Janine Tait

is a holistic skin-health coach and educator, a pioneer of the wellness trend in beauty therapy, the founder of Bestow Beauty and New Zealand’s leading dermo-nutritionist. She brings skin-nutrition and skin-healing expertise to the table.

Sheryl Nicholson

is a talented food-guru, cancer-survivor and the recipe developer and creative genius behind the Bestow Recipe Books. She brings the beautifully designed Bestow Cleanse recipes, meal plans and shopping guides to the table.

Jenny Barrow

is a respected holistic skin-health coach who lives and breathes well-being.  Her own skin transformation journey and dedication to living a slow and simple life is truly inspirational. She brings wellness wisdom and skincare savvy to the table.

What is happening in your body today?
Janine Tait | Dermo-nutritionist, Bestow Beauty Founder

You may feel hungry today. When we move towards a whole food way of eating and reduce processed foods and grains, it can take our bodies a while to adjust. Remind yourself that this is a nutrient-rich programme so your body is getting everything it needs to function well. If you do experience hunger pains, this is actually a good thing! We should feel hungry before we eat because this is the time when your body releases a hormone called ghrelin. Ghrelin is responsible for the sensation of hunger and it therefore stimulates our appetite. But ghrelin does much more than that. Ghrelin regulates nutrient storage, activates several anti-inflammatory pathways and promotes cell regeneration and healing, especially in your gut. So, when you are feeling hungry think of all the wonderful things ghrelin is doing for you. While you ponder this, sip a cup of Bestow Eternitea. The cinnamon in this tea helps to stabilise your blood sugar which will lessen the intensity of the hunger waves.

How are you feeling today?
Jenny Barrow | Holistic Skin Health Coach

Hopefully you are feeling proud of yourself for beginning this programme! On the first day you may experience some cleansing symptoms or you may feel totally fine. If today is your first day without coffee you might begin to experience caffeine withdrawals. Keep up your fluids, and go for a gentle walk and breathe in the fresh air. It is important to take time today (especially if you are feeling withdrawal symptoms) to invest in your overall wellbeing. Going for a short walk or getting out in nature, even if it is just for 5 minutes, does wonders for the soul. Kombucha is also a great pick-me-up. I always feel like I am treating myself when I have it.

From the Bestow Kitchen
Sheryl Nicholson | Recipe Developer, Food Photographer

My Favourite Recipe Today: The Healthy Fries. These are so tasty and easy to make. I’m not a great fan of parsnip generally, but as fries they are yummy!

Tip of the day: Orange sweet potato has a high water content so is not ideal for making fries. The purple and yellow sweet potato (kumara) are drier in texture and bake really well.

What is happening in your body today?
Janine Tait | Dermo-nutritionist, Bestow Beauty Founder

If you haven’t done a pre-cleanse to reduce some of the more addictive things in your diet, then you are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms as your body adjusts to living without caffeine, alcohol, grains and processed foods. These symptoms can include fatigue, headaches and aches and pains in various parts of the body. The type and degree to which symptoms are experienced is variable and some people may not experience any at all.  However, most people experience symptoms anywhere from Day 2 through to Day 4.

There are no short cuts to getting rid of these symptoms and you just need to get through it – but rest assured, they will pass! If you find the effects too taxing then be sure to take some time off to rest and drink a cup of herbal tea (either hot or cold). Bestow Luminositea organic herbal tea is going to support your liver detox and contains a small amount of caffeine from green and white tea, giving you are natural pick-me-up. Your body is working hard so be kind to it and rest when you need to. Also, remember to drink lots of water and head outside for a walk to enjoy a good dose of nature, fresh air and Vitamin D.

Today you will introduce sauerkraut into your diet. This wonderful fermented food will support the microbiome in your gut as well as adding a tangy crunch to your food. We should aim to include fermented foods in our diet every day.

How are you feeling today?
Jenny Barrow | Holistic Skin Health Coach

The high of beginning something new may begin to wear off. This is where your courage and dedication kicks in!  Resolve to be both gentle with yourself, and positive. Take some time to sit with what you are feeling and just let it be. Today, when you have your Bestow Love Your Gut Smoothie that fills your body with goodness, choose to fill your mind and soul with goodness too. With the gut and mind so closely connected this is an important part of restoring gut health. Ponder the quote of the day or another saying that is meaningful to you. Fill your mind with images of people and places you love. Being mindful of those things you are grateful for is a great tank filler.

From the Bestow Kitchen
Sheryl Nicholson | Recipe Developer, Food Photographer

My Favourite Recipe Today: Carrot Apple Saute. I really like this sweet and spicy brekkie – either hot or cold. I love the fragrance that fills the kitchen while it’s cooking.

Tip of the day: Busy in the mornings? Pre-prepare your Carrot Apple Sauté and layer it in a jar with some Bestow Beauty Plus Oil and coconut yoghurt. It’s perfect to grab and go as you head out the door and can be eaten easily when you get to work.

