Welcome to 2012

The beginning of a new year makes us feel like we have a clean slate. We are excited and full of inspirations for lifestyle changes to better ourselves. One of the biggest buzzwords amongst Strive’s clients at this time of year is DETOX! What does it mean to detox and which method is best? The online Mosby’s Medical Dictionary’s definition is ‘To remove the effects of poison from something, such as the blood.’

Your liver is the organ responsible for keeping your blood free of toxins. When you overload it with alcohol, sugar, caffeine, deep fried and processed foods, medical drugs, and stress, you may start to feel the ill effects. This includes poor sleep, lethargy, dark circles under your eyes, weight gain around the abdomen, headaches and muscle pain. A dietary detox can help jump start a healthier way of living, and with that in mind I recommend cleaning up your diet before taking a detox product. Eliminate all processed food, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, wheat, and diary from your diet for four weeks, and eat plenty of green vegetables, raw nuts, seeds, legumes, and non- gluten grains.

If you feel like you want to kick it up a notch drinking fresh juice and fasting one day a week for the next four weeks may also help your vitality by giving the digestive system a rest. Adopt a healthier diet and lifestyle 80% of the time, and the other 20% your body will be able to naturally detox itself.

Practical exercise of the week: Rolling Cat pose (yoga)

This exercise is good for your digestive system. Kneeling on your hands and knees, draw your tummy up to your spine as you arch like a cat on the in breath. Release the pose on the out breath, dipping your lower back and tipping your head back. Repeat this 10 times with the breath.

Product of the Week: Pureharvest Rice Milk

A great alternative to soy or cows milk.

http://www.pureharvest.com.au/product/pureharvest-rice-milk

Recipe: Body Cleansing Juice

2 large silver beet leaves
1/2 beetroot
2 stalks of celery
½ apple
1cm cube ginger

Pull all ingredients through a juicer, or chop in to small cubes and place in a blender with a cup of water.