Spring Clean Your Health

…Spring Clean Your Health…

by Rachelle Kazenbroot - Pharmacist at www.netpharmacy.co.nz



Just as we like to give our homes & gardens a “spring clean” our bodies can also benefit from a cleansing programme to rejuvenate our health and vitality.

•     Shake off excess winter weight
•     Boost energy levels
•     Stimulate sluggish digestion
•     Support your immune system
•     Glow with clear & vibrant skin

A cleansing program is sometimes the stimulus many of us need to change our winter eating habits and step into the light, bright and care-free spirit of spring.

Cleansing can be simple, just by increasing your intake of water and fruit and vegetables you will stimulate increased elimination.

Alternatively following a more complete detox program under the supervision of a health professional has many health benefits and is a fantastic annual program.

For all your detox and cleanse needs visit: www.netpharmacy.co.nz/detox-and-cleanse
…Simple Dietary changes…
The following will boost your vitality and ability to cleanse naturally:

(1) Keep hydrated

• Start the day with a lemon and ginger tea- this will stimulate the liver and digestion.
• Consume 8 glasses of water. Remember that herbal teas and fresh vegetable juices are included in this quota. Check out the Planet Organic Detox tea, a convenient way of increasing your fluid intake while supporting elimination.
• Also try adding 5 drops of M&R Essentials Intense Detox Formula 50ml to your daily water bottle. Homeopathic formulas are a safe, gentle and easy way of supporting your body cleanse effectively.

(2) Keep well nourished

• Eat organic as much as you can.
• Consume whole foods including: fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, seeds, whole grains (oats, rye, buckwheat, corn, rice, spelt, millet, amaranth, quinoa), essential fats (nuts, seeds, oily fish, avocado)
• Eat moderate amounts of organic chicken and deep sea cold water fish such as salmon, mackerel and halibut. Avoid canned tuna which can be high in mercury.
• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
• Spring is a great time to increase the amount of raw fruit and vegetables in the diet by about 50% – 75% per day. For example a fresh vegetable juice, a salad and two pieces of fruit per day. Too easy.
• Snack on ripe fruit, particularly apples, between each meal. Swap biscuits and chocolate for natural sugars in fruits is a healthy & nutritious exchange.

Add flavour to your diet with fresh herbs, soy sauce and natural sea salt which is high in over 35 different mineral. Try PRL Premier Pink Salt 340g. Salt is hugely import in supporting your adrenal glands and also your kidney function.

(3) Remain calm and relaxed

Relax during your meal, eat slowly over 20 minutes and chew well.

What to avoid:
Where possible avoid the following as they will deplete you of essential nutrients, compromise your immune system, cause premature aging and leave you feeling fatigued:

•     Sugar and foods where sugar is listed in the first 5 of the ingredient list.
•     Refined or processed foods with chemical additives & preservatives.
•     Fried or oily food,
•     Hydrogenated fats and vegetable oils (found in cakes, margarines and biscuits etc)
•     Alcohol, coffee and cigarettes

    Foods which trigger allergies & intolerances: yeast, wheat, dairy, soy and nuts are the main culprits.

…Simple lifestyle changes…

• Choose natural organic personal products deodorant, shampoo, body wash, toothpaste etc. I have personally tried and tested a range of products from Akin, Avalon, Dr Hauschka, Grown, Kosmea, Perfect potion, Triology, Weleda and many more including some kitchen DIY. They are all wonderful products- no one product will suit everybody and it is important to keep changing your personal products.
• Choose natural organic household chemicals: cleaning agents, sprays, washing powders etc
• Spring clean your living areas including work space, bedroom, living room & car.
• Have a massage. Your body stores toxins, and tension in the muscles. A massage will help relieve the tension and toxins in the lymphatics there by stimulating your immune system and restoring balance.
• Dry skin brushing with a natural bristle stiff brush will help open the pores and stimulate circulation. Brush towards you heart. Elimination of toxins also occurs through the sweat glands in the skin, it has been estimated that the skin eliminates over ½ a kilo of waste per day.
• Practice visualization or meditation every evening before bed. Stress will hinder detoxification.
• Exercise – walk for at least 15 minutes per day

…Simple Cleansing Juices…
You can make at home or order at your local juice bar

Choose 5-6 of the vegetables and herbs from the list below:
celery, fennel, cucumbers, lettuce, endive, spinach, rocket, silver beet, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, bok choy, parsley, coriander leaves, kale, dandelion greens or mustard greens.

Make it taste great by adding:
lemon, fresh ginger, mint or coconut. Try adding M&R Essentials Certified Organic Coconut Oil. Coconut not only taste great is a fantastic antifungal for the bowel.

