Merran Wood is the owner of One Life Natural Health and has a passion for 'nutrition as medicine' and the healing power of herbs...... 

Wow - Spring is definitely here - love the sunshine - love the hint of warmth in the spring wind.

If you are thinking of 'doing a detox' at this time of the year, consider a few basics that you can do at home before rushing out and buying a detox kit.

LEMON & APPLE CIDER VINEGAR; my two kitchen staples. Both of these are detoxifying for the liver and the whole of the digestive tract. They are also both highly 'alkaline', and will help neutralize an acidic metabolism caused by overindulging on stodgy winter foods. 5ml of either in a half a glass of water every morning before breakfast will give you a daily gentle detox.  Up it to 2 or 3 times a day and give your body a good chance to detox.  Use both in cooking and salad dressings daily to add to your detox. When buying apple cider vinegar make sure it is organic and from the 'mother'. Bragg and Melrose are two of the best brands available....

FRESH VEGGIE AND FRUIT JUICES; If you don't own a juicer - buy one! Or at least visit a juice bar on a daily basis. Fresh juices are highly alkaline, are packed with antioxidant rich bioflavonoids, and are so much better for you than the constituted stuff from the shops. Make sure you combine at least two veg with two fruit combinations for the perfect juice balance.Eg; Carrot, celery, apple & orange. Or beetroot, carrot, pineapple & orange.

GINGER, CHILLI & GARLIC; Add these spices to your daily diet to help stimulate your body's natural detoxification processes, and also to help clear unfriendly bacteria and yeasts that can hang around in the body.

SUNSHINE & SALADS; Hit the salads in spring. Have them as a meal - make them big, varied in ingredients and dressings, and make sure to add protein too. Salads as meals are a sure fire and healthy way to drops some gained winter kilos. They are packed with more nutrients and fibre than any formulated weight loss meal replacement can offer. Make sure to get out in the sunshine (safely of course), as it is a natural appetite suppressant, and will also give the immune system a kick start.

WATER FILTER; Our water in and around Melbourne isn't too bad, but it is still treated water with chlorine and flouride added to it.  These elements make our bodies very 'acidic', and put a load on the immune system and detoxification pathways. I use and always recommend a ceramic water filter.  These are far better quality filters than cheap plastic ones available in most shops, and make the water taste really good too. Southern Cross water filters have a great well priced range, and have the options for both chlorine and flouride filtration.  Visit: http://www.southerncrosspottery.com.au

FOR THE KIDSFRUIT & VEG ICY POLES - If the kids won't drink the fresh juices, turn them into icy poles they can enjoy as a treat.

MAKE THEIR OWN SALAD - Kids love choice, colour and shapes. Let them pick and make their own salads from basic raw ingredients, and you will find them more likely to eat what they have made!

QUALITY DRINK BOTTLES - Avoid nasty plastic residues that contaminate water, and buy the kids a stainless steel water bottle.  These you can get from healthstores, and camping and outdoor shops.

Stay well - Merran

One Life Natural Health