Firefly Tonics: Refreshing, Tasty Health drinks for summer!!!

So summer has arrived!!! It is finally here and its time to whip out those bikinis and shorts and hit the beach. Just in time for summer I am happy to announce that I will be brand ambassador for Firefly Tonics! So I know what Im going to be drinking on the beach ;) I was approached because of my look, but primarily so because of my interest in health and finding alternatives to the crap on the market!
And Firefly is the ideal drink, tasty yet very healthy.

Firefly is the ultimate in health drinks and the company was started in England. It has since taken over the world and is now in South Africa. What makes Firefly drinks so amazing is their combination of taste and health. There is no sugar in any of the drinks and only natural ingredients are used. The big idea behind the drinks was, let's find natural ingredients to do the same job that other drinks use dodgy chemicals for. Thus Firefly has specialized herbalists who put the right herbs in each different Firefly variety...and you really can feel them working.

Each drink is a combination of purified water, organic fruit juices and specialized herbs. For instance 'Recharge' is designed to help you after a hard day at the office, or the next day after a heavy party! It contains pomegranate, plum, blood orange and rose hips juice and contains the herbs echinacea, rosemary, elderflower(immune boosters), siberian ginseng and kola nut(energy boosters) and chilli(increases blood circulation).

'Wake Up' is their version of the energy drink but is much healthier than a Red Bull! But instead of sugar and stimulants, Wake Up contains green tea, kola nut and yerba mate for that energy boost. Firefly also has drinks especially designed for detox(De-Tox), mental concentration(Sharpen Up), relaxing(Chill Out) and overall health( Health Kick). So whatever your needs, Firefly has a drink for you! So im going to be having a vodka-Wake Up before the party and a De-Tox the next morning and If I have a meeting later that day the Sharpen Up!

What I like about Firefly also, is their sense of humour. On all their bottles they have quirky explanations as to whats going on inside the bottle. On Recharge bottel for instance it says, "Feeling sub-prime? Bodily checks bouncing? Boost your body's credit rating with a delicious mix of juicy fruit juices and powerful herbs to get your balance sheet back in the black!" Even on their website www.fireflytonics.com , their is a lot of quirkiness and humour so check it out!

Its gonna be a great summer! Its time to party whoop whoop! But remember we are nothing without our health, so dont go too big too often...and stay healthy. A big thank you to Firefly, i am proud to be associated with a brand that puts health first as this is what i am all about. And im not going to be putting any crap into my body, only the best, so thanks Firefly again!
Time to hit the beach ;)

My top 10 Superfoods for Summer!!!

Health is important, and with summer here, our health often takes a backseat to all the late nights, smoking, drinking and delicious food! It is inevitable, but there are some foods we can take to counteract the damaging effects of summer partying and some we can even snack on during the day for a nice little health boost!

1. Aloe Vera
Aloe is indigenous to the Cape and is full of vitamins, minerals and is antiseptic both internally and externally. It is very good for detox and is beneficial for the liver and kidneys. You can buy it in health stores but Aloe is best eaten super fresh squeezed straight out of the leaf and straight into your banana, pineapple, strawberry and blueberry smoothie!

2. Goji Berries
Goji berries are an ancient Chinese anti-oxidant rich super food, that boost immunity and slow the ageing process. They are a low in sugar dried fruit and thus will not spike insulin(spiking insulin levels is not good). They are high in Omegas, the essential amino acids and contain all 21 of the essential trace minerals. Eat them by themselves or mix with nuts and seeds for a healthy trail mix.

3. The grasses
Cereal grasses are seriously nutritious and are cleansing and detoxifying and contain very high amounts of vitamins and minerals. They are also very high in chlorophyll(the green colour) which our bodies love with a passion! Wheat, barley, alfalfa or oat grasses are available powdered in which case you stir them into something, available in tablets in which case you swallow them or just go to Kauai and have a wheatgrass shot!

4. Spirulina (algae)
Spirulina is chlorophyll rich(what our bodies love with a passion!), anti-oxidant and amino acid rich. Algae was the very 1st form of life and thus its not surprising its so healthy. Mix your spirulina powder into your smoothie in the morning or take it pill form.

5. Maca
Maca is an ancient Peruvian superfood. If you have seen the movie Apocalypto and you are wondering how those Mayans and Incans could just run up mountains forever, well it was thanks to Maca! In all seriousness, they would chew on the root of the Maca plant and it would give them incredible stamina. Maca is high in minerals, amino acids and fatty acids but also acts as an adaptogenic, making you less susceptible to stress and depression. It has also been used in people with infertlity or libido issues with great success. Maca is best taken mixed into a smoothie.

6. Bee Pollen
Bee pollen is one of nature's miracle health foods. If you were stranded on a desert island it is said you could just live on bee pollen and water. It was revered by the ancient Greeks and Egyptians and is now considered "the fountain of youth" and the most complete food found in nature. It is generally quite expensive, but if you want to jump in that fountain of youth get down to your nearest health store!

