fat and carbohydrates and has a similar chemical profile to our blood plasma.

Many studies have shown that coconut water has antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and may help with a number of minor to severe health conditions.

This nutrient rich drink has been used to regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, and it has been found to boost energy levels and increase metabolism in the human body. Other conditions that it has been found to be effective at treating include stomach flu, dysentery, indigestion, constipation, intestinal worms, cholera, urinary abnormalities, urethral stone, malfunctioning kidneys, dry and itchy skin, age spots, and wrinkles.

Research on these health benefits:

  • The cytokinins and lauric acid help regulate the cell growth and their divisions and can minimize the aging of skin cells, balance PH levels, and keep the connective tissues strong and hydrated.
  • The high potassium levels and lauric acid can help regulate blood pressure and can help increase HDL (good) cholesterol, which makes it a wonderful natural treatment for maintaining good cardiovascular health.
  • The high potassium levels and minerals helps to regulate our internal fluids and replenish and rehydrate the body so great after exercise, in warm climates and after dysentery.
  • The natural electrolytes help increase the body’s metabolism and may benefit people who are struggling with weight issues.
  • Lauric acid in coconut water is converted into monolaurin which has great antiviral, antiprotozoal and antibacterial activity which helps fight against intestinal worms, parasites, lipid-coated viruses and other gastrointestinal tract infections in children and adults.

 

Coconut oil has shown to protect heart function and cardiac tissue and is protective against cardiovascular disease. It is a medium-chain fatty acid helping with energy production, speeding up the rate at which the body burns fat and supporting healthy fat metabolism. It is also a great oil to cook with as it does not become a trans fatty acid and can be heated up to 120C. It is so versatile that it can also be used on the body as a natural moisturizer, as remember anything you put on your body you should be able to eat too!

It is such a versatile plant providing us with food, medicine and fuel. Incorporate this amazing plant in to your life and allow your health to benefit.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted on: December 5th, 2011 by Natalie No Comments

Apple Cider Vinegar is powerfully cleansing and natural healing remedy. Since 400BC, Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, and others, have been using this as a medicinal tonic due to its antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral and alkalising properties.

Apple cider vinegar & its many health benefits:

  • Breaks down the body’s fatty, mucous and phlegm therefore improving the health and function of your liver, bladder, and kidneys
  • Maintains the body’s acid/alkaline balance
  • Maintains cholesterol levels
  • Helps thin the blood, which prevents high blood pressure
  • Promotes and assists with digestion, the assimilation and the elimination processes
  • Helps get rid of toxic substances that can be harmful
  • Supports healthy skin and hair and soothes irritated skin
  • Relieves muscle aches and pain

 

Uses:

  • Start the day with a glass of water with two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar. If you need a sweetener, add a half teaspoon of honey or maple syrup. If you’re really keen, have another glass 15 minutes prior to dinner.
  • Add apple cider vinegar to your salad dressings with extra-virgin cold-pressed olive oil and a pinch of cracked pepper and sea salt.
  • Gently pat your skin with a soft cotton ball dipped in apple cider vinegar to help exfoliate dry skin and clear non-cystic acne.
  • After you wash your hair do a rinse with apple cider vinegar to give your hair improved shine as well as an itchy scalp relief.
  • Add one cup of apple cider vinegar to a warm bath to help relieve dry, irritated skin. An apple cider vinegar bath is also helpful in relieving muscle pain after exercise by helping to restore the acid-alkaline balance.
  • Is used as a powerful household cleaning, antibacterial and deodorizing agent

Important: Make sure you use organic raw apple cider vinegar with the mother. Here at Byron Bay Detox Health Retreats we recommend Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar. Never choose dead, distilled vinegar because the natural enzymes, minerals and nutrients are destroyed in the distilling process. Natural raw apple cider vinegar should be pungent, with a rich, brownish colour and a visible strand-like substance at the bottom of the bottle.

Probiotics

Posted on: November 29th, 2011 by Natalie No Comments

Probiotics are beneficial organisms that live in our gut, that help with digestion and help strengthen our immune system.
You have more bacteria living in your gut than you have cells in your body. There is more than 500 different species of bacteria in the digestive system and probiotics assist in keeping a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria.

Benefits of Probiotics

  • promote a healthy and strong immune system
  • maintain healthy colon cells
  • attack toxins for elimination
  • assist with detoxification
  • promote regularity
  • help manufacture vitamin B and K
  • help manufacture some digestive enzymes to assist with the digestion of  food
  • create an unfriendly environment for potentially harmful bacteria and yeast

The following foods are high in good bacteria and encourage healthy populations. These include yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kim chi, kombucha and miso. Soluble fibre is the food and fuel source for beneficial bacteria encouraging them to multiply. You can also support your bacterial balance by taking a high potency probiotic.

When it comes to probiotics start with small amounts and increase gradually to allow your digestion to adjust to the changing balance of bacteria.

Keeping your bacteria in balance is essential in maintaining your overall health.