Myself, Avalon and Kerry have started the new year with a detox.   I believe January is the perfect time of the year to give your eliminative organs a bit of a “tune up” and help to support them in their functioning ability.

When we think about detoxing, I like to use the analogy of our car, which most of us ensure we take to the garage once a year for a tune up – But what about our own “vehicle”, our body?  When you think of everything we have put in our mouth over the year, and then, what has come out or what we have eliminated, often the 2 dont match up.  Some people think that having a bowel motion every 2nd day is efficient enough, however i can assure you, that this really is not regular at all.

Typical symptoms that could point to needing to complete a detox include skin problems, a foggy brain, fatigue, waking and not feeling refreshed from your sleep, headaches, bad breath, an erratic bowel and generally not feeling like yourself.  Of course, these symptoms could relate to other things too, but for a lot of us, they show that we really do need to support elimination better.

We decided to use the Natures Sunshine (NSP) Clean Start detox.  I am a big fan of all of the NSP detox packs.   They really have tried to make these as easy as they can for us, by having single serve packets, rather than a number of bottles of pills, where we take 1 of these 2 of these and 4 of these ones.  What I mean by the single serve packets is they include all of your morning detox capsules in a convenient AM pack and all of your evening capsules in a PM pack.  I love this concept, as it means i really don’t have to think about it and what I have to take – its all there, in a small packet that i can put in my hand bag and take out with me, if I need to.  Thanks NSP!  You really were thinking of people in the real world, where convenience is an important factor too.

The Clean Start comes with the AM and PM pack, but also a powdered fibre supplement that you mix with water and have 30 minutes before eating.  Remember if you take a pharmacy medicine, you must have a good separation of time between taking fibre and anything else, or it may interfere with the absorption of this.  Avalon and I are taking the Clean Start Berry and Kerry the Clean Start Apple Cinnamon.

So myself, Avalon and Kerry are all completing exactly the same detox, however the lifestyle changes we are making while taking this are very different.  Kerry is being super diligent and has made some major dietary changes, Avalon has cut out energy drinks, junk food and take aways and Myself, because I am taking the Super African Mango and have already changed a lot of things in my diet, I am sticking to this.

I have asked Avalon and Kerry to keep a diary of  what they have been doing while completing the detox and I will summarise all of our progress, as we go along.   Heres the start to our Detox post.

So here we go……….

Leanne:  I was really keen to complete a detox, to help me with my weight loss goals while taking the Super African mango.  Because I have been taking the African mango for 2 months now, I haven’t had a problem cutting out foods I shouldnt be eating, or with over eating.   The African mango has really helped to curb those uncontrollable carbohydrate cravings I usually get, and that feeling of  “What can I eat!”.  I have lost my pre occupation with food and finally feel satisfied after eating.  Yippee!

I started the Clean Start detox 1 week ago. Because I have already made a lot of changes, I havnt found it difficult.  Often when you start a detox, head aches and skin breakouts are common, but I didnt notice anything like this.  I have definitely cut my carbohydrate content down at meals and have tried to dramatically increase my water intake.  I have to admit I am not a good water drinker, so this has been harder for me to be diligent about.  What I have done is found some really nice water, that i enjoy drinking.  At the moment I am drinking Gerolsteiner Sprudel Natural Mineral Water, which I absolutely love.  I found this at Farro, for a small $2.95 a bottle (a soft drink can cost more than this).  It sounds poncy to say Im drinking bottled Sparkling water, but it really does feel like a treat to have this and it has helped me to drink more water.  Before I found this water, I had been drinking the Santa Vittoria Sparkling Water, which is available at Countdown and Pac N Save for a small $1.70 -$1.80 a bottle.   Yummy and it feels extra special to drink.

Kerry:  So today is the first day on my detox. After all the overindulging of Christmas and New Year, I am ready to get clean. I can’t think of a better time to do a detox- New Year clean start.   I have decided that whilst on this detox, I will be focusing on having fruit, vegetables, green tea and good protein sources such as eggs, whey protein, pea protein and possibly some fish. I am giving up my coffee, all refined foods and meat.  I started my day taking my CleanStart supplements. I was surprised that the CleanStart cleanse packet, mixed with water, was quite pleasant tasting. The capsules were easy to take- I like that there are only 3 capsules to swallow (as some detox kits have you swallowing a lot more). I have had a little bit of a foggy head today, but otherwise I feel fine.

