Hi All,

A common goal for our clients is to reduce body fat, so I thought it would be good to discuss the most effective way to achieve this. 

Most of us assume that exercise (and more of it) is the best way to reduce body fat - however, this is a myth. There is no denying that exercise is very important to overall health & wellbeing, but the best way to reduce body fat is through proper nutrition. I think about it like this:

• Exercise = Fitness/Strength/Flexibility
• Diet = Body Fat Reduction/Composition

There are a couple of reasons why exercising is not the most effective way to reduce body fat.
1 – Most exercise will burn only glycogen stores and not fat stores; it can take up to 2 hours of constant training to enter into the ‘fat burning’ stage.
 
2 – Overeating post exercise; Most of us will consume more calories after training than what was expended during training. This is caused by an increased appetite and reward based eating – negating the reason for exercising.
 
Exercise can be like a merry-go-round: eating to train, and training to eat. I have been there! Nutrition on the other hand can induce fat burning with more effectiveness, meaning you can get the best results per unit of time and effort.
 
Okay, so if nutrition is the most effective way to reduce body fat, let's look into it further. From having been interested in health and wellbeing for much of my life, I have learnt the following steps that have helped me, and my clients, achieve desired body composition (fat loss) goals and I would like to share this with you:
 
Step 1 - Integrate a “Slow Carb Diet”:

• Eliminate sugars and white carbs (bread, pasta, white rice)
• Eat more veggies and proteins (basically paleo)
• It’s not about starvation or deprivation but making wiser food choices; you can eat 4-6 main meals of 500 – 600 calories each, if you wish. Just ensure that the calories are made up of the above paleo style food groups (no sugars and carbs)
• To read more about the Slow Carb diet. (Click here) 

Step 2 – Cleanse:
Complete a 2-Day Cleanse, each week, for 4 consecutive weeks (specific cleanse types will vary based on individual needs)
Consistent Cleansing for body fat loss (and general health) has been proven and researched by Dr. Michael Mosley (London based GP and BBC presenter); I would encourage you to look at his website and the research he has undertaken. (Click here)

 
Step 3 – Maintenance:
Continue Step 1 and Step 2 until body fat loss goals have been met. For maintenance, continue the Slow Carb diet and complete a 3-Day Cleanse once per month.
  
The wrap – The key is to clearly understand your goals and the best way to achieve them. If your goal is to reduce body fat, then focus on diet and nutrition. From experience, most will see results within 2 weeks of completing Step 1 and 2 above.
 
Please consult your healthcare professional for specific health advice. I hope that this has been helpful!
 
Best Health,

Sam

Hi All,
 
A question that Lisa and I get asked quite often is in regards to SALT - what types should be consumed and how much? We hope that this email will dispel some myths.

Not all Salt is created equal - if you don't have time to read on, here is the takeaway:
Pink Himalayan Rock Salt  = GOOD.
White Table Salt = BAD

Pink Himalayan Rock Salt is the best type of salt for you – it is unrefined and has spent some 250 million years under extreme tectonic pressure which has concentrated trace minerals such as magnesium, potassium and calcium. These minerals are essential in acting as cofactors (or ‘helpers’) to the body’s enzymatic pathways – thereby helping the body to function at an optimal level. Enzymes power every living cell in the body, so it is  in our best interest to ensure that they are firing correctly.

How much Pink Himalayan Rock Salt should be consumed?
As much as you FEEL like. Unlike sugar, the body will tell you when it has consumed sufficient amounts of salt through a diversion to its taste. 

We recommended that clients add Pink Himalayan Salt to Broths and Soups to taste during a Cleanse.

On the other hand, White Table Salt is not good for you – this should be avoided at all costs. White table salt (typical cooking salt) has been highly processed and refined to a degree that it has been stripped of all nutrient value. This type of salt is 97.5% sodium chloride and 2.5% chemicals (moisture absorbents and fillers) – these chemicals can be very harmful.
 
PRO TIP:
Sprinkle a pinch of Pink Himalayan Rock Salt in water to assist with hydration and help to reduce sugar cravings and caffeine withdrawals.

It goes without saying that KARMIC only uses Pink Himalayan Rock Salt in our of Healing Soups, Broths and Almond Milks.

I hope that this has been helpful. Please let us know if you have any further questions or would like any other topics discussed – we love hearing from you and increasing the collective awareness.

As a general disclaimer, I am not a doctor and don’t pretend to be one – we have consulted our Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor (TCM) in regards to this article, but please consult your own medical professional where necessary :)
 
Best health,
 
Sam
 
Co-Founder

What Cleanse Is Best For You?

There are two determining factors in selecting the best Cleanse for you. 
1 - What are your goals?
2 - What is your Body Type (Cool or Warm)?
 
