Summer Detox Part 2: Back to Basics

In Summer Detox Part 1: Heavy Metal Detox, Bonnie Pockley introduced a fun and easy way to start the summer detox process by way of a heavy metal cleanse.  Now its time to go back to basics, to give you your best beach body ever!

The sun is out and the days are fine, the smell of blossom fills the air and on the weekend, your friends want to go to the beach. Yes, it’s almost Summer; the season of shorts, bikinis and long languorous days. It’s the perfect time to spring-clean your body and get your eating habits back on track to look, and feel, your best. So, let’s get back to basics and start summer with some detoxification and a reminder of the principles of good eating. At TONIC SUPERFOODS we believe that the more good stuff you add in, the less of the other stuff you need to worry about. Remember: the best way to get rid of bad habits is to replace them with good ones!

Drink MSM every morning:

MSM is a powerful blood cleanser and detoxifier. Drinking a teaspoon to a tablespoon in water every morning is one of the best things your can do to kick start your metabolism and set you up for a good day. MSM helps digestion and supports the synthesis of collagen, making it an all round must for glowing skin and a beating the dreaded bikini bloated belly. MSM tastes bitter so disguise the taste with some organic honey or a squeeze of lemon juice.

Click Here for Tonic Superfoods MSM

Alkalise your body:

In order for your body to operate at its optimum level your blood needs to be alkaline. When it becomes acidic, your kidneys work overtime to regain a blood ph level of around 7.45. Beyond this, an acidic system is aging, inflammatory and aggressive to your body because it leeches calcium and other mineral from your skeleton to redress acidity in the blood. Fruit and vegetables alkalise your body so eat plenty of them and avoid acidic foods like glutenous grains (oats, rye, wheat,) refined dairy, sugar and excess coffee. I don’t say ban coffee altogether here because coffee has certain health benefits that offset its acidity. Coffee brewed fresh and black is a great blood cleanser so oft for a Long Black or a Long Macchiato instead of your usual Flat White. TONIC SUPERFOODS smoothies are also the ideal meal or snack during a hot summer day because they are quick, easy, nutrition and delicious! Water also alkalises your body so make sure you are drinking your 8 glasses every day.

Stay away from processed foods:

Processed foods are often highly toxic. As we’ve mentioned before on this blog, processed foods often contain nasty chemical, GM additives, high amounts of sugar and fat and are difficult for your body to process and are thus stored as toxic build-up. Added to this, inorganic foods are sprayed with pesticides and herbicides that contain heavy metals. It is fair to say, the more human interference involved with food production the more likely it to make you look and feel unhealthy, contribute to weight gain and illness. The most important guideline under this topic heading is to get rid of sugar and flour! If you are serious about your health, cut them out of your diet as much as you can.

Eat nutrient rich food from organic sources:

Organic food is what food should be and means that it hasn’t been sprayed, waxed or tampered with during its production. Organic food also has a higher nutrient value, better taste and is environmentally sound. TONIC SUPERFOODS are a great place to start with eating organic because they contain higher mineral and vitamin levels than other foods, stay fresh on your shelf (no more having to throw out old fruit and veg because you haven’t got around to eating it), tastes delicious and leaves you satisfied. Added to this, your body will feel more energised, look healthy and perform better.

Eat good quality protein at almost every meal: 

Add protein to a detox? It may sound strange but protein is very important to detoxification. Your body required amino acids (protein building blocs) for almost every process in your body. Protein also keeps you feeling full and is an important part of any weight loss plan. This doesn’t mean you have to eat steak at every meal but rather to be mindful of including protein in your diet. Did you also know that TONIC SUPERFOODS Bee Pollen is richer in protein than beef? There are many ways to include protein in your diet so be creative and try something different like adding a spoonful of bee pollen to your favourite smoothie. You’ll love the taste!

Click here for Tonic Superfoods Bee Pollen

Stress-less:

Stress has become a past of our modern lifestyles. We never have enough time to stop and enjoy what matters to us. Stress contributes to almost every illness making it important for us to find the time to unwind before we pay the price later. Use the beautiful weather as an excuse to sit in the park or go to the beach and tune out to other people’s demands on your time. Taking even just 15 minutes a day for yourself will help keep stress levels down and make you feel slightly more human again. You’ll find the less stressed you are, the better food choices you make and the happier you will feel. Magnesium is also a great stress-buster so make sure your smoothies contain some of TONIC’s high magnesium Raw Cacao.