Optional:
Make your juice into a balanced meal by adding some protein and essential oils:
1-2 raw eggs, freshly ground nuts and seeds (almond, sunflower, pumpkin and flax seeds) chlorella powder, spirulina powder, 1-2 cloves of garlic, 1 tablespoon of oil (cod liver, oil fish oil or flaxseed oil). Try adding Lifestream Certified Organic Chlorella.

Remember:
Try to avoid juicing vegetable that grow under the ground (carrots and beetroot) as these can increase your insulin levels. If you are in good health the addition of ½ kg of carrots or beets per week is a fantastic way to boost your beta-carotene levels.

…Tips for success…

• Planning is important to success. Try planning your meals and doing your grocery shopping on the same day every week. Buy your healthy office snacks for the week on a Monday morning or lunchtime.
• Make a plan B – If despite all your good intentions you forgot to bring in your homemade lunch, familiarize yourself with a few local healthy takeaway bars.
• Try to avoid going into meetings hungry. The result is a drop in blood sugar and an increased likelihood of overeating and choosing low quality foods.
• Prepare yourself for those office birthday cakes – have an alternative snack on hand. You can then allow yourself a sample of the cake to satisfy your taste buds but not your hunger.
• Don’t think about what you are cutting out – think about what you are adding.
• Don’t advertise the changes you are making to your lifestyle – you just increase the pressure.
• Avoid using phrases such as “I’m not allowed” – this leaves you open to persuasion – instead start saying “no thank you, I’ve had enough”. Or simply ‘no thank you”
• Remind yourself constantly of your motives – sell yourself the benefits of making changes to your lifestyle.

How do you know if you will benefit from a cleansing program?
If you experience three (3) or more of the following symptoms then a cleansing program will vastly improve your health and wellbeing.

• Headaches or migraines?
• Skin problems, such as pimples, acne, hives, blotchy or itchy skin, dermatitis or eczema?
• Itchy ears, earache, ear infections, and drainage from the ears or ringing in the ears?
• Watery or itchy eyes or swollen, red or sticky eyelids or bags or dark circles under your eyes?
• Sinus conditions, blocked nose or excessive mucus?
• Recurrent infections?
• A bitter taste in your mouth or a furry tongue?
• Indigestion, bloating, gas, nausea or vomiting sluggish bowels
• Difficulty in losing weight?
• Aching joints and muscles or nerve pain and numbness?
• Infertility?
• Vagueness, poor short-term memory and concentration?
• Sensitivity to environmental chemicals, odors and/ or nutritional supplements?
• Body odour?
• Chronic fatigue and lethargy?
• Insomnia or sleeplessness?
• Depression, anxiety and your mood swings?
• Anemia?

Lifestyle choices can also add to your toxic burden. For example if you:

• Live in a city or by a busy road?
• Spend more than two hours a week in heavy traffic?
• Exercise (jog, cycle, play sport) by a busy road?
• Smoke
• Live or work in a smoky atmosphere?
• Eat non-organic produce?
• Drink more than one unit of alcohol per day?
• Spend a lot of time in front of a TV or pc monitor?
• Drink unfiltered water?
• Recently renovated your home?

Please note that extreme cleanses and detox programs should be avoided. Any extremes will result in a depletion of essential nutrients and will create a negative balance.

Always remember if you have any questions Netpharmacy has a free pharmacist and naturopath consultation service.

Wishing you a truly inspired spring clean.

About Rachelle:
Rachelle is a regular contributor to wisanow who heads an online pharmacy www.netpharmacy.co.nz

Rachelle Kazenbroot, a pharmacist of 17 years, has developed a loyal following among locals for her genuine concern for the individual needs of each customer. With a wide knowledge base and a driving passion for complementary therapies, she is results focused when it comes to customer health care.

Her vision was to create a seamless experience for those who prefer the convenience of on line shopping, by providing quality care and service without compromise.

Rachelle’s background combines two disciplines – as well as being a qualified pharmacist she is also trained in naturopathy – she is able to offer customers both on line and in store, the best of both worlds.

As someone who ‘never sits still’, Rachelle is always addressing the latest developments in the health care industry. Not one to be spoon fed, she is tenacious in carrying out her own research in order to ascertain which products live up to their hype and which products are just tomorrows ‘has beens’.

As a fully hands on Owner and Manager, she ensures that her high service standards are strictly adhered to at all times. She regularly evaluates her product range, looks for gaps in the market and sources new therapies to fill those gaps.

Rachelle encourages dialogue and feedback from all of her customers, and takes the time to evaluate all comments, to ascertain how customers can be cared for to the highest possible standards.

Contact:
customerservice@netpharmacy.co.nz

NZ Freephone: 0508 88 11 88
Auckland: 09 373 4485

International Phone: +64 9 373 4485
International Fax: +64 9 373 4483

109 Parnell Road, Parnell
Auckland 1052, New Zealand