January is usually the time that people think about undertaking a detox. The food and alcohol excesses of Christmas and the new year can make you feel bloated and sluggish. Other common signs to indicate the need of detoxification are constipation, recurrent headaches, muscle aching and weakness, food allergies and sensitivity to chemicals, skin issues, asthma, poor memory and concentration - so what is the best way to detox?

Detoxifying the body can take a very long or a very short time, depending on how high the toxin levels are in the body. There are many methods of detoxification which include cleansing diets such as juicing and soups, herbal supplements, vitamins and other nutrients. The best starting point is to clean up your diet eliminating wheat, dairy and red meat. There are plenty of wheat alternatives around now such as gluten free varieties and dairy alternatives that include almond, oat and rice milks. When consuming white meat you should ensure that it is of an organic and lean cut variety. You should also drink two litres of purified water per day and avoid caffeine, fizzy drinks, smoking and alcohol. Eating six to eight portions of fruit and vegetables per day is important more of these portions should be vegetables rather than fruit. Some vegetables to include are asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, avocadoes, garlic and onions.

You should not detox if you have a compromised or weakened immune system, are taking prescribed medications or you already suffer from chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, kidney or heart disease. Other restrictions would be children, the elderly, pregnant women and nursing mothers. In any instance it is always best to seek professional guidance before undertaking any detox.