Click here for Tonic Superfoods Raw Cacao

By Bonnie Pockley

Summer Detox Part 1: Heavy Metal Detox Naturally

By Bonnie Pockley

Heavy metals are everywhere. They are in our food, in our cleaning products and in our packaging. By now you’ve most certainly heard of high levels of Mercury in fish but there are also other, harmful, heavy metals almost everywhere you look including the air you breathe and the water you drink.  Of the 20 or so classified heavy metals, the main four that are harmful to human health are: Lead, Cadmium, Mercury and Inorganic Arsenic.

With modern day industrial production, environmental contamination and exposure to heavy metals has become a growing, and very serious, problem.  Heavy metals may be taken into the body in several ways: via ingestion, inhalation and skin absorption. This is often through the consumption of processed foods containing residual contaminants from industrial manufacture, skin contact with household products and particulate pollution in the air through industrial waste.

The accumulation and build-up of heavy metals in the body is dangerous and often contributes to unexplained poor health. Heavy metals affect the central and peripheral nervous system causing depression and mental illness as well as having nephrotoxic (toxic to kidneys), fetotoxic (toxic to a foetus) and teratogenic (the ability to cause malformation to an embryo or foetus) effects. They are also known to have an impact on and to be associated with the gross dysfunction of energy producing pathways, metabolic pathways as well as impairing reproductive and eliminatory organs (colon, liver, skin, intestines, spleen).

‘No matter how many good health supplements or procedures one takes, heavy metal overload will be a detriment to the natural healing functions of the body… Even minute levels of toxic elements have negative health consequences, affecting nutritional status, metabolic rate, the integrity of detoxification pathways…Disruption of the metabolism and balance of nutrient elements results in marked aberrations in the metabolism of carbohydrate, protein/amino acids, lipids, neurotransmitters and hormones.’

(http://tuberose.com/Heavy_Metal_Toxicity.html, access date: 18.10.10)

How do you get rid of Heavy Metals in our system?

Heavy metals are eliminated from your system through chelating agents and are excreted through your urine. Be it preventative or as a means of treatment, TONIC SUPERFOODS believes that an important part of any detox is a heavy metal cleanse (which is why we’ve included it as Part 1 of our Summer Detox Plan). This, however, doesn’t have to be painful or expensive. Some of the best chelating agents are garlic and coriander. Below is a delicious recipe that doubles as a fantastic heavy metal chelating agent:

HEAVY METAL DETOX PESTO:

·       4 cloves garlic

·       1/3 cup Brazil nuts (selenium source)

·       1/3 cup sunflower seeds (cysteine source)

·       1/3 cup pumpkin seeds (zinc, magnesium sources)

·       2 cups packed fresh coriander (Vitamin A source)

·       1 teaspoon TONIC SUPERFOODS Maca Powder

·       1 teaspoon TONIC SUPERFOODS MSM (sulphur source)

·       2/3 cup Avocado oil

·       4 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions:

Blend all ingredients together and store in the fridge in a jar. Add to food over the course of the week and enjoy!

NB: Please consult a doctor is you are concerned about serious heavy metal poisoning. or exposure.

Below is a list of the origins of some common heavy metals and negative side effects they might have:

Aluminum -- Is found in aluminum foil, cans, baking powder, cosmetics, cheese, fireworks, dental amalgams, deodorants, drugs, toothpaste, pesticides, pollution, table salt (you can substitute with natural sea salt), nasal spray, cookware, vehicle exhaust, aspirin and more.

Aluminum can cause learning disabilities, Alzheimer's, dementia, dry skin, anemia, headaches, liver dysfunction, memory loss, Parkinson's, heartburn, peptic ulcer, psychosis, Aluminum tends to accumulate in the kidneys, liver, brain, reproductive organs, muscles, stomach. Some of the common symptoms of aluminum are headaches, abnormal heart rhythm, depression, blurred vision, numbness in hands and feet.

One of the most well known health problems caused by aluminum is Alzheimer's and dementia. The use of aluminum in many products used on a daily basis may be the reason there is such an increase in the number of people who have these health problems.

Arsenic -- Is found in some seafood, is used in galvanizing and power plants, is found in pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, desiccants and wood preservatives and riot control gas. There is arsenic in the air due to the burning of wood coal, metal alloys and arsenic waste.

