Spring is great time to reflect on our daily habits and look for ways to be more proactive about our health. But where do we start? A healthy detox is an ideal starting point, so I’ve included my favourite liver detox-products of all time below. This season I’m also focusing on healthy brain, mood, skin and restful sleep. Want to feel inspired about your health this spring? Here are a few ways to get you started.
Are detox products worth taking?
You’ll sometimes hear people repeat ‘our bodies can detox fine and there is no need to take detox products’. In my opinion that’s a valid point... for the stone age. But now in the 21st century, it doesn't make a lot of sense - especially if we consider the toxins in our environment.
These toxins are relatively new compounds that we encounter in our everyday lives, so our bodies aren’t yet adapted to deal with large amounts. The good news is, while not all of them are avoidable, there are some practical ways to cut down our exposure. Things like xenoestrogens leach into our food and drink from plastic packaging and containers. Using stainless steel and glass alternatives is a great solution to reduce our exposure, and great for the planet too.
Choosing organic produce is an effective way to cut exposure to herbicides and pesticides.Other harmful toxins have been banned – but unfortunately, they often still persist in our environment– so in my opinion, looking after your liver is a very worthwhile investment in your health.
So, if we have herbs shown to support healthy detoxification for efficient toxin removal, why not make the most of them?
Research shows that plant extracts support our liver health in many ways:
- Efficient liver detoxification pathways
- Antioxidant liver cell protection
- Healthy glutathione production and
- Healthy bile flow to excrete toxins.
Signs your liver is doing it’s job well:
- Feeling energised
- Balanced hormones
- Healthy and regular bowel motions
- A glowing, blemish-free complexion
For liver love: Liver Cleanse
The liver is our ‘master detoxer’. It’s kind of like a factory – an amazing, meaty 500-room factory. It can perform 500 tasks simultaneously (it’s busy even when we’re asleep). It’s responsible for getting rid of toxins and waste that are byproducts of day-to-day functions like hormone residues, it also processes medications and alcohol. It also takes care of heavy metals like lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium-as well as other environmental toxins that can be hard to avoid.
The 500 tasks are not just detox jobs either, it’s also responsible for life-or-death tasks. So it's absolutely crucial to look after our liver health. Thankfully, the good news is there are many ways we can all show our liver some very well-deserved love and care.
4 ways to show your liver some love
- Exercising regularly (aim for 30 minutes per day, most days)
- Maintaining a healthy weight, specifically a healthy waist to hip ratio (0.85 or less for women and 0.9 or less for men)
- Staying within alcohol guidelines (At least two alcohol free days per week, for women: no more than two standard drinks per day or 10 per week- for men: no more than and three standard drinks per day or 15 per week).
- Taking a research-based liver support product.
So, what is the best cleanse for detox? Ideally when you’re looking to spring cleanse your body, look for a formula that supports healthy and efficient liver detoxification as well as kidney and digestive health.
BioBalance Liver Cleanse & Detox has a comprehensive formula that targets all these areas. With a combination of ten research-based herbs and nutrients to support toxin metabolism, heavy metal detox, and clear skin too.
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For brain, mood and skin health: Omega-3
Healthy Omega-3s are so important, they support an amazingly vast array of health areas. It can be tricky to make sure you have two or more servings of oily fish EVERY week to get the recommended intake of Omega-3. Examples of oily fish include sardines, salmon, mackerel and mullet.
My main motivator for taking Omega-3s is to support brain, mood, and skin health. It’s also excellent to support joint and cardiovascular health. Plant-derived Omega-3's tend to be a more sustainable choice for the planet. But fish can also be sustainably and responsibly sourced (our- Marine Sustainability Policy means all our fish oil products are certified by credible international marine sustainability groups).
For health reasons I tend to alternate monthly between my chosen plant oils ( flaxseed and hempseed) and a high-quality omega to obtain EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which fish oil is a rich source of. Purity and freshness are key considerations and I really rate Nordic Naturals for this.
Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver Oil contains EPA and DHA, and also offers Vitamin D and Vitamin A. These two fat-soluble vitamins are stored in our liver (one of those 500 tasks it does) so they're not vitamins we necessarily need to take every day, making this an ideal option to alternate monthly with plant-based omegas.
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For smooth, supple skin: Collagen
Collagen is super popular and for good reason. Research shows that taking collagen daily supports healthy collagen in our skin (consistency is key with collagen, it’s one that you ideally take each day). Our collagen levels naturally decline from age 25, leading to visible signs of aging, like wrinkles and less firmness. Collagen supports smooth and fresh, youthful looking skin, including skin firmness and plumpness.
Hitting the big 4-0 means skin aging is more on my mind when I see a mirror- all the skin supporting qualities of collagen are high on my wish list. A product being recommended by a friend or colleague is always a great vote of confidence, that's how I got onto this one. I also look for quality and a pleasant taste, and Two Islands Collagen Beauty Powder Vanilla ticks all the boxes. It mixes easily and is convenient to take. Personally, collagen is something I find noticeable if I stop taking it, rather than when I started.
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For all-round wellness: Restful sleep
Spring is the perfect time to reflect on our quality of sleep, and identifying anything that could be affecting it. Physical things like getting enough regular exercise, meditating, and cutting caffeine intake after 2pm are great places to start. If I find I have temporary worries playing on my mind when I want to drift off into dreamland, a herbal helper is an easy option.
Herbs in a dropper bottle are ideal because they can easily sit on your bedside table. Just 15 drops of Weleda Sleep Relax Drops at bedtime supports getting to sleep. You can take another dose during the night if you wake, no need to swallow capsules, it’s as easy as counting out 15 drops - simple! This can be taken for daytime relaxation too, the bottle is small and portable the price is great too, it offers great value for money.
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There are plenty of ways we can be proactive about our wellness this spring. Keeping it simple and starting gradually can help make healthy habits sustainable in the long term. Adding something new each week can be an easy way to kick-in new healthy habits.
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Vitamins and minerals are supplementary to and not a replacement for a balanced diet. Always read the label and use as directed.
- BioBalance Ltd, Collingwood
- Nordic Naturals, Natural Meds, Napier
- Two Islands, Auckland
- Weleda NZ Ltd, Havelock North
TAPS: PP8082