7. Hemp seed protein powder
Hemp seed protein powder is the finely milled hemp seed once the oil content has been removed. Hemp is especially useful to vegans as hemp is a complete protein containing all essential amino acids. It builds muscle and boosts energy. And I know what some of you are thinking, but unfortuantely Hemp seed protein powder does not contain THC, so it will not get you high! Hemp seed protein powder has a nutty taste and is delicious mixed into a paste with olive oil, garlic, chick peas, tahini and salt...yummy!

8. Sea Vegetables
Sea veggies are the last remnince of the original food...brought to us by the sea, they are the highest source of minerals, are packed with glyco nutrients and they have an alkalizing effect on the body. Dulce, Nori and Kelp are their most common forms...Nori is what they wrap your sushi in, so eat your Nori!

9. Raw Cacao (the cacao nut)
The raw cacao nut is the food with the highest amount of antioxidants, 3 times the amount of goji berries and 10 times amount of blue berries. It is very high in magnesium and is a natural appetite suppressant and anti-depressant. The bean in its raw state is a superfood, its only when the bean is roasted and denatured, and when sugar, trans fats and dairy are added does the superfood become chocolate the 'stupid food'. Raw cacao beans actually have a great taste(not sweet though) and are best eaten like that. A good quality raw cacao powder with nothing added is also very healthy and can be added to smoothies for a delicious chocolately taste. I do approve of Lindt chocolate body paint though... ;)

10. Sprouts
And the best superfood of them all in my opinion...yes the humble sprout. Mung bean, onion, chickpea, lentil, alfalfa etc, all legumes and grains can be sprouted and when they are sprouted they become the ultimate superfood. High in protein, minerals and vitamins, they are also very high in live enzymes, makes sense considering they are essentially alive! Our bodies are mainly water and water is the medium in which all bodily processes take place. But the body also needs enzymes(the catalysts) for these processes to take place. Sprouts provide these enzymes/catalysts in massive amounts. When a fat molecule cannot be processed properly, what happens? It is stored as fat. So if you want to lose weight drink a lot more water and eat a lot more enzyme live foods such as sprouts. Sprinkle them on salads, add them to stir fries(but just briefly heat) or eat them just is!!!

Mastercard Style in the City

Mastercard were hosting a fashion show, entitled Style in the City with Trinny and Suzanna! Trinny and Suzanna are style experts from England with their own BBC TV show called "What not to Wear". I had been given 4 VIP front row tickets so I was not going to miss it ;)

Before the show started we were treated to mini facials and massages, as well as drinks and gourmet chocolates in the VIP tent. Then it was show time!

First up was a fashion show incorporating many brands. The models were beautiful, the clothing stylish and the stage and lighting set up very well. It was one of the best fashion shows Ive seen in a while. The emcees for the event Janez Vermeiren and Jo-Anne Strauss then came out cracked a few jokes and introduced the stars of the show Trinny and Suzanna!

Trinny and Suzzana walked up and down the runway selecting women they felt needed a style makeover. They took them backstage and 10 minutes later they came out and they literally looked like new women! Their outfits and accessories had been changed, as well as hair and make-up and they all looked so much better than before they had gone backstage. The whole time Trinny and Suzanna were explaining their style principles, womens' body shapes and how to apply fashion rules and principles to these specific body types.

The show was great and it was interesting to see Trinny and Suzanna work their magic. It made me realise that anybody, no matter shape or size can look good and stylish. It just takes confidence and some style sense. After all, in our society, its important to look good. That might be superficial but thats the inescapable truth. You are judged on how you look and how you are dressed...so make a good first impression ;)

FTV Midnight Hot Emcee

So for the last 3 weeks in a row I have been emcee for the FTV Midnight Hot shows. Starting with Lingerie night, then the Halloween bash and finally The Demolition Party. FTV Cape Town is under new ownership and they have decided to renovate the entire interior, so we had a demolition party where patrons were allowed to tear things down!

The Halloween party was really fun, all those creative costumes and the person with the best costume I awarded a prize too! And Lingerie night, well who doesnt love lingerie ;)

On a serious note, doing so much emcee work has made me very confident and comfortable in front of a crowd. I am very thankful for this, as being a Mr South Africa, public speaking comes with the territory. To get my message of empathy, peace and courage across I have been learning the nuances and intricacies of public speaking so that the listener doesnt get bored and that they feel what Im saying...As a very wise person once told me: "People will forget how you looked, how you dressed, what you said, but they will never forget the way you made them feel...". So when I talk I want people to feel something.

As Mr SA Finalists it is our job to be the trend setters for how other men should behave. Practically all abuse, crimes and wars are perpetrated by men...through our behaviour and what we say, we have the platform to influence future generations of men. And consequently make this a more peaceful country. I will get my message across!