It can cause anemia, malaise, fatigue, spontaneous abortions, dermatitis, skin lesions, peripheral neuropathy, encephalopathy, cardiovascular distress, Raynaud's phenomenon, hypertension, myocardial infarction, hearing loss, cardiovascular disease, cancer of the skin, liver or respiratory tract.

Beryllium -- Is found in household products, coal, spark plugs, microwave tubes, photographic equipment, etc.

The lungs are the target organ of beryllium toxicity and may be a cause of lung cancer. It may also cause contact dermatitis, ulcers, magnesium depletion, organ dysfunction and disturbance of calcium and vitamin D metabolism.

Lead -- Is in auto exhaust, batteries, cigarette smoke, inks, cosmetics, household dust, hair dyes, lead pipes, pottery, liver, canned fruit, pesticides, pencils, paint, newsprint, toothpaste, putty, PVC containers, tin cans and water.

It can cause adrenal insufficiency, behavioral disorders, cardiovascular disease, loss of coordination, depression, constipation, fatigue, anxiety, anemia, allergies, immune suppression, decreased IQ, insomnia, joint pain, kidney disorders, liver dysfunction, memory loss, menstrual problems, muscle aches and weakness, multiple sclerosis, myelopathy, Parkinson's disease, restlessness, seizures, stillbirths, sudden infant death syndrome, and lots more.

Lead also affects cognitive development in children such as retardation, learning difficulties and behavioral problems.

Mercury -- Is found primarily in dental amalgams. It is also found in air conditioner filters, batteries, body powders, newspapers, laxatives, medications, vaccines, fungicides, grains, insecticides, paints, Preparation H, tattoos, diuretics, thermometers, paper, fluorescent light bulbs, skin creams and ointments.

Mercury tends to concentrate in the kidneys and brain. It can cause dementia, colitis and renal failure in people who have used laxatives containing mercury. Other health problems include bronchitis, fatigue, insomnia, loss of memory, chest pains, gingivitis, anxiety, adrenal dysfunction, brain damage, dizziness, eczema, immune dysfunction, migraines, pain in limbs, vision loss, hyperactivity, hypothyroidism, kidney damage, memory loss, joint pain, depression, mental retardation, anorexia, nerve impairment and chronic viral, bacterial and fungal illnesses.

(http://www.natural-cure-remedy.com/heavy-metal-detox.html, access date: 18.10.10)

Strong Bones, Strong Body: maintain your bone health with SUPERFOODS

By Bonnie Pockley
Did you know that healthy bone is half as strong as steel in resisting compression and fully as strong as steel in resisting tension?1 Did you also know that the body leeches (resorbs) calcium from bones to control blood calcium levels as calcium is used in an extensive number of the body’s regulatory systems?

Bone ‘resorption’ in offset by bone ‘repair’ to the extent that our thigh bone, for example, is fully replaced every 6 months. The human body does not actually act to preserve the skeleton’s strength and wellbeing but to maintain blood-calcium homeostasis and without adequate nutritional intake our blood calcium levels drop dangerously. Extended periods of low blood calcium levels demineralise our bones so much that they develop large, punched-out-looking holes. Taking a calcium supplements is, however, problematic and will not improve the health of your bones. As calcium supplements are generally made of ground down shell and other hardened or ‘calcified’ forms of the mineral, the calcium content of most supplements isn’t readily available to your body for use. Further more, these forms of calcium actually cause calcification throughout the body, decrease flexibility and exacerbate inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.


Want to maintain functional strength as well as prevent osteoporosis, arthritis and other conditions relating to the deterioration of bone mass?


Did you know that magnesium and silicon play as big a role as calcium in the intracellular balance that is conducive to bone health?


Silicon, in fact, not only reduces the number of bone destroying cells but also partially prevents bone resorption and bone damage. 2 Studies have also shown that with every 100mg supplementation of magnesium (consider here that 50% of the body’s total magnesium is found in bone), bone density increase by 2%! 3






Complete bone health is dependant on a variety of bioavailable vitamins, proteins and minerals: vitamin C, vitamin D, Vitamin A, several minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese) and silicon.


Where do you find the richest source of most of these? Superfoods!


Raw Cacao contains more magnesium, and Camu Camu contains more vitamin C, than any other food substance. Bee Pollen contains high levels of all essential amino acids and bone repairing minerals calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and manganese. MSM synthesises and increases the level of silicon that is available to the body. Supplementing your diet with these good quality, organic tonic foods will not only improve your physical well being but improve your performance, strength and endurance during training.






