Your guide to detox baths

As part of our Spring Cleansing and Self Care theme, we’ve been focusing on the benefits of detoxification.

This week we’re honing-in on one of my favourite strategies: detox baths. They might win the title of laziest health protocol in existence, but don’t worry. I’m here to share the convenient news that despite being inexpensive and relaxing, baths are an exceptionally effective tool when it comes to lightening the body’s toxic load.

Let’s be honest, the benefits of self-care and slowing down are often underrated in modern life, however many traditional cultures valued therapeutic baths for detoxification and health promotion. In fact, sauna and bath houses are still a widespread phenomenon in many parts of Europe & Asia.

I hinted last week about my reservations towards harsh detox protocols as they can result in depletion. The risk for ‘toxic’ folk (and that’s most of us) is that the toxins can often be reabsorbed due to our eliminat

Theme: Spring Cleansing & Self Care –

Last week we heard from local Naturopath Kristy Plunkett about the importance of regularly – if not, constantly – prioritising lifestyle actions which support the body’s detoxification processes.

This week we’re building on that idea by exploring the concept of spring greens as a seasonal cleansing strategy.

I’ve always been an avid ‘cleanser’ and particularly love the yearly tradition of spring cleansing, which focuses on restoring vitality and coaxing our bodies back into balance after Winter.

I’m not a huge fan of regimented, harsh detoxes, however if you have your heart set on trying something a bit more radical, this is the only time of year I’d recommend it – our bodies are ready and equipped to cope with a bit of a reset.

When it comes to ‘detoxing’ we’re spoilt for choice with protocols to choose from – and, in the online world, there seems to be a widespread mentality of ‘no pain no gain’, with some pretty extr

As we continue our Spring Cleansing and Self Care theme, we’re diving into the topic of detoxification and so I thought I’d draw on the expertise of my good friend Kristy Plunkett.

Kristy is from The Wholistic Life – a highly regarded local Naturopath with over 15 years clinical experience and senior lecturer at Torrens University.

Kristy’s passion is helping others restore the natural balance of health, through safe, natural, ethical and sustainable approaches.

Toxins

Every year, we create thousands more poisons, toxins and chemicals that are dangerous to the body.

Their purpose is to speed up the tasks of cleaning, cooking, travelling, producing food and communicating, but we are now eating, drinking, breathing and otherwise ingesting them at alarming levels.

In addition, every chemical process in the body – and we have tens of millions of them happening every minute – produces toxins that need to be effectively eliminated from the body.

If they aren’t, t

Well, Spring is here. Without a doubt, my favourite season of the year.

Time to move on from our immunity series and dive straight into our next topic: Spring Cleansing and Self Care.

This week I thought I’d focus on one of my all-time favourite foods: asparagus.

Most of us think of asparagus as a delicious, Spring vegetable – one that’s sexy enough to grace every fine dining menu, come early Spring.

And if you’re like me, you may also

have some residual childhood trauma associated with the canned variety – it’s one vegetable that simply doesn’t lend itself to that particular preservation method.

Frankly, I think this should have been more obvious at the time, to whomever came up with the idea!

A prebiotic …

No doubt many of us consider asparagus to be a healthy choice as far as veggies go

If you run in health circles, you’ve probably seen it featured in every ‘top 10’ list of best prebiotic foods.

Prebiotics are a particular type of fibre that f

This week in our immunity series we’re back in my favourite place to find solutions: the kitchen.

 And we’re talking the miracle that is soup… or broth.

Just so you know, I’m steering well-clear of the definition debate (FYI, there’s an all-out war between chefs and nutritionists regarding how they define broth and stock) – I’ve studied in both fields and can see both sides, so am resigned to the using the terms interchangeably.

Theme: Immunity series – Topic: Bone Broth

Meat and fish broths have both been prizedas a ‘cure all’ in traditional cultures. It’s no coincidence that they are central to almost every single regional cuisine. Traditional cultures always consumed the ‘whole’ animal – not just the muscle meat, but the organs and bones too.

Our great grandmothers also recognised the value of broth and how to nourish their families in sickness and in health. The fact that we’ve overlooked the value of broth in recent times is, quite simply, a travesty

Part 2: Laughter Yoga

Last week’s cold shower technique is too commonly relegated to the too-hard basket by beginners.

They tend to underestimate the gain:pain ratio.

If you’re still on the fence, just know that I’m yet to meet someone who committed and had regrets!

This week’s strategy, laughter yoga, which for the uninitiated is the practice of laughing intentionally for no particular reason, draws resistance for the opposite reason.

People mistake its simplicity for inefficacy.

If the ‘no pain, no gain’ adage bears any truth, what could be the point of such silliness?

Why bother, exactly?

Well the current research is beginning to show that laughter, regardless of whether it’s genuine or forced, has some serious potential in terms of modulating the immune system, improving mood and reducing pain and stress.

What’s noteworthy, especially in the midst of flu season, is that laughter has been shown to up-regulate the genes associated with our immune respo

This week, as part of our immunity series, I thought I’d venture out of the kitchen and into the domain of simple, accessible, free and (mostly) enjoyable lifestyle hacks.

I’ve been searching for some of the most effective in terms of boosting overall health and immunity and especially those techniques supported by genuine research.

I’ve always found myself gravitating towards health strategies that are truly empowering.

One of the most frustrating things to witness in the health and wellbeing sector is the heavily marketed notion that the latest gadget, the most expensive test, or the most elaborate supplement regime or powdered superfood is a prerequisite for good health.

Obviously, these things have their place, however the pathway to good health doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.

Very often it’s simply a matter of adopting certain habits which, if practiced consistently over time, produce surprisingly impressive results.

And so, my first and perha