1. You won’t feel so hungry

When you’re trying to lose weight, the last thing you want to be is hungry all the time. So the next time you’re peckish, drink water first. Dehydration actually slows down your metabolism, while staying hydrated can serve as an appetite suppressant.

2. Help protect your body against cancer

This one’s a biggie. Research has shown that people who drink more water can reduce their risk of getting bladder cancer by 50%, and colon cancer by 45%. Staying hydrated may also reduce the risk of breast cancer – one of the biggest forms of cancer in South Africa.

3. You’ll feel happier

We know you can’t be Little Miss Sunshine every day, but it’s a fact that dehydration can affect your mood and make you grumpy and confused. So the next time you’re cranky, drink some water and you’ll instantly think clearer and feel happier.

4. Fewer aches and pains

Don’t worry, it’s probably not old age making your joints creaky, you might just be thirsty. Drinking water can reduce pain in your joints by keeping the cartilage soft and hydrated, while also preventing muscle cramps.

5. Ace your gym workouts

Being well hydrated before a workout will help you perform better. Since 75% of our muscle tissue consists of water, being dehydrated can make it shrivel, which results in possible muscle fatigue. So drink lots of water and energise your muscles for a killer workout.

6. Let go

Water helps our bodies get rid of waste by helping dissolve fats and soluble fibre, which prevents constipation and also reduces the burden on the kidneys and liver by helping to flush waste products.

7. Look younger

Forget expensive face creams. Hydrated skin not only looks plump and less wrinkly, regularly drinking water can also improve the colour and texture of your skin by keeping it regenerating and building new cells.

8. Feel better quicker

Some studies have shown that water may help with decongestion and that hydrating helps the body bounce back when you’re feeling under the weather. While this isn’t a cure-all, it certainly couldn’t hurt having a bit more fluids when you’re sick.

9. Do your heart a favour

There seems to be a link between the chances of dying from coronary heart disease and water intake. Research has shown that drinking more water means a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease. That risk of death rises significantly when intake of ‘high-energy fluids’ like soda and juice increases.

10. Put a jump back in your step

Move over coffee (which just dehydrates you further), water is just as good at fighting fatigue. One of the most common symptoms of dehydration is tiredness, so grab a big glass of water and get ready to go back to your perky self!

Cravings get the better of all of us. And the fact that the days and nights are colder now that it’s winter, certainly doesn’t make it any easier! A complex combination of physiological and psychological triggers is to blame, but considering a craving typically only last 20 minutes, they can be controlled.  Here are 11 tips to kick your unhealthy cravings to the curb!

Identify your trigger: Are you stressed? Have you been eating less than usual? Are you getting enough sleep? All of these factors can contribute to your cravings. Acknowledging the trigger is half the battle won. Provide a solution (eg de-stress, take a nap) and you’ve potentially won it.

Plan your meals to include a healthy, balanced diet: Often a craving is indicative of something lacking in your diet. Ensure you are getting a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals on a daily basis.

Keep a food journal: It’s a pain, but writing down exactly what you eat, when, and how you were feeling at the time, can be a real eye-opener to curbing cravings. Not only does writing it down mean there’s nowhere to hide because everything is there in black and white, but it can also help with why you are having the cravings in the first place.

Make your own, healthier version: Craving hot chips? Make your own using sweet potatoes. Peel and cut into ‘chips’, pat dry, season, drizzle with olive oil and bake in the oven. The same could be said for virtually any ‘unhealthy’ craving – you can always put a healthier spin on anything you make.

Don’t go cold turkey:  Allow yourself the odd treat. Depriving yourself completely can often have the adverse effect, resulting in binge-eating. But limit your intake – only two pieces of chocolate instead of the whole slab, or share a piece of cake with a friend rather than wolf down the whole slice yourself, etc.

Eat nuts: Eat a handful of walnuts, almonds or peanuts. According to Michael F. Roizen, (MD), eating nuts with two glasses of water will alter your body chemistry and the craving should be gone in 20 minutes.

Drink water: Sometimes you can confuse cravings with dehydration so drink a glass of water first. Alternatively, have a cup of herbal tea. Try Herbex’s range of herbal teas, which not only hydrate the body but offer a host of other benefits too.

Distract yourself: As mentioned, cravings typically only last for 20 minutes, so go for a walk, tidy out the cupboard, phone a friend. Not only will the craving be long-forgotten, but you will have achieved something productive to boot. High five!