What is happening in your body today?
Janine Tait | Dermo-nutritionist, Bestow Beauty Founder

Today you will have bone broth for breakfast for the first time – as the base of the Gut Healing Brekkie. This may challenge you initially. We can tend to gravitate to something sweet for breakfast and a savoury option can feel strange. I encourage you to keep an open mind. This breakfast nourishes both your body and your gut as the amino acids in the broth are particularly suited to healing.  I personally find this breakfast very satisfying and grounding.

By now, the programme will be supporting your body’s self-cleaning processes and you may experience a cleansing reaction. This occurs when the body releases toxins or wastes faster than it can eliminate them. Examples of cleansing reactions may be headaches or stomach aches (as a results or salt, sugar, caffeine or alcohol withdrawal), bad breath, sweating, tiredness or exhaustion, changes in sleeping patterns or a feeling of light-headedness.

You may also experience changes in your digestion and bowel habits as your body adjusts to the changes in your diet. This can result in either constipation or loose bowels. As uncomfortable as it is, this is yet another sign of your body adjusting. If you have become constipated, try going to the toilet after a meal when the stomach is full and your bowel is more likely to move.

How are you feeling today?
Jenny Barrow | Holistic Skin Health Coach

Hang in there! When our bodies are working hard to adjust to a new way of being our mental and emotional states are adjusting too. Be gently aware today of the thoughts going through your mind and what affect they are having on your mindset. With today likely to be the toughest day physically, it is important to be positive. Remind yourself why you are doing this. Imagine how good you are going to feel on the other side of this pain. You deserve to be your best self and to feel good every day in body, mind and soul. Playing music you love (with uplifting lyrics!) is a great way to subconsciously keep your mind on track. Remember, the darkest hour is just before dawn, so focus your imagination and emotional energy towards the dawn and the new day coming.

From the Bestow Kitchen
Sheryl Nicholson | Recipe Developer, Food Photographer

My Favourite Recipe Today: One Pan Chicken Sauerkraut – it may sound a little weird but it tastes great! It has so many gut-healing elements as well.

Tip of the day: The Gut Healing Brekkie is worth getting your head around as a breakfast option. It’s surprisingly satisfying.

What is happening in your body today?
Janine Tait | Dermo-nutritionist, Bestow Beauty Founder

Hopefully by today you are at the tail-end of your withdrawal symptoms. Your body should be adjusting to its new normal without coffee, alcohol and processed foods. You are over half way through the programme and your body should begin to settle into a new rhythm. By now your liver should feel well supported and be removing toxins each night – usually between 10pm and 2am – hence the importance of getting to bed before 10pm.

It is easy to imagine that you are cleaning your liver out. However, as you’ll recall, the liver is not a sponge soaking up toxins, but a filter, processing the waste your body doesn’t need. The liver is a very greedy organ, requiring many different nutrients to do its job, but our modern nutrient-poor diets mean the liver often doesn’t have the nutritional resources it needs to do its job. Part of the reason why this cleanse is so effective is that is provides you with the nutrients your liver needs to do its job well, clearing out the backlog of toxins that may have built up in your body. By now your gut is also receiving a daily dose of beneficial microbes and other nutrients it needs to continue the healing process.

How are you feeling today?
Jenny Barrow | Holistic Skin Health Coach

Over half way! This may be just the boost you need today. By now, you are probably feeling better physically, and you may be beginning to feel clearer mentally as your gut heals and becomes stronger. Really take your time to enjoy the Dry Bushing Bath-time Ritual today. Not only will this stimulate your lymphatic drainage and encourage the detoxification process, but a relaxing bath offers you a chance to pause and reward yourself for all the hard work you have done so far. Take this moment to be kind to yourself and to celebrate the well-being journey you are on. There are still three days to go and it is important to embrace the new soul-care and self-care rituals we will be introducing daily. This marks the beginning of the second half of the programme. You are doing so well!

From the Bestow Kitchen
Sheryl Nicholson | Recipe Developer, Food Photographer

My Favourite Recipe Today: Roasted Pumpkin & Sweet Potato Soup You can’t beat a good homemade soup – especially this one, which brings togethers layer of flavour and goodness with the bone broth base, roasted vegetables, garlic and ginger and the creamy sweetness of coconut milk. It’s a winner.

Tip of the day: Roasting the veggies for this soup really intensifies the flavour and it saves you the effort of battling a pumpkin to remove the skin and chop it into small chunks. This way is yummier and easier!

What is happening in your body today?
Janine Tait | Dermo-nutritionist, Bestow Beauty Founder

Unless your body has a lot of excess toxins and wastes to process, by today you should start to feel lighter and more energised. This means the programme has moved into a fine-tuning stage. This stage is all about increasing your wellbeing and rejuvenating your body. With less toxins to process, the nutrients that your body is receiving will be well utilised and there may now be enough nutrients to reach your skin which is the last organ of the body to receive the nutrients it needs. It gets what is left over after all the organs have taken their share, which is why you need an abundance of nutrients in your diet for beautiful skin. You may notice your skin beginning to look clearer and healthier over the next few days.

Your digestive system should start to regulate itself as you get used to a new way of eating. At this point you will be having a very high fibre diet which will support your digestive health and feed the good bacteria populations in your gut. If your bowel still hasn’t moved, make sure you have a hot drink today. This stimulates the vegus nerve which can in turn encourage the bowel to move.