1) Marieb & Hoehn, ‘Human Anatomy and Physiology, Bones and Skeletal tissue, Pearson International Edition, 2010.


2) Silicon: An Overlooked Trace Mineral; www.arthritissupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/739 v8/18/2003


3) Stengler, M. Magnesium Is the Key to Strong Bones, http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/hot_topics.html?aid=38200&sid=hottopo2, 25/9/10

Hormone health at any age

Dr. Sherrill Sellman is the premier educational leader worldwide, when it comes to the issues of women’s hormones and the havoc forced upon us by the orthodox medical establishment. Sherrill is a dynamic and powerful speaker who entertains as she educates, revealing the truth behind the myriad of deceptions in the field of women’s health.
Join Tonic Superfoods in Melbourne for some of the most important lectures and workshops you will see in Australia, empowering women to embrace their feminine selves as they journey towards rejuvenating mind, body and soul.  “Turning Back the Clock – Restore, Regenerate & Rejuvenate Your Hormones at Any Age” Workshop for women to explore these subjects at a deeper level, offering solutions and strategies to reclaim your health and your life.

• Are Bio-identical Hormones – Harmful, Helpful or Hype?
• Learn when you should and shouldn’t use Bio-identical hormones
• Learn the BEST program to maintain:
  • Desired weight • Strong bones • Happy moods • A sharp focused memory
  • Deep regenerative sleep • Vibrant beautiful skin • Feeling sexy and a strong libido
• Learn the best ways to balance hormones with supplements, herbs, and nutrition
• Learn the myths and truths of bone health and why Calcium can harm you
• Learn how to reclaim your waist, & your ideal weight and safely lose a pound a day
• Discover a revolutionary way to regenerate youthful, wrinkle-free skin and avoid expensive, temporary synthetic fillers and toxic muscle relaxers
• Discover why your adrenals, thyroid and digestion rule your hormones and how to restore them
• Learn simple, practical tests you can do at home to assess your hormones.

Click here to find out more about attending Dr Sellman's Workshop or Lecture in Melbourne.

Why eat Superfoods?

By eating superfoods you are fuelling your body with proteins, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, coenzymes, good fats and oils, essential amino acids, glyconutrients, polysaccharides and essential fatty acids.

Just eating healthy these days isn’t enough.  Many healthy fruits and vegetables are grown in soils that are deficient in nutrients. Superfoods contain many of these missing nutrients & will help to restore the balance in a modern life.

Hormonal balance

Hormonal imbalance has an ENORMOUS effect on weight gain. Cortisol, Insulin and Oestrogen are particularly culpable. Cortisol is the ‘stress’ hormone that may be released by environmental, emotional or even physical stressors. Prolonged exercise can even increase levels of cortisol leading to an increase of fat stored around your belly. Oestrogen, similar, stores weight in a particular way. Increased levels of Xenoestrogens (industrial compounds that act like oestrogen in the body but are artificial and unable to be metabolised) lead to weight gain in the lower parts of the body (legs, thigh, hips) and in the bicep area of the arm. Xenoestrogens are toxic to our systems and have been linked to the development of endometriosis, breast cancer and cysts. Xenoestrogens also increase the level of naturally occurring Oestrogen in the body producing what is known as Oestrogen Dominance. Oestrogen Dominance leads to a ‘pudgy’, ‘soft’ appearance because the dominance of this hormone compounds water retention and weight gain. Xenoestrogens are found in plastic wrap, cleaning products and of course it is contained in the contraceptive pill. Oestrogen itself can be found in many foods including tofu, soy, soymilk, chickpeas, non-organic meats and many more.

Insulin is another hormone responsible for weight gain when out of balance. Insulin is secreted when we eat to instigate energy uptake by our cells. To control weight, our insulin levels must be evenly maintained and the GI index system was developed as a way of understanding the ‘spiking’ effect of high sugar foods of our insulin levels. The higher the sugar content of food, the greater the release of insulin which also leads to the greater the amount of energy stored in our bodies as fat. Maintaining these levels in also an important part of preventing diabetes and hyperglycaemia. (high blood sugar levels)

What can you take to balance out fluctuation hormone levels in your body? 