Avalon: Today we are starting our detox. This is the first real detox that I have done. Well I have done one, but gave up very quickly, so am looking forward to having some other peoples support to keep me on the right track. I am quite abit of a foody so am just going to cut out any of kind of soft drink, energy drink, lollies, choc and most processed foods/takeaways. I am really bad when it comes to taking yukky tasting liquids, so was thrilled when I tried the Fiber sachet in this pack and it was actually nice!!! And having the individual packets made it so much easier too.

Keep checking this post, as i will be updating our progress.

I thought I should give you an update on my use of the Super African Mango Extract Supplement.

I have been taking this for 5 weeks now and I am really pleased with the results I have had from this.  So far, I have lost 3kg and this is without exercising at all (imagine if I had exercise!) .   People have commented that my butt looks  smaller and my stomach a bit flatter.  I  can definitely feel that my cloths are not as tight, so this is great.

For me, the main positive (apart from losing the 3kg) has been that I have lost my obsession with snacking and also the whole “What can I eat” feeling.  I am not as pre occupied with food generally and managed to get through the festivities with not only no snacking, but I also have not felt like drinking as much alcohol either (which has to be good).

I am really focused and want to loose weight, so I am sure this is helping too.  When I make my mind up that I am going to do something,  I find it easy to “stay strong” so with this determination to be slimmer and the help I am getting from the Super African Mango with my appetite, I feel like my goal to lose all of this excess body fat is truly accomplishable.

I have continued to take the 2 capsules first thing in the morning and on the 25th and 26th, I took this twice a day to help my appetite with all the yummy food around.

I have only noticed 1 negative and that is I seem to be a little more constipated, so am having to really watch my water intake to make sure this is not a problem.  I am often a bit slack with my water drinking, so this is helping me to keep this level up.

I will report back in another month and hope I can tell you I have lost a couple more kilos.

I would love to know how it is working for you and what you have found from taking this product.

As I’m getting older, I am definitely finding it harder to maintain my weight at a level that is considered to be healthy for my height and age.  Maybe this is because I am less active than I was previously.  I don’t think my food choices have altered that much, but still,  I just have to look at something yummy (carb and/or fat based) and find I put on a kg or 2.  At the moment, I weigh more than I ever have before (even when I was pregnant 25 years ago!).

Yes, I know all of the rules and tips and what I am Suppose to be doing, but all in all, it is  a constant consideration of what is going in my mouth and how I am utilising this fuel.  I know its about input and out put, but even with this knowledge, I really do struggle.

I think one of my main problems is not feeling satisfied after a meal and as soon as I become bored or idle, I think of carbs and or fats and what can I have.   I believe if I can loose that pre occupation with the What can I eat, I will be 10 steps ahead and would find it easier to loose fat.

So when I heard about the African Mango Seed Extract, I decided to give it a try.  Because I have high blood pressure, I have to be careful what I take, as so many of the weight loss products use stimulants and these would only make my blood pressure worse than it is now.

I have tried heaps of natural weight loss products and have had varying results with these.  When I first started the Super African Mango, I didnt expect a lot from it.  Call me cynical,  but there is a lot of hype out there, especially when it comes to the latest and greatest fat loss product,  and I do not get caught up in any of it.  Instead, I would rather trial it myself and go with my personal experience &/or that of my customers who have also tried it.

So I started taking the Super African Mango Seed Extract about 3 weeks ago.  I have been taking 2 capsules each morning and dont think I have missed a dose.

This is what I have found while taking it.

Like a number of natural plant based weight loss products, the results/effects can take a while to experience.  I did find this with the African mango too.  It probably took 4 or 5 days before I noticed a real difference.

I have noticed 2 main differences since I have been taking the product.   The first is with my blood sugar levels.  I personally notice quite dramatic swings in my blood sugar levels.  Mornings are often a problematic time for me, especially if I do not eat soon enough.  I can feel nauseated and unwell.  Since I have been taking the Super African mango, I have noticed a huge difference in this feeling.  In fact, I can honestly say, that since I have been taking Super African mango, my blood sugar levels have felt very stable in the morning particularly and much better during the day.

The 2nd effect I have noticed is with my appetite.   Ive already mentioned this is one of my problems – controlling my appetite and not over eating and being able to control those cravings.  Well Its almost like a switch has been turned off in my brain.  After taking the Super African Mango I can honestly say I have noticed a dramatic change in my appetite.  Where before I was always looking for something after a meal, at 4pm and in the evening, I no longer get this pre occupation.  I can have my dinner and do not think about eating at all after this.   I finally feel satisfied (What a relief)

An exciting thing that has happened (that i havnt told many people about) is that now when I get on my Balance board and use my Nintendo Wii Fit, my “Mii” is slimmer and my BMI has gone down (obviously as my weight has dropped), which is exciting.  I really love this change, which has only happened since I have been taking the Super African Mango.  Yippee.