How are you feeling today?
Jenny Barrow | Holistic Skin Health Coach

Today should be about gaining confidence in the changes you are making and enjoying the responses you are seeing in your body, mind and soul. Be encouraged that even if you don’t see physical changes, you are fueling your body with everything it needs and the results will become visible in time. With the gut, the healing process isn’t immediately visible so you need to trust that your  body has the tools it needs to heal. The same wisdom applies to our inner selves. You may notice you have a more settled mental and emotional state and feel more alert. Again, changes aren’t always immediate but know that continuing to be kind and to invest time in yourself is all part of the journey of improving your mental and emotional wellbeing. The Bestow Blessings Ritual, introduced today, is a beautiful way to learn how to train your mind to notice and be grateful for the myriad of gifts that exist in your ordinary life.

From the Bestow Kitchen
Sheryl Nicholson | Recipe Developer, Food Photographer

My Favourite Recipe Today: Mighty Meatball Broth This is probably my favourite recipe out of the whole Bestow Love Your Gut Programme. It’s warming and tasty and I love the Asian influence.

Tip of the day: Make an extra batch of chicken meatballs. They freeze well and kids love them too!

What is happening in your body today?
Janine Tait | Dermo-nutritionist, Bestow Beauty Founder

You may notice you are sleeping better and, if you are going to bed earlier, you may be waking earlier than usual as your body adjusts to a natural circadian rhythm. Your stomach may also be flatter and feel less bloated. The gut is often referred to as the second brain so you may also find you have great mental clarity and more emotional stability. These changes can happen more slowly for others so don’t be discouraged if you haven’t noticed them yet.

How are you feeling today?
Jenny Barrow | Holistic Skin Health Coach

You might be feeling a bit excited that there is only one day to go! This is an accomplishment, but keep in mind that although the cleanse is officially only seven days long, the beautiful changes and rituals you have embraced can be carried forward into your everyday life. This new way of living can become your new normal, resulting in beautiful skin and general wellbeing. Keep focused today by reflecting on the journey so far. Remember your motivation at the beginning, your perseverance in the middle, the satisfaction of enjoying the results, and of course, beginning to think about how you will continue this well-being journey beyond the programme. Remember, we encourage you to do four weeks of the Love Your Gut programme if you are really struggling with your skin, as it can take that amount of time, or more, to make significant gains in your gut healing journey.

From the Bestow Kitchen
Sheryl Nicholson | Recipe Developer, Food Photographer

My Favourite Recipe Today: Bestow Beetroot Whip Such a beautiful colour and flavour. You will love this!

Tip of the day: If you don’t have time to create lettuce wraps, then just shredding the lettuce and adding to a bowl with the other elements is fine too. All the gut goodness is still there.

What is happening in your body today?
Janine Tait | Dermo-nutritionist, Bestow Beauty Founder

This programme is a way of life you can continue, so begin to ask yourself: What if instead of being addicted to coffee, alcohol and processed foods I became addicted to feeling good and having more energy?

By now your liver will be working more efficiently, happily filtering toxins daily. Your body should be receiving good levels of the nutrients that make us look and feel great. Your gut will be well supported with the probiotic and prebiotics in Bestow Gut Love + as well as from the fibre and fermented foods you have been consuming. All of this is not only important for your health but also your skin.

Your Bestow Love Your Gut Smoothie plays a big part in ensuring you receive all of the nutrients your body and skin require. I would encourage you to continue this ritual as you continue on your journey to glowing skin.

How are you feeling today?
Jenny Barrow | Holistic Skin Health Coach

Congratulations, you have done it! Make sure you take time today to celebrate your dedication to completing the cleanse, even when it got tough. Take joy from the fact that you have not only provided your body with a huge nutrient boost and the resources it needs to heal itself, but have also given space for your mind and soul to be replenished. Those times you set aside for wellbeing and soul-care are vital. Remember, as you go forward that this way of living can become your new normal. Check out the Beyond the Cleanse tab for tips, resources and advice. Let what you have learned become the foundation for the next chapter of your wellbeing journey. Move forward empowered with knowledge and rituals to treat your full self, body, mind and soul with kindness and love. You deserve it!

From the Bestow Kitchen
Sheryl Nicholson | Recipe Developer, Food Photographer

My Favourite Recipe Today: Lemon and Herb Roast Chicken Who knew that you could make gravy a healthy way?! It’s definitely worth the effort and a great finishing touch for your grand finale.

Tip of the day: Stuffing the chicken with lemon and herbs not only creates a delightful flavour but also ensures tender, succulent chicken.

What next?

If you are facing significant challenges with gut and skin health, we recommend you follow the Bestow Love Your Gut Programme for four weeks. This will significantly enhance the gut healing and restoration process and will more deeply establish new healthy habits.

Simply repeat the 7-day meal planner four times.

Each week, you will increase the dosage of your Bestow skin nutrition products in your daily Bestow Love Your Gut Smoothie – allowing your digestive system to comfortably adjust to the full daily dose we recommend you continue with as a regular habit. Follow the the four-week pattern outlined in the Bestow Love Your Gut Smoothie recipe.