MACA

Maca is a root vegetable that naturally balances your endocrine system. Maca is an ‘adaptogen’ so it redresses balance where imbalance exists within the human body. Because the endocrine and central nervous systems are cyclical in nature and are based on fluctuating levels, Maca balances out excessive hormonal levels without negative effect. This means is combats high levels of Cortisol, Oestrogen and regulates Insulin release.  Maca also contains high levels of essential minerals including selenium, calcium, magnesium and iron as well as much needed quantities of linolenic, palmitic, oleic acids, fatty and amino acids. If you have a lot of weight to lose, Maca will also assist in skin elasticity and the ability of your skin to adjust quickly to the weight loss.

Maca and women:

Maca, however, does not directly affect hormone levels. While it has been said to treat conditions ranging from acne to endometriosis, it is the high nutritional level of Maca that supports the endocrine system by nourishing its function and indirectly producing such promising results. Maca contains high levels of essential minerals including selenium, calcium, magnesium and iron as well as much needed quantities of linolenic, palmitic, oleic acids, fatty and amino acids. The supplementation of Maca, therefore, is enormously beneficial to women suffering from anemia, menstrual cramps, brittle hair and nails, stress, acne, skin condition and low energy. Simply put, Maca is of great benefit for both general use and specific but common complaints. For serious or continuous conditions Maca should be used in a supportive capacity only and in conjunction with medical examination and treatment.

Click here to purchase Tonic Superfoods Maca Powder

MSM

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is one of the most broadly applicable tonics for the body. While the name is overwhelming, MSM is simply an organic form of sulphur found in a normal human diet and used by the body in an extraordinary number of its processes. Sulphur is found in the hair, nails, skin and bones and is used broadly as an anti-inflammatory as well as a powerful device of detoxification and cell regeneration.

Entering the diet through the ‘sulphur cycle’, MSM is first released by plankton into the atmosphere, where ultraviolet light converts the mineral into Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO): the precursor to MSM. It then enters our soil and is absorbed by plant matter after it rains and through the consumption of fruits, vegetables and some plant grazing animals, becomes available to us as an important part of our natural mineral intake. Unfortunately, today’s mineral content of our soils is poor and sulphur is often found to be deficient in our diets and must, as a result, be supplemented. MSM is not only a component of many of the amino acid building blocks of our cells but by increasing the flexibility and permeability of the cell membrane, ensures its integrity. Such permeability also allows toxins that have built up inside the cell to be released.

MSM and women:

The supplementation of MSM is of enormous benefit for women. Not only can MSM help prevent such degenerative conditions as Osteoporosis and Arthritis but its supplementation can be used to treat cellulite and to prevent ‘aging’. As sulphur is required for collagen synthesis and the development of the connective tissue fibres of bones, hair, teeth and skin it plays a significant role in promoting and maintaining their health. With more MSM in our diet our cells stay buoyant, clean of toxins and youthful! MSM is a powerful beauty tonic.

Click here to purchase Tonic Superfoods MSM

Cacao

Cacao is a great source of phytonutrients including aminos, protein, omega-3, calcium, zinc, sulphur, copper, potassium, beta-carotene, chromium and magnesium.

Magnesium is critical for muscle relaxation, circulation, and heart health.  It is the most abundant mineral found in the heart. Magnesium helps us to relax, and prevents us from getting overly stressed. Chromium is a mineral that is critical for helping us to regulate our blood sugar. It helps our cells to become more sensitive to insulin.  Insulin resistance also known as pre-diabetes is a condition that affects many people living in western countries, whilst Chromium helps us bring insulin levels back into balance, re-sensitizing  our cells to insulin. Our bodies can then utilise glucose (blood sugar) as fuel.  Without balanced blood sugar, our brain function, muscle function and overall well being is affected

Cacao and women:

The high levels of  magnesium contained in Cacao are a wonder for women during their menstrual cycle.  During the menstral cycle, levels of magnesium in the body drop, which can lead to migrane head aches and cramping.  The magnesium found in Cacao, can assist in easing these symptoms, as well as assisting with water retention and weight gain that are caused by low levels of aldosterone which is produced by adrenal gland as resulting of magnesium deficiency . Cacao  also contains Penylethylamine (PEA). PEA is a chemical associated with love and optimism. When we feel good our PEA levels increase. When we ingest PEA rich foods such as cacao our mood also is likely to become elevated, and every woman wants to feel as good as she can during that time of the month!