Avoid temptation: Clear your cupboards of all temptations, take the long way round if you pass a tempting bakery on the way to work, position yourself across the room from the snack table at a party. You get the idea. Chances are, if it’s not right in front of you, you are unlikely to succumb.

Brush your teeth: Not only does food taste different after you’ve brushed your teeth, it’s doubtful you’ll want to eat anything when you have a fresh, minty mouth.

Kick the habit: Often cravings are just that – a habit. Coffee and a muffin first thing in the morning, a treat with afternoon tea, chocolate after supper in front of the TV – sound familiar? It takes 21 days to break a habit, so be firm for just three weeks and voila, no more habit-induced cravings!

Are you struggling with constant hunger pangs? There are very few people who can resist the temptation of giving into their cravings. Unfortunately, there are very few processed foods that do not contain sugar. If you’ve had enough of making New Year’s Resolutions that you know you can’t keep, then you might be ready to declare freedom from food dependency. With that said, here are 10 sure-fire ways to control your appetite.

#1 Admit Your Dependency

If you constantly snack when you’re stressed and anxious, or while watching Netflix, then it’s time to admit that you’re a comfort eater. Many people like to snack while watching their favourite shows, but if you’re snacking on junk, you’re only doing yourself an injustice. Here’s a thought, when you’re stressed, anxious, or watching your favourite show, use your hands to knit, do arm weights, or chew gum.

 #2 Avoid Pinterest

Many women love looking at Pinterest for delicious and authentic dinner and dessert ideas. If that’s you, then stop immediately. The mere sight of a delicious lasagne baked with a mouth-watering white source or a double baked cheesecake dripping in caramel can set off a craving that is only going to make you fall off the wagon. We’ve all been there, so if you must, give Pinterest a rest until you feel ready.

 #3 Kick-Start Your Day with a Healthy Breakfast 

 They say you should eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper, and they couldn’t be more right. When you sleep at night, your body uses up all your energy to repair and renew cells. By the time you wake up in the morning, your body desperately needs the energy to kick-start your metabolism, so when you don’t feed your body the right fuel in the morning, your metabolism slows down throughout the day, giving you a cocktail of unhealthy cravings.

#4 Don’t Confuse Dehydration with Hunger

 Your body warns you when you have no energy, it lets you know when you are unwell, and it tells you when you are dehydrated. Interestingly, most people confuse dehydration with hunger, so whenever you get a craving for something sweet or savoury, drink at least half a litre of water and wait 10 minutes. Not only does water reduce hunger pangs, but it also speeds up the metabolism.

#5 Get Your Body Moving for at least 30 minutes a Day

 If you want to avoid a hungry tummy screaming for junk food, then you need to exercise. By the time you’ve finished exercising, you won’t be hungry, but you ’ll be thirsty. Also, you will experience a “feel good” hormone called serotonin, which is released by your brain when you exercise, so expect to feel happy.

 #6 Juice, Juice, and Juice Some More

 Everyone’s talking about the power of juicing greens and alkaline fruits. If you have not started juicing, then start immediately. Juicing is incredible. Not only does it feed your body with all the right minerals and nutrients, but it also controls your appetite, and makes you thinner too.

#7 Power up with Protein

 It’s a known fact that protein keeps you fuller for longer than carbohydrates. Making protein about 40% of your total daily intake will not only help you sustain high energy levels all day long, but it will also control your appetite. If you’re a vegetarian, turn to quinoa, chickpeas, lentils, and toasted seeds. If you’re a meat eater, keep biltong at home and at work – it always fills the gap.

#8 Set Goals and Reward Yourself

You must give yourself time to adapt, and when you meet your goals, reward yourself with new shoes, a massage, or a pedicure. Reward yourself with anything but food.

 #9 Try the Herbex Attack the Fat Range

At Herbex, we’re no strangers to issues with appetite control, which is why we’ve gone and designed a wide range of Attack the Fat products that are packed with an elite class of adaptogen herbs that not only act as a gentle laxative, but also boost the metabolism, help break down fat cells, and control the appetite. Used in conjunction with a low-carb and high-protein diet regimen, as well as a realistic daily exercise plan, you will kick those cravings to the kerb in no time.