Step 1: What are your goals?
The most common goals for completing a Cleanse are listed below:

• Weight-loss (release fluid retention)
• Improve digestive issues
• Clear skin
• Reset eating habits
• Improve immune system
• Fertility
• Increase energy

All of our cleanses are great for achieving these goals, but not all cleanses are suited to everyone. We are all different right? Continue to Step 2 for further recommendation.

If you wish to continue training/exercise, then we would only recommend the ACTIVE Pack. It is perfect for assisting with the above goals, but allows for one to continue an active lifestyle.

Step 2: What Is Your Body Type (Cool or Warm):
This analysis is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM is about creating and maintaining balance. This is represented through the Yin Yang symbol; if we visualise Yin being “Cooling” properties and Yang being “Warming” Properties, we can see both in perfect balance.
 
To determine whether you are a “Warm” or “Cool” body type you can ask yourself questions such as: 

• Do I usually have cold hands and/or feet?
• Do I gravitate towards heaters?
• Do I prefer increased air circulation (a fan to be on, air con etc..)

In general, if you have cold hands and feet and gravitate towards heaters, then your body is "Cool" and requires warmth. And vice versa, if you generally gravitate towards airflow and A/C then the body is "Warm" and will require cooling.
 
Once a goal has been established and the body type determined, we can more accurately recommend a Cleanse that is best for you. The different outcomes are demonstrated below: 

• COOL Body Type (requires warmth) = SKIN & IMMUNITY or GUT-HEALTH
• WARM Body Type (requires cooling) = YIN-YANG or ZEN 
• NEUTRAL (not too warm, not too cold) = YIN-YANG or GUT-HEALTH 
• Continue to Train or Work hard = ACTIVE Pack

Obviously there are many more contributing factors to the efficacy of a Cleanse, however, the above is a great starting point. If in doubt, go with the GUT-HEALTH Cleanse as this is a great all-rounder!
 
As always, we hope that this has been helpful. If you need to clarify anything please don't hesitate to contact us! :)
 
Best Health,
 
Sam and Lisa.

Those of you who have experienced the holistic healing power of the pressed juice cleanse have realised the amazing influence that a pure juice diet can have upon one’s skin. After some time spent pursuing a juice fast, one will notice the profound improvement in elasticity and tone, along with a bright, enriched colour. It is a remarkable change.

Many of us who pursue pressed juice cleansing do so in order to reap the numerous benefits that come along with such a health kick. The high amounts of antioxidants and nutrients in our juices do a wealth of good for our bodies, all throughout our digestive tract and organs. But some, more than others, can specifically improve the look and the feel of our skin.

Carrots

High in beta-carotene, carrots are a natural addition to any pressed juices cleanse. This nutrient allows your skin greater flexibility, and encourages it to heal faster throughout. The vitamin C also encourages the production of collagen, preventing wrinkles.

Beetroot

There is a notable link between the state of one’s liver, and the health of their skin. Toxins that go unprocessed by the liver can make themselves known to your epidermis, which can break out in acne. Beetroot, by serving to promote your liver’s detoxification, can help your whole body to heal from the inside out.

Parsley and Kale

These two greens are rich in both vitamin A and C. C, as we have discussed, encourages the production of collagen, while vitamin A encourages your skin’s elasticity – guarding against wrinkles, and improving healing.

Ginger

Ginger aids tremendously in promoting healthy skin, due to its anti-inflammatory properties. This addition to your juice can bring down the inflammation caused by clogged pores, and encourage a smooth, natural look to your skin. It is among the most essential elements of any pressed juice cleansing cycle.

Contact Karmic Juices for more information on how our juices can improve your skin!

If there were a competition for a national vegetable, the humble beetroot would surely be in the running for Australia. The distinctive slices of the taproot section of the beetroot plant are well-known as an integral element of the iconic 'Australia burger', but their appeal goes beyond pub food. Beetroot possesses a number of health advantages, and is a key element to any juice cleanse.

First, beetroot juice has been proven to help with high blood pressure, reducing systolic blood pressure in the majority of patients, even only while drinking small doses. The plant is rich in nitrates, which when digested, become nitric acid. This substance is known to stimulate and widen blood vessels, which can have positive health benefits for athletes and casual athletes alike.

The juice is high in the substance choline, a key nutrient with a long list of health benefits. Apart from being used to combat stress, choline has been linked to improvements in muscle movement, mental cognition, memory, and learning. These impacts can help those of us at risk of developing dementia in later years.

But the most well-known health benefit of this particular vegetable is its liver cleansing power. The juice itself stimulates the liver's natural cleaning enzyme, allowing your liver to work towards a cleaner, healthier operation. Each minute of the day, your liver works to filter over three litres of blood – a large task, for any organ – so offering it a boost, to allow it to work at peak capacity, could help your health a great deal.

While it isn't present in all of our organic juices, the beetroot is an integral aspect of any long-term juice cleanse. Come and visit us to find out more.