Spring clean your diet

Get more energy, glowing skin and trim down with these fresh top tips for a healthy diet.

1. Stock up on Spring superfoods

Mangoes, papayas and cherries are all loaded with vitamins and antioxidants that boost our immune systems, reduce inflammation fight free radicals and regulate blood sugar levels. These delicious fruits are all in season and taste amazing and are fresh and ripe.

2. Green is go

Whether it’s a smoothie or a tea, green means lean. Both green tea and green vegetables have amazing detoxing powers that help flush and detox your body leading to leaner and fitter as well as boosting you with feel good and look good antioxidants.

3. White to whole

Bin the white food products and choose wholegrain, breads, pastas, brown rice, by doing this you can lengthen your life by reducing heart disease, infections and diseases – you will be rewarded with better digestions, gut health and overall wellbeing. This is an easy change to make your diet healthier.

4. Ditch dehydrating drinks

Did you know coffee, alcohol, and most soft drinks dehydrate your body leading to bloating and overloading your liver? Switching to water will instantly help your body flush out toxins and control your appetite. Thus giving you glowing skin and more energy. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime to your water, not only will it add flavour but will assist in flushing your system.

5. Grow your own

Fresh is best, if you can grow it you will sew it. Whether it’s a homemade vegetable patch, a herb garden or pot in your kitchen, you will reap the rewards in health and flavour by growing your own. Planting a few seedlings will save you money in the future whilst helping children understand where food comes from. Additionally it could encourage more interest in eating fresh fruit and vegetables. What a fun way to promote a healthy diet!

6. Power the prebiotics

Gut health is essential for your body to absorb essential nutrients. Without good gut health no matter what you put in your body, it may not absorb all the vitamins and minerals it needs for essential health. Prebiotics work in conjunction with probiotics (yoghurt live bacteria foods). Thus promoting the growth and function of good bacteria in the gut. Prebiotics are found in indigestible food fibres that move through the digestive tract and feed the good bacteria. One to two serves a day of prebiotics helps feed the good bacteria in your gut and support immune function. Great prebiotic foods are bananas, whole oats, wheat bran, rye bread, barley, onions, leeks, celery, garlic, green vegetables and soybeans.

7. Add colour

The brighter the colour of your fresh fruit and vegetables the more vitamins and minerals they contain. By eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables helps ensure you get enough of the different nutrients you need for a healthy diet.

Red, blue and purple fruits and vegetables contain anthocyanins, and red fruits and vegetables contain lycopene. Anthocyanins have antioxidant properties that help limit damage caused to your cells by free radicals and may also lower your risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer, macular degeneration and memory problems. Lycopene may help lower your risk for cancer and heart disease. These brightly colored fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins and minerals such as potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C and folate.

8. Clean pantry and fridge

De-cluttering old and out-of-date food will make you feel instantly lighter and happier. Throw out everything past its use-by date, give shelves a good clean and put everything in order. Not only will this inspire you to eat better but it will make you feel fresher.

• cooking
• diet
• healthy
• spring