Message from the CEO Debbie Tyldesley

Listening to 5FM Radio the other day and also after watching Top Billing on TV, I learned of a few DJ's and TV Presenters who had decided to make their New Year a year of Good Health and Detoxification.  I know that I had a merry-go-round of visitors armed with delicious wines, champagnes, chocolates and cakes on a daily basis and I, in turn visited friends with the same.    It came to mind some very good advice I got from a top Herbalist in the country, Dave Hext, on liver detoxification and I want to share this with you.

Detoxification generally means to rid your body of harmful toxins and therefore one needs to start thinking of what you put in your body without imagining some unattainable goals. 

Start your day off with an apple stewed in a little water.  Drain the water off and spoon over with a good low fat, either plain or fruit flavoured yoghurt.  Drizzle with a little honey and strew some toasted seeds over.  It is delicious and addictive and your liver loves it!  I have this quite often and find it cleansing.

It is important to give your liver a chance to recover by lessening the load that it has to filter.  Apples are particularly detoxifying.

I do believe in fasting for a day or cutting back to having two small meals a day for the first 2 - 3 days, thereafter making sure my portions are smaller, just the size of your fist and then cutting out all carbohydrates i.e. rice, potatoes, pasta and breads at night.  Rather learn to spice up your vegetable and salad dishes with herbal flavourings and salts (plenty available from your supermarkets and health stores) and possibly eat lean fish, chicken or meats, be it beef, pork or lamb, if you eat meat.

For Detoxification, we offer the following:

Phyto-Force Phyto-Cleanse Tea which has 6 herbs boldo, buchu, fennel, nettle, peppermint and senna which is great for cleaning the digestive tract, detoxifying the liver, gallbladder, kidneys and lymphatic system.  It can also be used as a slimming aid.

Phyto-Force Milkthistle Tincture and Tea which regenerates liver cells, stimulates bile flow and is generally good for liver damage.

Phyto-Force Dandelion Tincture and Tea which is an excellent liver tonic, is  particularly recommended for chronic joint and skin complaints, gout, gallbladder and urinary disorders, gallstones, cirrhosis, dyspepsia with constipation, eczema and psoriasis.  Dandelion is known as the "fat burner" for its ability to cut through fat and dissolve it.  This my favourite detox herb.

 Phyto-Force Artichoke is excellent for poor digestion and helps reduce cholesterol.  It is particularly recommended for chronic liver & gallbladder diseases, Arteriosclerosis, Hepatitis, chronic Albuminuria and Anaemia.

Bio-Logic Pure-Logic is a blend of herbs containing Guava, Nettle, Dandelion and Milkthistle which promotes the elimination of toxins from the body and is an excellent blood purifier.

One final delicious, detoxifying salad which I learned from an excellent cookery school teacher.

Ingredients:  Spinach or Swiss Chard leaves broken into smaller pieces *  1/2 cup Toasted pecan nuts *  1 Camembert of Brie Cheese cut into bite size pieces *  4 large apples  *  1/4 cup of Honey  *  1/4 cup Apple Juice  *  Crushed Garlic  *  1 tsp Mustard  *  1/4 cup of oil  *     3 Tbsp Cider vinegar  *  salt & pepper to taste.

Peel and core apples and cut into slices about 2cm thick  *  Arrange on a baking sheet or pan, brush with honey and bake until golden  *  Place spinach on a large platter  *  Add cheese  *  Spread apples and toasted pecans  *  Whisk together Apple juice, garlic, mustard, oil, cider vinegar, salt & pepper  and heat in a saucepan  *  Pour over salad and serve immediately whilst dressing is still hot. 

Finally, if one wants to detoxify and watch ones health, one cannot go without the advice of drinking lots of fresh filtered water, preferably not bottled, eat as much fresh vegetables, particularly raw as well as fruit (a fruit salad covered with yoghurt, honey and seeds is as delicious, refreshing and detoxifying) and cut down ones alcohol consumption completely.  If you have to have it, an occasional glass of red wine can be good for you.  Definitely stop smoking, if you smoke!   Smoking most definitely causes most diseases such as cancers, liver diseases, circulatory and heart diseases!  It is quite simple, put it in your mind that you no longer have access to cigarettes because you value your health and never, never think of them again .  You will be so glad you stopped!  I gave up smoking ten years ago in that very way and I never, never want to smoke again.  It is definitely a mindset that you have to change.

Wishing you all a wonderfully Healthy and Prosperous 2010 filled with love, laughter and adventure and remember it is good to detoxify every three months or so.

Yours in Good Health

Debbie Tyldesley