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? Our naturopath Rebecca talks about a few ways to get you started.
Are detox products worth taking?
You might have heard ‘our bodies can detox fine without special detox products’. A fair point, if we lived during the stone age. But considering the toxins we face daily in the 21st century, it doesn't make a lot of sense.
The good news is, there are some practical ways to cut down our exposure to toxins. One example is avoiding xenoestrogens by avoiding plastic containers. Stainless steel or glass drink bottles are a great way to reduce exposure, and better for the planet too. Choosing organic produce is another great way to limit exposure to herbicides and pesticides.
Considering all this - if we have herbs that help with detoxification, why not use them?
Research shows that plant extracts support our liver detoxify in many ways:
- Efficient detoxification pathways so you feel energised
- Antioxidant protection for glowing skin
- Healthy glutathione production so your hormones are balanced
- Healthy bile flow for healthy bowel motions and digestion
For liver love: Liver Cleanse
The liver is our ‘master detoxifier’. It can perform 500 tasks simultaneously, even when we’re sleeping.
It removes toxins and waste from our day to day lives, including processing medications and alcohol. It also removes heavy metals like lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium.
Besides detoxing, our livers are important for our health and wellness so looking after them is a must. Thankfully, there are many ways we can show our livers love and support.
4 ways to show your liver some love
- Exercise regularly (aim for 30 minutes per day, most days)
- Maintain a healthy weight, specifically a healthy waist to hip ratio (up to 0.85 for women and up to 0.9 for men)
- Consume alcohol mindfully. Aim for at least two alcohol-free days each week. Women should have no more than two standard drinks per day. Men should limit themselves to three standard drinks per day.
- 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.” – Rebecca, HealthPost Naturopath
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Feed your microbiome: BioBalance Bowel Balance
BioBalance Bowel Balance supports elimination and energy levels - a perfect companion for your spring reset. This blend of gut soothing herbs and prebiotics supports overall gut health and a settled tum.
“BioBalance Bowel Balance is a great complement to BioBalance Liver Cleanse Detox. Together, they provide a holistic approach to a spring cleanse and healthy toxin elimination this season.” – Rebecca, HealthPost Naturopath
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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.
Getting the right amount can be tricky, especially if oily fish isn’t on the menu. For those of us partial to fish, that includes sardines, salmon, mackerel and mullet. For those who aren't into fish or want a more sustainable option, your best bet is algae.
Main motivators for taking Omega 3s can be to support brain, mood, and skin health. It’s also excellent for supporting cardiovascular health and springy joints. People can source fish in a sustainable and responsible way. Our marine sustainability policy guarantees that trusted international marine sustainability groups certify all our fish oil products.
“For health reasons I tend to alternate monthly between a quality Omega 3 fish oil and vegan omega. I like algae omega because it offers a high-quality source of Omega 3 that contains EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Algae is particularly fast growing and needs less water and land area for cultivation. This makes it a super sustainable option.” – Rebecca, HealthPost Naturopath
Vegan Omega-3 by LifeStream contains EPA and DHA, and also offers Vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for happy mood and overall health. This fat-soluble vitamin is 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 fish-based omegas.
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For smooth, supple skin: Collagen
Collagen is super popular and for good reason. Research shows that taking collagen every day for 12 weeks supports skin plumpness and elasticity.
Consistency is important with collagen, so it’s best to take it daily. Collagen levels naturally decline once we hit 25. If smooth, fresh, youthful looking skin is important to you, collagen is your go to.
“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 friend recommended me this product which is always a great vote of confidence. I haven’t looked back.
I 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, I noticed my skin missing its daily collagen after running out for a few weeks, so now it’s one of my supplement staples.” – Rebecca, HealthPost Naturopath
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For all-round wellness: Restful sleep
Spring is a great time to think about our sleep quality and anything that might be affecting it. Physical things like getting enough regular exercise, meditating, and cutting caffeine intake after 2pm are great places to start. If I have worries keeping me awake at night, this herbal remedy is a winner.
“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 at night if you wake up. There’s no need to swallow capsules - it’s as easy as counting out 15 drops. Simple!
You can use this for daytime relaxation as well. The bottle is small and easy to carry. The price is great, offering good value for your money. And, if you need further convincing, it’s suited to the whole family.” – Rebecca, HealthPost Naturopath
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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.