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!

Being healthy this summer!!!

I like to take a holistic approach to health and this summer with all the partying and overindulgence you can still be healthy...

Mind & Spirit: There is a continuous communication between our brain and every cell in the body. Every thought and emotion registers in the body and affects our health. So look within yourself, using prayer or meditation and develop a spiritual view of life. Yes its a "dog eat dog" world out there but we are all God or Nature's creation and we are all beautiful and we all have a purpose here on earth. This is the truth and dont let man made negative stereotypes effect you in a negative way. Negativity manifests itself in the body and leads to illnesses and compromised health. Life is inherently stressful, but stressing does not take the worry out of tomorrow but it does take the strength out of today. So stay positive and dont ever let other peoples negativity get to you. You can become impenetrable to negativity while you yourself becoming a positivity generating machine.

Water: The human body is 60% water by weight and there is water in every cell in the body. Especially during summer months it is important to drink lots of fresh purified water. Dehydration is linked to allergies, aches, pains and illness so drink more water and not carbonated fizzy drinks!

Nutrition: You are what you eat. A healthy diet is essential, and eating healthily should become a lifestyle rather than a diet. Do you want to look and feel younger for longer? Want to be a 50 year old in the body of a 30 year old?

Then follow these tips:

No white flour products (no white bread, pastries, pasta)

Limited amounts of whole grains (brown rice and quinoa are best)

No sugar(sugar is a poison), use raw honey, xylitol or stevia

Unlimited amounts of legumes (beans, lentils, sprouts)

No hydrogenated fats (margarine and cookies)

No fried foods (stir fry is ok but use olive, avo or nut oils)

Unlimited vegetables (especially if fresh and lightly cooked)

Foods rich in Omega 3 (nuts, seeds and Salmon)

Limited low fat lean protein sources(fish, poultry, eggs, lean red meat)

Fruit(but not too much) and nuts(almonds, brazil and walnuts are best, avoid peanuts)

General Rules:

Whole foods are better than processed foods, if you have to eat bread or pasta, make it wholewheat with seeds etc.

Living things such as vegetables and sprouts are far far better than "dead things" such as canned foods. Try always eat organic as this soil has more life and thus the produce will be more alive!

Avoid colourants, flavourants, preservatives and artificial sweeteners.

Avoid sugar. We are in the midst of an epidemic of sugar addiction which is due in part to the high concentration of sugar in soft drinks(8 teaspoons in a can) and in packaged cookies and sweets. Sugar causes high levels of insulin which over time leads to diabetes, but it also increases cortisol production. Insulin and cortisol are 2 hormones that can dramatically speed up the ageing process. Sugar has a depressant effect on the immune system and causes oxidative stress by creating advanced glycosylated end products which accumulate in the skin(causing age spots) kidneys, arteries and brain. In other words sugar makes you old!

Exercise: Is a key factor in prevention of chronic illnesses and helps with brain function. A sedentary lifestyle leads to decrease quality of life and countless premature deaths each year, in other words fitness cuts your risk of dying. Heart disease, strokes,cancer and diabetes all fall dramatically in people who exercise regularly. Exercise also oxygenates body and brain promoting mental function and a feeling of well being, which reduces stress, depression and anxiety.

Detoxification: Chemicals are constantly being pumped into our environment every second. So its not a question of who needs it, as we all need it! The liver, kidneys and skin are there for detox but they cant keep up wth the massive load of toxins being pumped into our bodies. Follow the eating tips mentioned earlier and avoid smoking(also 2nd hand smoke) and air polluted areas. Every month for a period of 2-3 days just eat fresh vegetable juices and raw sprout salads. Just like a car needs an oil change, so the human body also needs to be cleaned out.

Sunshine: Vitamin D is vital to good health and good mood, so try and get at least 10 mins of sunshine everyday. No more than 30 min though(unless you are using sunscreen), as then the UV rays become detrimental to health.

Sleep: Quality sleep is essential as the body recharges and repairs while we sleep. The body's functions are governed by a 24hr circadian rythym. Not getting sufficient quality sleep puts these rythyms out of whack, leading to hormonal imbalances and health problems. I know in summer its nice to party everyday till late but this will accelerate the ageing process. So here is to "day" pool parties!

And here is to good health!

