Detoxification, December and the holiday season

Detoxification, December and the holiday season may not appear to belong in the same sentence, but in fact, it is even more important to be aware of what we can do to keep up our energy levels during this busy time of year!

Keeping detoxification at the forefront of your mind may help you enjoy the holidays even more and be ready for 2016!

Signs of compromised detoxification include:

• flagging energy levels
• mood swings and irritability
• brain fog
• digestive and/or skin complaints.

Optimising your health through choosing detoxifying foods and making healthy lifestyle choices may be just what you need in the run up to the festive season!

 What detox-foods should I choose to promote my health and energy levels?

• Eat real food, organic where possible to reduce toxins, including lots of seasonal vegetables such as squash, cabbage, parsnip, celeriac, beetroot and yes, those brussel sprouts!
• Opt for organic, grass fed meat where possible to reduce the toxins that you may already be exposed to via the food chain.
• Drink lots of veggie juices to alkalise and hydrate your body and help sustain energy levels.
• Buy raw dark chocolate (as dark as you can find/like) instead of the festive milk chocolate or truffle varieties on sale at Christmas time. Even better, eat it with a few nuts. These can help sustain energy levels throughout the day.
• Drink two litres of water daily (more when exercising and/or when you have enjoyed one too many alcoholic drinks at a festive party). In fact, drinking a pint glass of water before you go to bed after a ”heavy” evening may help to rehydrate you and maintain energy levels the following day.  

What other detox methods should I incorporate to promote health and energy?

Sleep, sleep, sleep.

Not easy at this time of year admittedly, with to-do lists filling up our iPhones and iPads; but sleep is essential if we are to allow our body to detoxify. Try to plan and stick to the following:

• At least two early nights (for example, bed at 10.00pm) each week in the run up to the festive season.

• Promote a restful night’s sleep by enjoying a bath with two to three cupfuls of magnesium epsom salts. Magnesium is an anti-stress mineral which has been linked with muscle relaxation and improved energy.

 Exercise, exercise, exercise.

Ensure that you are getting some physical exercise. Try to achieve 30 minutes moderate exercise per day, but even 10 minutes may help promote detoxification. Our bodies need to move and ideally to sweat in order to allow toxins to be eliminated through our skin, so even if it’s just a brisk walk, a blast on the treadmill or bicycle, go for it. As an added bonus, this may help limit how much weight you put on over the holiday period!

 Sauna, steam or dry skin brushing.

Saunas and steam rooms are an excellent way of promoting detoxification as sweating can help to eliminate toxins via the skin (our second largest elimination organ). No time for a steam or sauna? Then instead try dry skin brushing which can be done at home. Simply brush dry skin with brisk strokes from feet to hips, wrists to shoulders and waist down with a skin brush, then moisturise. This may help stimulate circulation and eliminates toxins and leave you feeling calm as well as energised!