Spring has sprung but you're still feeling low? Energize your body and get leaner with these tips by our in-house nutritionist, Rick Hay.
Spring is the perfect time to give your body a tune-up or reboot, especially after the over indulgence that is often associated with Easter.
One of the best things that you can do to reboot is to start each day with a nourishing plant-based protein smoothie - these healthy smoothies help with weight management, balance blood sugar levels and help with natural energy production.
It is best to make sure that these smoothies include both fruit and veggies as this combo will help to reduce cravings and keep blood sugar steadier than if you go for straight fruit option.
You will start the day on a good note with one of these smoothies as they will help to increase your fibre intake - this, in turn, helps with digestive function and can assist with both cleansing and elimination.
Fibre also helps with the health of your microbiome - a healthy microbiome is essential for overall wellbeing and may even boost immune function and mood.
A couple of my favourite smoothies are:
Green Cleansing Dream
A handful of spinach
200mls rice milk
1 serve of Sunwarrior Plant-Based Protein
1 banana
1 date
Red Energy Delight
A handful of berries - any variety fresh or frozen
A handful of kale
200 ml of coconut milk or coconut water
1 serve of Sunwarrior Plant-Based Protein
1 small beetroot
You could also add a teaspoon of a turbocharging alkaliser like Synergy Natural Organic Spirulina or Barley Grass.
The addition of this booster will also increase antioxidant levels of your smoothies and will provide extra enzymes and phytonutrients.
These super shots contribute to a more nutrient-dense diet and this is a good thing for spring as diets that are high in nutrient density are generally better for weight management and immune function.
If preferred you could do a green shot mid-morning and/or mid-afternoon as the chlorophyll in these nutritious shots will help to increase energy at a cellular level.
They also contain magnesium for nervous system support as well as iron to further help fight lethargy and fatigue.
Synergy Natural also do organic Wheat Grass and Chlorella ( great for heavy metal detox ) as well as a Supergreens Blend of Spirulina, Chlorella, Barley Grass and Wheat Grass.
In order to give yourself an easy nutritional makeover you should also eat more vegetarian or vegan meals - you could even try a couple of vegan or veggie days each week.
Plant-based diets are linked too better overall health with recent studies suggesting that they could lower the risk of many of today’s common health problems including cardiovascular disease.
Another good way to help with a spring cleanse would be to include more soups into your diet - these should include pulses like chickpeas, beans and lentils together with vegetables and vegetable stock.
Soups like these can help with feelings of fullness and also help with hydration.
If you also add some thermogenic spices like chilli, ginger, cayenne or turmeric to these soups you can help promote thermogenesis - this helps the body to burn more efficiently and also helps to boost circulation.
I advise doing this type of tune-up or simple diet reboot before embarking on a full-on detox - a reboot is less taxing on the system and paves the way for a healthier more effective detox down the track.