So, you’ve decided your system needs a break from all that festive punishment. The alcohol and all those sweets, have added up to a few extra kilos and a bit of holiday fatigue, and you realise now you are back at work it is time to get back to a healthy lifestyle. But you want to make sure you do not get any headaches or stomachaches from all those toxins leaving your body.

How do you do a pain free detox?

Support your liver

Make sure when you detox, you support your digestive system with herbs and nutrients to encourage the removal of toxins from your system, without agitating other systems in your body. To do this effectively you must support your primary organ of toxin removal – your  liver. We recommend the herb Milk Thistle for liver support during detoxification, as well as drinking plenty of water, eating only organic foods, and including anti-nausea herbs such as Ginger into your daily routine.

Small changes make a big difference

When it comes to a detox, it does work best if you remove from your diet nutrients that tax your digestive system, such as caffeine, wheat and alcohol. But if you find this too intense for your first try at a detox, try to cut these nutrients out slowly, and replace your old habits with healthier alternatives over time.

• Try gluten free (& therefore wheat free) alternatives Start by replacing your normal bread with gluten free bread, your pasta with gluten free pasta or quinoa, and your white rice with brown rice.
• Reduce your caffeine and alcohol intake Work up to having at least 3 alcohol free days a week generally (and then build up to 4, 5, 6, then 7, for a total detox experience!). You could also consider replacing one of your coffees a day with an herbal tea such as Liquorice root tea. It has the added benefit of a calorie free natural sweetness to help with those sugar withdrawals.
• Drink plenty of filtered water You may not know that drinking plenty of water is a great way to kick start your detox (you’d be surprised how often we confuse hunger for thirst, and how often we confuse fatigue for dehydration). Water is also great for helping to flush toxins through the liver, once the organ has detoxified them.

Dietary changes during detoxification

Exclude from your diet	Include in your diet
Sugar Alcohol Caffeine containing beverages, such as coffee, tea,  iced/hot chocolate Salt, added to meals or during cooking Gluten containing foods, especially wheat	Seasonal fruits and vegetables, including bitter greens such as spinach & kale Filtered water, at least 2L daily Herbal teas

         

Mr Vitamins recommends

Nutra-Life Detox & Cleanse

Formulated for total digestive and liver health, Detox & Cleanse contains herbs and nutrients beneficial for the cleansing and detoxification of your liver, stomach, small and large intestines. Easy-to-take, this programme combines 3 capsules daily with a 15g serve of natural blackcurrant flavoured powder. Learn more about Nutra-Life Detox & Cleanse here