Click here to purchase Tonic Superfoods Cacao Powder

Bee Pollen

Bee Pollen is a complete protein containing 17 amino acids, is a rich source of B vitamins, and is also one of nature’s richest naturally occurring sources of lecithin.  Eating bee pollen has been shown in studies to help our immune system.  It is also a rich source of enzymes, vitamins and minerals.  Furthermore, the human body is made up of 22 essential elements, Bee Pollen is the only food to contain all of them.

Bee Pollen and women:

Stress affects most functions of the body including metabolism and detoxification. When we ‘stress’ our body leeches high levels of mineral and uses up vitamin stores to manage excess hormone levels that need to be balanced, metabolised and excreted. The more prolonged stress is, the more impaired these processes are. A Vitamin B complex is also extremely important in stress management. As Vitamin B is a water-soluble vitamin that isn’t produced by the body and isn’t stored, it must be continuously replenished. Furthermore, Vitamin B is deficient in most diets.

B-Vitamins are commonly associated with and commonly used to treat:

· Stress

· Nervousness

· Anxiety

· Cardiovascular system health

· Poor energy levels

· Skin, Hair and Nails

· Our immune system

Not all vitamin B supplements are the same. The beauty of TONICSUPEFOODS BEE POLLEN is that unlike supplements, Bee Pollen is a food substance that is easily absorbed, high in protein and contains high levels of B vitamins as well as essential amino acids!

Click here to purchase Tonic Superfoods Bee Pollen

ANTI-AGING: How to maintain vitality and vibrancy with SUPERFOODS!

By Bonnie Pockley

We all age, whether we like it or not! It is certainly a natural process and part of being human. When we discuss anti-aging here we are talking about the idea of promoting vitality through our cellular health. Wonderfully, this often corresponds to a better external appearance. ‘Anti-aging’ is all about preventing or slowing down degeneration, which is a process you do in ADVANCE. 

So listen up all you young things! Anti-aging affects you and is a process that starts now!

As with weight loss, detoxification is an important part of maintaining health and vitality. Toxins are acidic in our blood and literally eat away at our cells as well as overloading our digestive, lymphatic and eliminatory system and causing them to function poorly. A toxic body results in bad breath, bad skin, early signs of aging, pain and inflammation. It is important to eliminate toxins from our diets but we must prepare our body first by building up its immunity and defence systems. When toxins are expelled from the body they are first dumped into our blood stream and are a higher stress to the body.

Building up nutrition and preparing the body for detoxification:

The nutritional component of age prevention is of incredible importance. In the initial stages of rebalancing your body, extra nutrition is required to build up your immunity in preparation for detoxification. As toxins impair cellular function and diminish cellular integrity, it is a process that is well worth undertaking. The good news is that this can be FUN when you have prepared for it properly.

Histamine response:

Believe it or not, Bee Pollen is not only extremely high in nutrition but it has an anti-histamine response. This means than taking Bee Pollen for a period of weeks before detoxing with increase your resistance to the negative side effects of detoxification and allergy reaction from toxins being released into your blood stream from your fat stores. Bee Pollen is also high in protein, which provides the amino acids basis for tissue repair and regeneration. The mineral content of Bee Pollen is also extensive and coupled with the consumption of ORAC rich Cacao (Raw Cacao has the highest anti-oxidant value of consumable foodstuff), building up nutrition can actually be a delicious and easy way too boost your health. Cacao, is also very rich in Zinc: a powerful tonic for skin suppleness, vitality and glow.

Stay hydrated:

Any beauty therapist will tell you to drink lots of water. Hydration is important for alkalising the blood and maintaining adequate fluid for cellular function. Megahydrate not only allows the body to absorb and utilize the water you drink more quickly but it delivers a high level of negatively charged hydrogen ions to your cells. What does this mean? The body is constantly exposed to large levels of free radicals that damage cells through oxidization. Negatively charged hydrogen ions stabilise the molecular structure of the cells themselves and make them less vulnerable to oxidization, thus ensuring their integrity and vitality. The process of aging is accelerated or prohibited by the health of your cells and their ability to function at as greater level as your body’s systems.

MSM and detoxification:

MSM is a MUST for detoxification and an important part of improving your body’s vitality and youthfulness. MSM is a naturally occurring form of sulphur that has both a supportive effect on the boy’s tissue membranes as well as a ‘drawing’ effect on toxins. MSM synthesises collagen that makes cell membrane’s stronger but also more permeable allowing nutrition to enter body tissue and toxin laden fat to flow out. MSM also clears stagnant bile from your liver: the organ responsible for the metabolism of fats and the filtration of what you ingest. As sulphur is required for collagen synthesis and the development of the connective tissue fibres of bones, hair, teeth and skin it plays a significant role in promoting and maintaining their health. With more MSM in our diet our cells stay buoyant, clean of toxins and youthful! MSM is a powerful beauty tonic.

