Follow detox lifestyle for healthy results

Eating a well-balanced diet and pursuing a healthy lifestyle will eliminate the need to detox, as your body will naturally cleanse itself through the body's detoxification organs such as the liver, gut, skin and kidneys are in good shape at all times, the body will naturally retain a state of constant self-cleansing.

My philosophy is choosing a way of life that improves and optimises the function of your body's own detoxification systems. This is done by decreasing the amount of toxins we put into our bodies while supporting our detoxification and elimination systems with the nutrients they need to function properly.

So, while juice fasts or eating barley and wheat grass for a week may be short-term ways to address toxicity, the long term answer is to ensure you constantly pursue a healthy lifestyle, consume natural food such as fruit, vegetables and lean protein and eliminate processed foods and sugar from your diet.

Some people react badly and actually get sick on detox diets. Detoxing awakens toxins in our system that can lead to unpleasant side effects such as headaches, nausea and diarrhoea. It's a lot more important to follow a lifestyle where you 'detox' on a continual basis.

Ten healthy tips

1. Fill up on greens: eat lots of veggies & salads (at least twice a day). Every lunch and dinner should contain a raw salad and some green steamed or grilled vegetables. Fruit and vegetables contain fibre, anti-oxidants and low GI carbs - all great for a clean and healthy system.
   
2. Consume the juice of up to two lemons daily. Squeeze them over salads, in water, or over veggies. Lemon helps regenerate and support the liver.
   
3. Avoid dairy products. We are the only beings on the planet that consume another animal's milk. Most of us are allergic and intolerant to dairy. We do not have the enzymes to digest the lactase. It is also mucus and acid forming.
   
4. Sweat! Go to yoga, swim, run, take a brisk walk or cycle. Ensure you move vigorously every day.
   
5. Avoid all 'fake and artificial' sugars. These are toxic and hard for the body to recognise and break down.
   
6. Stay hydrated. Drink lots of water between meals but drink minimally with meals so as not to dilute the digestive enzymes.
   
7. Limit alcohol and ditch fizzy drinks, even the diet ones (they deplete the body of minerals, especially B vitamins and are very acidic).
   
8. Occasionally, treat yourself to a small amount of good quality dark chocolate for dessert.
   
9. Chew your food well. Eat slowly. Not only does this extract more nutrients from food, but also you will feel full before overeating.
   
10. Supplement: Choose the correct supplements in consultation with your nutritionist or doctor