Destination Slim, Trim And Detoxed

Health & Beauty Memo 2014: Do your body a favor - Stop flooding it with chemicals!

Research has shown that modern day conventional pesticide loaded diet and pollution can run havoc not just on your skin and physique, but your overall health. You can't eliminate all toxins from your life, but you can dramatically reduce your exposure and make your body better at getting rid of toxins -- as a result, your body will become better at losing weight.

Choose Organic Choose Healthy: Eliminating toxins from your body can make it easier to shed pounds. The presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (for example, BPA present in many consumer items from canned food to cash register receipts) has been linked to increased risk of obesity. Some chemicals, including a widespread pollutant present in smoke from burning wood, charcoal and in charred meats disrupt the ability of the body to digest and eliminate fats. Numerous common toxins including heavy metals, solvents, pesticides, and Phthalate have all been shown in studies to cause lab animals to gain weight.

Bycot Fat-Free Foods: Don’t fall into the trap of fat-free promise. Products, such as fat-free yogurt, cheese, and baked goods, contain artificial chemicals to make them taste better. These added ingredients can slow metabolism and are typically very high in carbs and sugar. Plus, they can wreak havoc on your skin and hair health.

No More Artificial Sweeteners: Avoid all products with artificial sugars such as sugar free sodas, gums and candies. Be wary of products that state they are sugar free, but contain sorbitol, suclilose, aspartame, or splenda. These chemicals actually slow muscle building and reduce calorie burning and get in the way of a healthy lifestyle.

Be Sure To Hydrate: Drink 1/2 of your body weight in ounces of water each day. So, if you weigh 140 pounds, need to drink 70 ounces of spring water every day. Many teas are dehydrating, but raspberry tea can actually enhance your hydration and give your skin a healthy, plump look.

Make Breakfast A Ritual: It’s been hailed the most important meal of the day and it’s true! You need to eat a healthy breakfast within 45 minutes of waking up to fire up metabolism. Haylie suggests making a smoothie with uncooked rolled oats, raw nuts, and fruit.

Do A Detox: To get rid of any bad food hangovers, it’s a must to indulge in a cleanse once every few months. There are so many Detox plans out there you can follow any that you feel comfortable with. My eyes are caught by the celebrity fat-whisperer Haylie’s created line of products called Optimal Cleanse and Optimal Fat Flusher, both of which have shown long-term weight loss promotion because they help to release toxins that can plateau many diets. J Lo is a huge fan of the Optimal 5-day Cleanse.

Photo credits: Mario Testino for American Vogue