Maca and balancing your hormones: 

After detoxification it is very important to balance out your hormone levels. Different types of elevated hormonal levels create problems in the body that range from weight gain to extra facial hair in women. The older we get, the more of an impact poor eating habits and lifestyle have on our hormonal balance. Hormonal levels can be ‘put out’ by environmental factors such as consuming highly processes foods as well as eating ‘healthy’ food such as soy. Maca is a product that works directly on the endocrine system to balance out wayward hormone imbalance. The good news is that it doesn’t matter what hormone imbalance you have because it works effectively and harmlessly on rebalancing the entire endocrine system. Maca is an adaptogenic root vegetable making it something that elevates inadequate hormonal levels and diminishes elevated hormonal levels; working directly with your body’s individual needs. As hormone levels are responsible the health of our skin, for metabolism and for our energy levels, balancing our hormones is the last but one of the most important components of staying young and vital.

TONIC SUPERFOODS has made it their priority to find and present you with the best quality form of Bee Pollen, Maca, Cacao and MSM. It has also been of the utmost importance to promote only the best product to redress dehydration: Megahydrate. All the products mentioned above are available through www.tonicsuperfoods.com.au/store

Think quality, think priority, think nutritional difference. 


Do you have your own website or blog? Check out the Tonic Superfoods Affiliate Program. By spreading the word about Tonic Superfoods on your site, you are not only helping people in their health journey, but you can make money!

SUPERFOODS AND WEIGHT LOSS: They keys to your success

By Bonnie Pockley

Everyone whose every tried to lose weight will know that weight loss can be difficult and boring. It’s easy to get frustrated, dejected and defeated. Using Superfoods to lose weight, however, is fun and relatively easy when it’s done holistically. 

Lets take a look at the three elements that are essential to weight loss:

Detoxification:

If you’ve been eating badly, if you eat non-organic meats, unwashed vegies or if you live in a city, your body will be burdened by toxins. If your organs are taxed, your body’s processes of elimination will be compromised and these nasties will be stored in your fat. As most toxins are fat soluble, your body will lay down extra fat stores to ‘house’ extra waste that can’t be metabolised. Toxins, therefore, cannot only make you gain weight but set in motions imbalances in hormonal and digestive function that have broader implications on your ability to lose weight but also in your energy levels.

So what do we do?  TAKE MSM!

TONIC SUPERFOODS' MSM is one of the best agents of detoxification. If you’ve been reading our blog or website you’d already know what we’re talking about. MSM is a naturally occurring sulphur that has both a supportive effect on the boy’s tissue membranes as well as a ‘drawing’ effect on toxins. MSM synthesises collagen that makes cell membrane’s stronger but also more permeable allowing nutrition to enter body tissue and toxin laden fat to flow out. MSM also clears stagnant bile from your liver: the organ responsible for the metabolism of fats and the filtration of what you ingest. MSM is an absolute must for weight loss.

MSM

· Detoxifies cells

· Detoxifies liver

· Increases metabolism of fats

· Synthesises collagen to strengthen cell membranes (this means glowing skin too!)

· Improves digestive function

· Improves immunity

Click here to buy MSM

Hormonal balance:

Hormonal imbalance has an ENORMOUS effect on weight gain. Cortisol, Insulin and Oestrogen are particularly culpable. Cortisol is the ‘stress’ hormone that may be released by environmental, emotional or even physical stressors. Prolonged exercise can even increase levels of cortisol leading to an increase of fat stored around your belly. Oestrogen, similar, stores weight in a particular way. Increased levels of Xenoestrogens (industrial compounds that act like oestrogen in the body but are artificial and unable to be metabolised) lead to weight gain in the lower parts of the body (legs, thigh, hips) and in the bicep area of the arm. Xenoestrogens are toxic to our systems and have been linked to the development of endometriosis, breast cancer and cysts. Xenoestrogens also increase the level of naturally occurring Oestrogen in the body producing what is known as Oestrogen Dominance. Oestrogen Dominance leads to a ‘pudgy’, ‘soft’ appearance because the dominance of this hormone compounds water retention and weight gain. Xenoestrogens are found in plastic wrap, cleaning products and of course it is contained in the contraceptive pill. Oestrogen itself can be found in many foods including tofu, soy, soymilk, chickpeas, non-organic meats and many more.