Do you think you’re healthy, but you can’t quite figure out why you’re feeling so lethargic all the time? Your muscles ache, you’re feeling bloated, and you’re struggling to shake those extra winter pounds off. To make matters worse, you’re always fighting a sinus congestion issue, which makes you feel irritable and anxious. While you might attribute these issues to stress, it could also very well be that your body is trying to tell you that it’s holding on to way too many toxins

Toxins, Toxins, and More Toxins

To live in the 21^st century means to live in a toxic world. While it may not be splashed all over the news and protested against, it is a bona fide fact that we face an onslaught of thousands of toxins every day. We’ve witnessed more toxins enter our air, water, soil, and food supply, as well as our skin and homes, than ever before. More than 80 000 hazardous chemicals pollute the air we breathe, water we drink, food we eat, skincare products we use, and household cleaning products we use to clean our homes and businesses.

Did you know that our toxic environments have become so bad that research indicates that the average person carries more than 700 known toxins in their body? Toxins can be found lodged in your cells, blood, brain tissue, skin, muscles, liver, kidneys, colon, and fatty tissue cells, overwhelming your entire immune system. This is why detoxification of the body is so important. In today’s modern world, a proper detox can help achieve some amazing health results. If you’re new to the world of detoxification, here’s why detoxification is so essential.

To Detox or Not to Detox

Our bodies work like machines, and one of their many natural daily processes is to cleanse the lungs, liver, colon, kidneys, and skin through our breath, bile, urination, and pores. However, when we are over-burdened, the kidneys and liver are unable to cope with the overload, which means that the body is unable to cleanse itself. This leads to heavy metal build-ups, parasites, candida, constipation, liver/kidney/gallbladder toxicity, cirrhosis, brain dysfunction, hormonal imbalances, weight gain, and an increased risk of cancer. Also, many toxins are lipophilic, which means that they are stored in body fat, which is why so many people find it impossible to lose weight. Ultimately, a body that doesn’t cleanse itself properly will prevent you from looking your best, which is why detoxification is so essential for everyone at some point in their lives.

While the bad news is that it’s impossible to avoid all of those daily toxins that come with modern lifestyles, the good news is that you have the power to create balanced health through detoxification with herbs. At Herbex, we believe that maximising health in our toxic world requires periodic detoxification to help clear these toxins from our systems, which is exactly what our detox products do.

We’ve Been Helping People Achieve Their Health Goals for Over 20 Years

We are an award-winning brand, and have been helping people achieve their health goals for over 20 years. Herbs are the mainstay of traditional medicine used for many centuries to heal and detox, so we’ve taken Mother Earth’s most powerful detox herbs and turned them into a wide range of detox products that are not only effective for weight loss, but also a full-body cleanse.

If your goal is to clean your liver, get your kidneys filtering correctly, empty your colon, boost your metabolism, and burn fat quickly, then you’re going to be extremely impressed with our powerful detox range. By offering a wide range of detox products that utilise powerful herbs, such as peppermint, liquorice root, hibiscus, burdock root, cascara, golden rod, dandelion, zingiber officinale, and garcinia cambogia, we give you the choice of our detox drops, detox tablets, slimmer’s detox tea, and berry detox concentrate.

We offer the most natural, effective way to help your body eliminate waste and toxins that would otherwise make you feel sluggish, bloated, and unhealthy. Get ready to change your life with the Herbex detox range. It’s almost the beginning of a new year, and if there was ever a time to reboot and make a fresh start, it’s now!

It’s no secret that the global obesity rate has officially tipped the scales. In fact, about 30% of the world’s population is currently obese or overweight. While these figures are certainly alarming, even more so is that South Africa has the highest overweight and obesity rate in sub-Saharan Africa. Yes, it’s true. Statistics revealed that up to 40% of all South African men over the age of 35 are overweight, 70% of all South African women over the age of 35 are overweight, and one in four young South African girls and one in five young South African boys are also overweight.

We’ve Been Hypnotised by the Fast-Food Industry

With today’s fast-paced lifestyles, being overweight and obese has become a serious epidemic. While the base cause of being overweight and obese is an imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended, another problem is processed foods.

Proven as the leading cause of obesity, lethargy, constipation, hypertension, heart disease, high-blood pressure, certain cancers, tooth decay, and other degenerative diseases, processed foods might be an easy and quick fix, but the dangers of these synthetic foods deprive the body of fibre, nutrients, and minerals, while pumping it with toxins. With processed foods bombarding us all day long, it’s no wonder why so many are on the brink of obesity. While it’s hard to ignore that we’ve been mesmerised by processed foods, we’re here to tell you that you can change your lifestyle by eating healthier foods and by including single-herb powders in your diet, like our hoodia gordonii powder.

