Spring has sprung!

This month HouseCall! pays tribute to the change of season. Yes, it’s been a long, cold winter, but it’s over…. The weather’s warming up fast, so our exercise regimes must resume. Get back to gym, take that early morning walk or go for that swim - no matter what the activity is, it’s about being active and feeling good again!

It’s also the time of year when we decide to
spring-clean, but while we’re ridding our homes of clutter, we have to think of our bodies and minds as well, so this special edition features articles, tips and features on spring-cleaning, slimming down, changing our eating habits, detoxing and getting back in shape.

Refuel & Recharge

Detoxing has earned a bad rap because too many diets call for fasting and deprivation. Here’s a healthier, less stressful way to clean up bad eating habits.

What is detox?

Detox is a process that helps rid the body of
harmful toxin build-up. Although our bodies are designed to deal with toxins and physical strains like stress, poor nutrition, alcohol, lack of exercise and environmental pollution, there are times when they’re simply overloaded. That’s the time to take a break, slow down and fill up on quiet time, good nourishing food and gentle exercise.

By detoxing you are, in effect, rebuilding and
strengthening your detoxifying organs, which
should then help you gain more energy, clear
your skin, improve digestion and strengthen your immune system against infections or illness. The liver is our most effective cleansing organ — it receives 2.268 litres of blood per minute — but when our body is overloaded with junk, it’s the first to take a hit.
Skin, the body’s largest organ, plays an important role in detoxing by sweating out urea and other waste products. It is also a barometer of health and the first area to show signs of improvement. Water, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, flaxseed and pumpkin seed, fatty acid supplements, gingko and antioxidant supplements are all beneficial to
the skin. Doctors sometimes recommend sauna treatments and exercise to increase sweat production, thereby aiding detoxification.

You know it’s time to detox when you suffer from:

• Headaches
  
• Dizziness, fatigue, light headedness and sugar cravings

• Frequent mood changes such as depression, forgetfulness and lack of concentration
  
• Bloatedness, nausea, poor digestion,
  constipation or irregular bowel activity
• Intolerance towards fatty foods and alcohol
• Excessive sweating and unpleasant body odour
• Worsening or onset of hay fever, asthma or skin rashes
• Raised blood pressure or fluid retention.

During detox, increase:

• Water consumption, at least 1.5 litres of fluid a day (but also don’t overdo it - too much water can be dangerous)
• Fresh fruit and fruit juice
• Vegetables: preferably raw, steamed or juiced
• Nuts, seeds and pulses
• Fresh fish, preferably grilled or baked
• Brown rice and rice products, wholewheat
  bread
• Garlic and herbal teas like ginger, peppermint and thyme
• Sprouts — the vitamin and nutrient content of pulses increases when sprouted. They are some of the most nutritious and inexpensive foods you can eat. Mung beans, lentils, chickpeas, adzuki, sesame, barley, soya beans and linseeds can all be sprouted at home.

During detox, avoid:

• Dairy products
• Red meat
• Processed or convenience foods
• Tea, coffee, alcohol — they dehydrate
• Sweets and chocolates
• Smoking (or try to cut down at least) and avoid smoky environments
• Food containing preservatives, colourants and sugar
• Bread, wheat, biscuits and cereals
• Salt — use organic herb and spicy herb
  seasoning like A. Vogel, Bioforce Herbamare and Trocomare or Kelpamare, as a salt substitute
• Sweet, carbonated drinks.

Post-detox you should feel or have:

• More energy
• Fewer allergic reactions
• Better quality sleep

Shape-up wisely by spotting crash
diets for what they are – a total scam
Being thin has become an obsession for many people in the last couple of decades. Not being able to get into your new jeans is seen as a catastrophe on a far greater scale than a deadly virus stalking the world. Right, so how can I fix this, quickly?
It is exactly this attitude on which many of the producers of diet pills, diet shakes, patches, electric pads, injections and diet books capitalise. The promises that are made seem too good to be true and it is really tempting to believe them when you’re feeling desperate.