Insulin is another hormone responsible for weight gain when out of balance. Insulin is secreted when we eat to instigate energy uptake by our cells. To control weight, our insulin levels must be evenly maintained and the GI index system was developed as a way of understanding the ‘spiking’ effect of high sugar foods of our insulin levels. The higher the sugar content of food, the greater the release of insulin which also leads to the greater the amount of energy stored in our bodies as fat. Maintaining these levels in also an important part of preventing diabetes and hyperglycaemia. (high blood sugar levels)

What can you take to balance out fluctuation hormone levels in your body from a variety of different sources?  MACA.

TONICSUPERFOODS' Maca is a root vegetable that naturally balances your endocrine system. Maca is an ‘adaptogen’ so it redresses balance where imbalance exists within the human body. Because the endocrine and central nervous systems are cyclical in nature and are based on fluctuating levels, Maca balances out excessive hormonal levels without negative effect. This means is combats high levels of Cortisol, Oestrogen and regulates Insulin release.  Maca also contains high levels of essential minerals including selenium, calcium, magnesium and iron as well as much needed quantities of linolenic, palmitic, oleic acids, fatty and amino acids. If you have a lot of weight to lose, Maca will also assist in skin elasticity and the ability of your skin to adjust quickly to the weight loss.

MACA

· Contains a high level of nutrition

· Balances out adverse levels of cortisol, oestrogen and insulin

· Supports your endocrine and central nervous systems

· Helps to manage stress

Click here to buy MACA

Nutrition:

The final, but one of the most important components of weight-loss is nutrition. Today’s food lacks the mineral and vitamin content is once had. Depleted soils through increased harvesting and farming mean that our food literally lacks vitality and nourishment. Unfortunately, we still require the same recommended dietary intake of nutrition that we always have and yet it seems unavailable to us through ordinary means. Our body’s regulation of food is, to a large extent, based on blood levels of nutrition and when they are inadequate we crave more food. This means we eat more. Good nutrition also means we don’t store excess weight.  In order to avoid cravings, excess weight from ‘empty’ food we needs to supplement our diets with Superfoods: nutrient rich foods.

Two of the best of these are TONIC SUPERFOODS BEE POLLEN and TONIC SUPERFOODS RAW CACAO.  

Cacao is the richest food source of magnesium and with an anti-oxidant (ORAC) score of 95500 – 14 times more than red wine – it is also the richest source of antioxidants and bioflavonoid. High levels of sulphur in Cacao act in a similar way to MSM by detoxifying the liver and supporting silicon synthesis. Assisting in immunity, tissue regeneration and protection as well as balancing brain chemistry and function, the benefits of Cacao in your diet also extends from a physical to an emotional level: Cacao contains Amantadine (the bliss chemical), Phenyl ethylamine (PEA – the chemical released when we are in love) and MAO inhibitors (suppress appetite and release serotonin). 

When you feel good, you find it easier to train, easier to reach your goals and easier to keep going with your dietary plans. Bee Pollen contains all 10 essential amino acids (but up to 22 depending on plant origin), 59 trace minerals and is about 20% protein. As a complete protein, Bee Pollen is favourably comparable to equal weights of meat, eggs and cheese with 5-7 times more bioavailable protein and amino acid content. This makes Bee Pollen an ideal component to nuts both gastronomically and as a high protein on-the-go snack.  Bee Pollen also contains high levels of B vitamins (used directly in energy production) as well as significant levels of Calcium, Chloride, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, Silicon and Sulphur. It also has an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibacterial and anti-histamine effect on the body. Both are excellent forms of comprehensive nutrition.

CACAO

· Is the richest food source of magnesium

· Contains sulphur which not only detoxifies the body but is used in most of its processes

· Is high in bioflavonoids

· Is the richest food source of antioxidants with an ORAC value of 99500

Click here to buy RAW CACAO

BEE POLLEN:

· High in Protein

· Contains significant levels of vitamin B, calcium, Chloride, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, Silicon and Sulphur.

· Contains all essential amino acids (the building blocs of all cells)

· Has an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibacterial and an anti-histamine effect on the body.

Click here to buy BEE POLLEN