More to follow...;)

Mr South Africa 2010 Finalist announcement at FTV Silverstar

It was 6pm on a Saturday evening and all 12 finalists had congregated in the basement of FTV Silverstar. At 7:30pm we were due to be announced to the world as the 12 final candidates for Mr SA 2010. We all had to give introductory speeches as to what we do and who we are and nerves were on edge as we practiced our speeches. We all looked very suave in our tuxedos and our hair was done perfectly, thanks to Jessica Jewell. Last year's Mr SA Steven Segal was the emcee for the night and at 7:30 he started the show. After his introduction he started calling us out to give our speeches...the tension was high....


We all made our way upstairs but stayed hidden from the audience. I was 2nd from last and as my name was called i felt this rush of adrenaline as I made my way out in front of the packed audience. I took the mic from Steven and gave my speech, focusing on who I am and what I stand for. I commanded the area and I even had a heckler in the audience, but he was not going to get to me ;) A Mr SA has to have a confident commanding presence and I feel I achieved this as the crowd responded well to me during my speech.



After the speeches we went downstairs and got changed into our sponsored True Religion jeans and tee shirts. We came back upstairs and gave a little fashion show and then we gave the crowd what they wanted and we took our tops off;) This symbolises what Mr SA is all about, being serious and making a difference but having fun at the same time.




We had been introduced to the world and we could all relax now and it was time to let our hair down and party! But party responsibly, as a Mr SA should always be a pillar of integrity and good behaviour. Loui Fish from Glitterati interviewed me after the show and then it was time to mingle...I met one of South Africa's most beautiful woman, Lee Anne Liebenberg, and she is hotter in real life! Well what can I say, I am a man after all;)

After that all the finalists and the organizing committee shook up the dancefloor and we celebrated how far we had come. We also all got to meet Elsie from Ons Huis, what a sweet lady doing so much good for her community, she even partied with us! All the finalists had worked really hard to get here and I was proud of myself and the other 11 men. I want to say a big thanks to the guys for working so hard and making it a great competition so that we can push ourselves and do and be the best we can be. I also want to thank the Mr SA organizers for creating an amazing platform where men can push and develop themselves into people that reach their potential and make a difference and stand up and be counted.

Thank you for this amazing experience.

Weekend in Jozi

So it was the weekend of the Mr SA Finalist announcement...but I had other things planned also, and it was going to be a massive weekend...

I woke up at 5am on Friday morning and was at the airport by 6am as I had a 6:45 flight to Johannesburg. I was picked up from OR Tambo at 9am and taken to the Randburg sports complex where I was due to shoot the Heat Manwatch 2010 calendar. The shoot went very well and its going to be a hot calendar ;) I was then dropped off at the Fourways Virgin Active Gym in town where I was going to be training with Pieter and his trainer and Durban Mr SA finalist Murray Clark. The trainer put us through the ringer and I was sore in places the next day I didnt know existed.

It had been a long day, but that night Gareth Cliff had invited myself and Murray to FTV Cedar Square, so we decided to go check out the JoBurg night life...I almost regretted that decision as Gareth can be very persuasive and is a real party animal, but Murray and I pretended to go to the bathroom and made a dash for it! We had escaped and were home by 12.

Good thing, as we needed to be up at 7am as we had a big day ahead of us. We met at the Black Eagle Lodge, where we would be staying, and I met the 11 other finalists. We had breakfast and did some official Mr SA photographs. We then went through to the Silverstar casino where we had an all you can eat lunch, a 2 hour spa treatment and it was also the official finalist announcement at the Silverstar FTV.

The next day we woke up and went for a great spin class at Little Falls Virgin Active. After that it was off to Fournos Bakery for a great breakfast and pictures and mingling with the public. After that the Mr SA weekend was officially over...but I was not done yet. I had a shoot with avant garde photographer Louis Botha. The shoot went very well and Louis is a very good photographer.

All in all it was a great weekend. I had some great photographs done and met some awesome people. The Mr SA organising committee is a great buch of people and I am so happy to be working with them. The Black Eagle Guest Lodge where we stayed is so beautiful and I am definitely going to stay there again. And finally the other 11 finalists...all I can say is what a great bunch of guys, I definitely have some friends for life. It was a truly incredible weekend and an amazing piece of the Mr SA experience.

Pic top: Me with finalists Murray, Johan and Geoffrey

Pic 2nd from top: Me with last year Mr SA runner up and ultimate nice guy Jaco De Bruyn

Pic 3rd from top: Me with the gorgeous Tahlita and Jessica

Pic 2nd from bottom: Me with head of Mr SA, the enigmatic Susca Stemmet

Pic bottom:All the finalists, the top 12 most desirable men in SA!!! ;)