A natural plant grown from a succulent cactus, hoodia gordonii has been used for thousands of years by one of the world’s oldest and most primitive African tribes, the San tribe in the Kalahari Desert. Sadly, it took a long time for westerners to discover what the San tribe knew innately – or so the tale goes. Legend has it that hoodia was openly used by the tribe to increase energy levels, treat indigestion, and heal infections. But, what really caught the attention of the global weight-loss industry was the fact that this incredible plant also takes away the appetite. Hunters would often be away for days or even weeks, and would chew the plant to suppress their appetite and give them energy.

 Lose up to 2 Kilograms a Week with Hoodia Powder and Healthy Living

 You, however, don’t need to chew raw plants to benefit from this herb. Herbex has launched its very own single-herb powder range, including hoodia gordonii powder. Honoured as the wonder plant of the twenty-first century and distinguished as one of the most promising finds in the health and wellness industry, hoodia gordonii contains a miracle molecule that tricks the brain into thinking that the stomach is full. Once you’re feeling the “full” effects of this wonder powder, you will experience a significant loss of appetite, an increase in energy levels, and overall better health. In fact, it is estimated that one can lose up to 2 kilograms a week with hoodia powder.

Make Sure to Try Our New Single-Herb Powder Range

When all is said and done, it must be understood that obesity and excess weight is not healthy for anyone. If you want to extend your life and achieve healthy living, then make a change with Herbex. We are proud to be an award-winning brand at the forefront of innovation in the health and weight-loss industry, and even more proud to be the first South African company to launch a single-herb powder range. Make your choice from our ever so popular Hoodia Powder that suppresses the appetite, our Garcinia Cambogia Powder that has fat-blocking capabilities, our Slimmers Dietary Fibre Powder that cleanses the digestive tract and colon, our Green Tea Powder that speeds up the metabolism, our CLA Powder that supports healthy body composition, and our Yerba Mate Powder that acts as a refreshing daily stimulant that reduces the appetite.

Classified as food, rather than drugs with risky side effects, all our powerful single-herb powders are 100% organic, and free from gluten, yeast, milk derivatives, artificial colourants, and flavourings, and are also suitable for vegetarians and vegans. We are bringing the most popular single-herb powders to market, so place your order with us today, and start living healthy.

At Herbex, we strive to help people lead a healthy life. Eating correctly and looking after your body should be your goal. We’d like to encourage you to develop a habit of healthy eating.

Expected weight loss and healthy eating:

A weight loss of 2 to 4 kilograms a month is healthy. Enjoy a variety of foods but keep in mind portion sizes, types of starches and types of fat.

Eat more fruit and vegetables, and try to reduce sugar intake. You can get great nutritional advice on our Facebook page every Tuesday between 1 and 2 pm.

Use a product that will help you:

We have a wide range of products that will help you achieve your weight-loss goals. Using our products correctly is of great importance in your weight loss programme. See directions on all our packaging or email us for assistance if you are unsure. 

Drink plenty of water:

Water cleanses your body and replaces fluids lost through exercise. Make a habit of drinking water at set times. To make a healthy (and tasty) weight-loss drink, add the Herbex Fat Burn Concentrate (available in berry and peach flavour) or the Herbex Fat Burn Concentrate for men (berry or citrus flavour) to your water and drink it throughout the day.

Exercise regularly:

To burn fat and improve your health in general, aim to exercise for an hour, at least 3 times a week. Aerobic exercise, like walking, jogging and dancing can get you looking and feeling healthy! You can also join Emma, the Herbex Fitness Advisor, on Facebook every Thursday from 1 – 2 pm for practical advice on exercise. Also click here to watch our new 15-Minute Ab Blast Workout video.

How Herbex helps you lose weight and feel great
Whether you want to clean out your system and kick-start your weight loss, speed up your metabolism and fat loss, or just naturally feel healthy and energetic – Herbex has got a safe, herbal, effective and affordable solution for you.
Herbex uses only the best and most effective plants and herbs from Mother Nature to give your body the all-natural boost it needs to perform at its peak. At Herbex, we support a healthy lifestyle and believe that there are 5 steps to healthy weight loss:
• Herbal slimming supplementation
• A positive attitude
• A healthy eating plan
• Regular exercise
• Daily recommended water intake
Don’t just dream about looking and feeling great, get the body you want with Herbex today! Click here for more product information and to order online.

Don’t just dream it, WIN R50 000 in cash!
To qualify for the Herbex Dreams Come True competition, buy any Herbex products to the value of R200 or more in one transaction (on one till slip).
Then choose ONE of these entry methods:
• Make a FREE missed call to 071 477 3982 to get entry instruction details via SMS.
• SMS HERBEX, your name, followed by the last 4 digits of each of the barcodes to 31621.
(Example: ‘Herbex, Joe Smith, 3456, 1234, 1234.’)
• USSD dial *120*9922# to register your details and follow the instructions.

