As a naturopath, it's amazing how many people I see who complain of various problems who don't follow some pretty basic and easy strategies for staying healthy. There aren't a lot of health secrets here, but they are worth repeating and putting into action!

• Eat a good variety of fruit and vegetables each day - choose a wide variety of colours to insure a good selection of antioxidants to help fight disease.

• Choose seasonal, locally grown fruit and vegetables to avoid food that has been refrigerated for prolonged periods or irradiated. Freshh food is always going to beat frozen or stored food for nutrition and taste.

• Drink at least 8 glasses of pure water each day to keep your body hydrated. It doesn't matter if it's tap water, bottled water or spring water, but your body will love you for it. It keeps you hydrated and washes away the toxins.

• Walk for twenty minutes each day. Exercise helps to maintain body weight and aids with the removal of toxins.

• Avoid constipation by consuming fibre in your diet and by keeping the body well hydrated. Constipation allows toxins from the bowel to be reabsorbed into the body, potentially leading to disease.

• Laugh regularly - it's good for the soul.

If you follow a few basic tips like these, your overall health will improve. It's not rocket science, but it is worth taking note. Most importantly of all, put a few of these tips into action!

SpringCurl is a naturopath in Auckland, New Zealand.