From cleansing to clay masks, Shonagh Walker talks to Dr Sandra Cabot about the best ways to look and feel better now, tomorrow and well into the future.
Do a cleanse
‘A two-week detoxification program will help break down and eliminate toxic load from your liver, gut and immune system,’ reveals Dr Sandra Cabot, Medical and Executive Director of the Australian Women’s Health Advisory Service and Founder of Cabot Health. ‘This will help you reach and maintain a healthy weight, improve skin appearance, minimise cellulite and keep your eyes bright and sparkling. It will also enhance your mood and mental clarity and boost your energy levels.’
Take a liver supplement
Supporting the liver with a blend of potent herbs, vitamins and minerals helps the body to detoxify and eliminate chemicals and heavy metals. It will also assist with weight maintenance. ‘If you’ve been over-indulging, smoking, taking some types of medication, or live in a highly polluted area, a liver supplement can really help,’ says Dr Cabot. ‘It could assist the liver in repairing and regenerating itself in cases of inflammation and also supports optimal digestive and gall bladder function.’
Dry body brushing
‘The skin is the body’s largest organ and toxins are removed from it constantly via sweat,’ says Dr Cabot. ‘Dry body brushing supports this process by sloughing off dead skin cells and debris that might otherwise clog the release of toxins. It also encourages lymphatic drainage, thereby supporting toxin and excess fluid removal.’ Dry body brush before each shower, starting at your left ankle and moving in long, firm strokes towards the heart.
Get a massage
‘Regular massages relax the muscles, improve blood and lymph circulation, and help joint mobility and flexibility,’ reveals Dr Cabot. ‘Massage also triggers the release of endorphins, the chemicals in the brain that produce feelings of wellbeing. Make sure you include your feet – it’s a form of reflexology that stimulates the nerves that represent various detoxification organs in the body.’
Take a magnesium & epsom salt bath
‘Epsom salt is a form of magnesium that is high in sulphates, which are known to promote relaxation and support detoxification,’ says Dr Cabot. ‘It can also be absorbed through the skin, so is fantastic when added to a bath to help boost the body’s natural detoxification process, minimise cellulite and improve the appearance of your skin.’
Prioritise Sleep
‘Sleep is critical for immune function, improving the metabolism, maintaining a healthy weight, enjoying a positive mood, optimising physical and mental performance and preventing premature ageing,’ says Dr Cabot. Aim to be in bed by 10pm so you can get at least seven hours of quality sleep. ‘If you struggle with sleep, turn off technology at least an hour before bed, avoid stimulants like caffeine and alcohol, and relax in a warm bath with the aforementioned salts. Drinking chamomile tea and taking magnesium supplements will help too.’
Embrace Bentonite clay
This unique clay swells when it is mixed with water and is able to absorb toxins from the skin. ‘It also refines the pores, heals blemishes, promotes soft skin and is a natural exfoliant,’ says Dr Cabot. Apply it as a mask to the face and body at least once a week.
Enjoy daily exercise
While it’s not unique advice, it remains the best tip for getting and staying in shape, and enjoying a happy, healthy outlook on life. ‘Walking for 20-30 minutes each day improves heart health, boosts immunity and enhances your mood,’ advises Dr Cabot. ‘Incorporate it into your daily routine – walk to the shops rather than drive, or if you have a dog, take it out every morning. If not, volunteer to walk the dogs at your local animal shelter. Try yoga. It’s not just a great workout that strengthens and stretches the muscles, it relaxes the mind and eases stress too.’
Stay hydrated
The body is made up of around 70 per cent water. We lose approximately two litres each day through sweat and other bodily functions, so it’s important to replace it to keep skin clear, hydrated, smooth and young looking, as well as to maintain a healthy weight.
‘It’s recommended we drink around one and a half to two litres of water each day,’ says Dr Cabot. ‘You can add lemon, lime, strawberries or mint to give it extra flavour, or even sip on tasty herbal teas to get your intake. Some of the best teas include peppermint, dandelion, ginger, chamomile and rooibos.’
Get juicing
Drinking freshly juiced vegetables and fruit imparts powerful healing and rejuvenating benefits, helping improve mental and physical health. ‘It can assist with allergies, digestive issues, immune dysfunction, headaches, gallstones and liver and kidney problems,’ says Dr Cabot. ‘They’re easily digested and ramp up your daily vegetable intake.’
Dr Cabot’s 15-Day Cleanse
The new Dr Cabot 15-Day Cleanse is a gentle but effective detox plan that will help boost your energy levels, improve your liver and gut function, and help your liver burn fat, as well as improve skin tone and texture from head to toe.
The three powder program and delicious daily menu plan developed by Dr Cabot and her team of experienced naturopaths and nutritionists is aimed at balancing your gut, improving digestion and immune health, as well as alkalising your body.
During the cleanse, the website will offer you plenty of inspirational advice and healthy hints, and can put you in touch with Cabot Health’s team at any time. To make your cleanse even easier, you have the option of getting these meals freshly prepared and delivered straight to your door.
All recipes are gluten and dairy-free and created with fresh, free-range, natural whole foods and ingredients. Vegetarian and vegan options will also be available.
Priced at $99 for the three powders and $318 for meals and their delivery for 15 days inclusive of all snacks and smoothies. For more information visit
www.drcabotcleanse.com.
With a medical career spanning more than four decades, Dr Sandra Cabot is highly respected the world over. Her passion has always been in holistic medicine, marrying her knowledge and skills of traditional medicine with nutrition, naturopathy and Eastern medicines, and using these skills to improve the life, health and wellness of patients throughout Australia and around the world. Dr Cabot has written 30 popular books on different health topics and pioneered the detox and cleanse paradigm with her 1996 publication The Liver Cleansing Diet.
