As we move towards the end of January, resolutions that seemed to be set in stone only a week or so ago are at serious risk of being forgotten about or completely cast aside.
But don’t be disheartened if you’ve already slipped up and over-indulged in some way: nature’s pharmacy is always open, and by introducing a few of these helpful remedies into your life you can really start to restore your body’s natural balance.
“Detox” is a buzz-word that’s not always applied consistently, so the first thing you need to figure out when you’re planning a healthier lifestyle is exactly what toxins you want to eliminate from your diet. Once you’ve got that bit sorted out, it will be a lot simpler to follow your new regime, and to find the right supplements and remedies to suit you.
The Slow Life approach to detoxifying the body is based on a long-term approach to healthy living and nutrition, so it’s not advisable to undertake any regime you don’t feel able to sustain.
Many of the more extreme and faddy detox diets you’re likely to encounter would be detrimental to health if attempted for more than a few weeks at a time, and require more discipline and planning than is realistic. This leads many detoxers to give up at the first hurdle, with little or no lasting health benefits to take away from the experience.
A more sustainable approach is to identify the worst excesses of your diet (for example alcohol, stimulants and refined sugars) and reduce them gradually before attempting a complete ban. This approach requires careful planning at first, but will be less of a shock to the system than an abrupt ban on all ‘bad’ foods and drinks.
During this time, you might want to think about introducing a few helpful, health-boosting foods and substances into your diet, including:
Figs are a potent detox food and should have you feeling lighter and less sluggish.
Broccoli, particularly the delicious purple-sprouting variety that’s in season right now, is packed with vitamin C as well as sulphoraphane, a compound thought to help prevent cancer. Gently steamed, it makes a delicious addition to any meal.
Green Tea Unless you’re banning caffeine completely, green tea is a great way to an antioxidant-packed natural buzz. It also contains a compound that’s said to stimulate liver activity, making it a perfect ally on a gentle detox.
Milk thistle is associated with healing the liver, which will help speed up the cleansing process. Buy it in tablet form from your local health food shop, or as a pleasant-tasting effervescent tablet that will help keep your water consumption up: you should be aiming for 8-10 glasses a day.
Cranberry juice As anyone who’s suffered with cystitis knows, cranberry juice is good for cleansing the kidneys and bladder. This makes it a great detox drink, too.
Photo: Nikki L