WIN EVEN MORE when you enter online
Enter at www.herbexhealth.com/DreamsComeTrue and Spin to Win instant prizes! You could win a share of R10 000 in airtime vouchers, or R10 000 in new cellphones or Herbex products to the value of R5 000 every time you Spin to Win!
Competition runs 25 August to 6 November 2016. For more competition details and full T&Cs, click here.

When you eat too little and you’re constantly hungry, your body can go into a state of famine. This slows metabolism and makes it easier to pack on the extra weight.

Eating small, frequent snacks keeps your metabolism revved up and helps normalise your blood sugar. However, it’s important to remember that this doesn’t give you permission to eat whatever you want.

6 (important!) tips to lose weight with healthy snacking

1. Eating frequently is the easy part; the hard part is keeping the meals small. Eat small meals every three to five hours to help resist the urge to overeat.

2. Always keep healthy snacks on hand. The best way to avoid eating food that you shouldn’t is to not keep any around.

3. The type of snack food you choose makes a massive difference. Foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, and legumes are satisfying and are packed with the nutrients, fiber, and protein your body needs.

4. Remember to always compensate for your snacks by eating less at your next meal.

5. Try eating more during active times of the day. Matching your intake with your output will help with your weight-control goals.

6. Be extra careful of liquid kilojoules, as they’re even more difficult to compensate for than other snacks.

1. You’ll get a quick metabolic boost

Exercising first thing in the morning will help get your metabolism going, so your body will be in fuel-burning mode for the rest of the day.

2. You’ll get to work less stressed

Most people experience a reduction in stress when they exercise regularly. Working out first thing in the morning typically helps you manage your daily stresses a little better, which means you have a better day altogether.

3. You’ll have more energy during the day

While you might feel tired straight after a workout, it doesn’t take long for the feel-good hormones to kick in, giving you a welcome boost that can last long into the day.

4. You’ll have a more productive day

Imagine arriving at work every morning feeling energised, focused and more organised, instead of groggy and tired. Exercise greatly contributes to personal productivity by helping you think more clearly and reducing stress and anxiety.

5. You’ll make better food choices

Starting the day on such a good foot just makes it easier to make good food choices. If you think about it, when you feel great you’re less likely to say ‘stuff it’ and give in to less desirable food choices.

6. You’ll have more time for other priorities

It’s understandable that you don’t want your workout to eat into your family time. Which is why getting up a little earlier for a morning workout is usually better than in the evening, when you have to fight rush hour, navigate a crowded gym environment, get home to shower and make dinner and only then spend whatever time is left with your family.

7. You’ll sleep better

Morning exercise not only improves how long you sleep, but also the quality of sleep by promoting deeper sleep cycles. Evening exercise can actually have the opposite effect, as the body reacts to exercise the same way it does to stress – by releasing adrenaline, which makes it harder to fall asleep.

Take some well-deserved ‘me time’.
Taking time to relax is good for your body and mind, so if you feel like curling up and getting stuck into that new bestseller or hogging the remote to catch up on your favourite series, you’re allowed to do so – guilt-free.

Have lunch with the girls.
With busy schedules and loads of commitments, you’re probably way overdue for a proper girly get-together. Book a table at your favourite spot and get your girlfriends together for a leisurely (but still healthy) lunch that will nourish your body and your soul.

Go for a walk.
Put on your walking shoes and feel your mind clear as your lungs fill with fresh air. Enjoy the solitude and let your mind wander, or rope in a friend to enjoy the walk with you.

Reconnect with an old friend.
We meet many amazing women during our lifetime, and sometimes we lose touch, despite our best efforts. Women’s Day is the perfect excuse to phone them up, have a skype chat or even just send a Whatsapp message to find out how they are.

Watch a movie on the big screen.
If it’s been a while since you’ve seen a movie that wasn’t animated, this is your perfect excuse to grab a box of popcorn and a bottle of water, and sit back and relax for two wonderful hours without any interruptions.

Get your hands dirty.
There’s something about the fresh, earthy smell of overturned soil. Plant something beautiful just for yourself or simply give your garden a little TLC and feel your stresses disappear.

Book a pamper session.
Spoil yourself with a rejuvenating facial, a mani or pedi to make your nails look extra pretty, or a relaxing massage to melt all those tense muscles and make you feel fresh and renewed.