The only “negative” thing I have noticed is some days, I DO feel like I would like to take another 1 or 2 capsules, especially around 1pm, to help with my appetite in the afternoon and evening.   The only reason why I say this is a negative, is I will plough through my bottle a lot faster.

I look forward to continuing to notice these exciting changes while taking Super African Mango and would LOVE to know of your experience with this product and encourage you to share these with us on this blog post.

Leanne James

Many people ask me “What one thing can I do that will have the most impact on my health Leanne?” and my answer is always the same “Drink more water”.  As simplistic as this sounds, I have seen the most life altering health problems relieved by at least 50% just by the person drinking more water.  Pain is reduced, energy and clarity is increased and mobility is greatly improved.  I believe that most people are so dehydrated, they are literally seizing up.

The kidneys can’t function properly without enough water.  When they don’t work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver.  One of the liver’s primary functions is to neutralise and eliminate toxins from the body.  But if the liver has to do some of the kidneys work, it can’t operate at full throttle.  As a result of this, the toxicity levels in the body can increase and I believe this is one of the main causes for developing a “disease” condition.

With obesity on the rise we all need to increase our water intake, as water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolise stored fat.  Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.

If you are interested in maintaining or regaining your youthful looks and prevent your skin from drying out and becoming wrinkled, simply drink more water.

Dr F Batmanghelidj MD is the author of 4 books written about his findings, from 18 years of research, on the topic of Water.  In his book “You’re not sick you’re thirsty” he talks about how he has treated more than 3000 cases of a peptic ulcer with water alone.  He refers to this and many other ailments as resembling a thirst “disease”.  He believes that many symptoms develop in the body when it is dehydrated, just as it does when we have a deficiency of anything else – say with a lack of iron and anaemia develops.  The main problems that he believes develop in the body with dehydration are arthritis & joint pain, high blood pressure, heartburn, asthma & high cholesterol.

But how much water should we drink and does the source matter?”  There are so many schools of thought; it is hard to know just who’s information to follow.  We hear about needing 2 litres of water a day, but does this apply to all people?

I believe that all adults need to consume around 2 litres of water a day, however many things will alter this amount.  Many foods and beverages we consume are dehydrating – for example tea, coffee, alcohol & salt.  Whenever we consume any of these, we need another cup of water to compensate for the dehydrating effect it has on the body.  As well as this, exercise and stress also give us a need for more water.  Technique is important though and I believe it is better to sip on the water consistently throughout the day, rather than consuming large amounts all at once.

Dr Paul Bragg PhD believes we should only drink distilled water and if we consume water other than this, it will contribute to developing other health problems.  I can see many benefits in having pure and distilled water, but for those people who do not drink water at all, I believe any water is better than no water.  There are many filter systems available that can hook up to your water at home.  Remember though, your water will only be as clean as your filter is, so change this regularly.

If you do not have access to these kinds of water, simply boil your tap water for at least 5 minutes and once cooled, put into a sipper bottle.  Adding lemon or lime juice (not cordial) will help to flush toxins from your body, so these are a great addition.

Bottom line is, If you have a health issue that you want to get on top of, have an honest look at how much water you are drinking and start sipping.  Don’t worry if you don’t drink the full 2 litres in a day, any is better than none.  Make yourself a realistic goal to start with – say just one sipper bottle that you consume before leaving work for the day and work from here.
You will benefit from any improvement.

I have suffered with insomnia for the last 15 months, so wanted to share with you some of the things I have found that help me. As much as this has been a terribly life altering problem for me, which has affected every part of my life, it has forced me into finding ways to help me to shut my brain off and get into a deep sleep – something I have always been good at and have never had a problem with before this.

So the first thing I did was take our Superior Magnesium to help to sooth my nervous system. I started diligently taking 2 of these approximately 1 hour before bed. This definitely helped. I noticed that after just a couple of days of taking this, I felt less agitated and could relax a little better. My nervous system felt a lot more soothed.

I tried the Tru2U Tart Cherry juice to give myself a natural source of Melatonin, a brain chemical that helps regulate circadian rhythms and sleep.  The body’s ability to produce melatonin is reduced by mood fluctuations, stress, anxiety, a lack of sun and overseas travel. This cherry juice is the only one I know of that contains a natural source of actual melatonin, something that is usually only available via a prescription. The Tru2u Tart Cherry contains the Montmorency tart cherry, the richest source of natural melatonin available in NZ. This is such a natural and safe way to boost up melatonin levels in any age group.  Do be aware, that the juice concentrate contains 10 times more melatonin per dose, compared to the capsules.

