Silverlakes Dieticians

Juice diets, shakes, smoothies, pills, elimination diets, detox diets are marketed in many different ways. All claim and promise to detoxify the body of built up toxins, reduce acidity levels, strengthen immunity, improve weight loss and many more, but do they actually deliver?

Cleanses have become a multi-million dollar industry, yet there is no scientific evidence showing they work. There's no evidence that they are even safe for everyone to try or even to show that we do have a toxin build up. Most supplements marketed as detox pills, shakes or diets are not regulated and therefore can make unsubstantiated claims.

The liver, lungs and kidneys are the body's detoxifiers. 

Cleanse diets are viewed as fad diets, assuming they are meant for a set amount of time, e.g. 5 day cleanses, surely going back to your normal way of eating would just lead to the same result again (toxin build up, acidity etc)?

The problem with these diets comes in when you don't actually change your eatin...

Eating on a budget doesn't mean living on tinned beans and toast. Healthy food doesn't always need to be expensive.

Eating and shoppig on a budget starts with planning!

1. Planning 

Before you get  to the shops, have a plan of your meals and snacks for the week. 

2. Stock take 

Check what foods and supplies you already have and which you need to buy more of.

3. Always shop with a list

Don't rely on memory, you will most likely get distracted and end up buying unnecessary things.

4. Shop around 

Don't shop hungry! This is one of the main reasons we buy junk foods and snacks we really don't need, but it looks nice at the time, because we are hungry. The local butcher and green grocer probably have better deals than chain supermarkets.

5. Do some price checking between your local shops, see which are better for buying fresh produce, meat, boxed goods etc.

6. Buy fruits and veg that are in season

These are more likely to be cheaper than when they need to be imported out of season.

7. Specia...

Happy New Year!!

Many of us set out each new year with goals or resolutions, which we promise to stick by come thick or thin. Trouble is majority of these resolutions don't get completed or are shrugged off by the end of January!

Topping the list each year are: Losing weight; being more active; eating better; getting outdoors more; sleeping more and drinking more water.

All of which are great goals, but their fault lies in their simplicity.

Setting broad goals like the ones listed above is setting you up for failure already. 

Goals need to be precise, measurable, attainable and realistic. You have to have a plan of how to achieve that goal and a way of knowing if you have already achieved it.

For example: I want to lose weight. This should rather be set out: I want to lose 5 kilograms within 2 months, by eating more regularly, increasing fruit and veg, avoiding sugar and exercising 3 times a week.

Focus on one goal at a time, although often you can kill 2 birds with 1 stone, like exercising...