I took the amino acid L Theanine. Theanine has been shown to access the brain and nervous system, influencing brain wave activity in similar ways to that of meditation. This makes L-Theanine ideal to take throughout the day during times of anxiety, such as exams, driving or work stress, and where mental alertness must be maintained. This amino promotes production of the relaxing neurotransmitter GABA, which in turn influences serotonin and dopamine for mood stabilisation and feelings of well being.  I noticed a much more soothed effect on my nervous system with this. Theanine is not essentially for insomnia, but more nervous system irritation which may lead to an inability to shut down at night and be able to go to sleep.

I took the herbal formula Valerian Nighttime. This contains the herbs valerian and lemon balm. These herbs have a definite soothing effect on the nervous system. I felt slightly sedated with this formula, which was just what I wanted before going to bed. I had a much deeper sleep with this.

I tried lots of other supplements, but for me, these were the ones that worked the best.

The other things I did were:

I made sure I ate properly throughout the day. If you miss meals or if the time between 1 meal and the other is far apart, your body can compensate for this lack of energy/fuel and make its own fuel, by releasing adrenalin a stress hormone. If you have done this a few times in the day, by the time you get to the evening, there can be so much of this stress hormone circulating in your blood stream, nothing will help you to unwind easily. THE most important meal of the day is breakfast. If you do not eat properly in the morning, and within the right time frame, there is little you can do all day that will compensate for this initial adrenalin hit you had.

The ideal formula for eating is to eat within ½ an hour after waking and then each 2 ½ hours throughout the day. Each meal should consist of protein, your slow burning fuel. Examples of protein are anything that comes from an animal – so meat, fish, eggs, dairy products. Also nuts and seeds and soy products, however we do not suggest the use of soy, unless it is a fermented soy product like Miso or Tempeh. .

So supporting your blood sugar levels is vital for being able to unwind and sleep soundly at night.

Another thing I did was to have an honest look at the amount of caffeine containing beverages and foods I ate and drunk in a day. I noticed that some days I was having 3 cups of coffee a day, so I reduced this to 1 cup, which I made sure I stopped to drink for 5 minutes, so I actually felt like I had had one. I did enjoy this a lot better than 3 cold, half drunk cups on the run. As well as this coffee, I was having 2 or 3 cups of tea a day. A cup of tea contains 2/3 the amount of caffeine as found in a cup of coffee. So when I added this up, it was a lot of caffeine in 1 day. So I swapped to a low caffeine tea. I was hesitant to do this, as I love my cup of tea and didn’t want to feel deprived. The brand I changed to is Madura, which is 100% tannin free and 98% caffeine free, but it still tastes just like tea (they even have an English breakfast)

I also made sure I did not consume any of these beverages after 3pm in the day, as I found that having these any later than this could definitely affect my ability to unwind properly at night. I wasn’t a huge fan of herb teas, but found a couple of “sleepy” teas that I did like and started having these. Remember that green tea contains caffeine, so this is not a suitable alternative, so make sure your herb tea does not contain this.

Anyone who knows me knows that exercise is not my favorite thing, but I started walking a lot more and going to my local beach for a brisk stroll 2-4 times a week. There is nothing nicer than breathing in all of that sea air. I found this to be energizing, but relaxing all at the same time. I felt revitalized after a walk and definitely noticed I slept a lot more soundly on those nights that I had done this walk.

I prepared my bed room for my sleep. I made sure it had been well aired out, so it wasn’t stuffy. A few hours before I went to bed, I put an essential oil burner in my room and vapourised oils that are relaxing, such as lavender, clary sage, neroli, bergamont and chamomile. I really felt these helped to clear my mind and I definitely felt a lot more relaxed on the nights I did this.

I’m a huge cat lover and I love to let my cute and adorable Ocicat sleep in his basket, all snug and sound on top of the dressing table in the spare room. However as part of his routine, he would jump on my bed and wake me up, usually around 3am, so I could let him outside (oh dear!). I hated admitting it, but part of sorting out my insomnia involved finding him a new sleeping place, outside. It took a few nights to sort him out but not having him jump on me to go outside, was also an important step in having a good night sleep and staying asleep. 

I have to tell you that by taking these things and making the life style changes, I didn’t find that one night I all of a sudden started sleeping. But what I did find, was each night I started to sleep more and more soundly, until I work up 1 morning, having not woken once during the night. What a wonderful feeling this was to have finally got into a deep sleep (I can still remember it!)

So if insomnia is a problem for you, hopefully some of these things that I tried will also work for you