BEST POST-HOLIDAY DETOXES

Fresh Squeezed Lemon in Warm Water
Upon rising, squeeze half a fresh lemon into just boiled water, adding a measure of cooler water to prevent scolding. While commonly thought of as an acidic fruit, lemon juice is alkalizing, and assists the body in flushing out the system and stimulating digestive acids, preparing the body for a healthy breakfast. Be sure to move around a little after drinking, as this helps the lemon do it’s job.

Organic Triphala
Triphala (meaning ‘three fruits’) is an Ayurvedic blend of the Harada, Amla, and Bihara fruits known for their laxative effects. Triphala comes in either powdered form (which is quite astringent to taste) and capsules, which when taken regularly assists in the detoxification and cleansing of the colon, as well as the cleansing of the blood and removal of toxins from the liver.

Yoga for Stress Relief
The regular practice of Yoga has a powerful effect on the body. However, during the holiday season, yoga becomes increasingly important: the stress relieving effects not only soothe your adrenals and mind, but help the body release stress which it might otherwise seek to release via another glass of egg-nog. See our Best Yoga Poses article for suggestions.

Dark Leafy Greens
Following the holiday season, our bodies are full of indulgences: many of them high in calories though low in nutritional value. To compensate for this, it’s not only important to flush toxicity out, but to flood nutrients in. Dark leafy greens are, calorie for calorie, probably the most concentrated source of nutrition of any food. They are also rich in phyto-nutrients, low in carbs and full of fiber and water, increasing both satiation and detoxification. Try steaming broccoli rabe, kale or collard greens. For an on-the-go hit of greens, look for a low-sugar powdered green product at your local health food store.

Morning Juices
Replace your regular morning coffee with fresh squeezed grapefruit or apple juice. Grapefruits are a metabolic stimulant, and apples contain pectin, which is a digestive aid. Add cinnamon to help balance blood sugar or fresh ginger which helps soothes the stomach. Dilute with water if you have stomach-acid sensitivities.

Organic Matcha
If you don’t have a sweet tooth in the morning, or would rather avoid sugar altogether, drink an organic green leaf tea or organic ‘Matcha’ tea with a touch of your favourite non-dairy milk and/or natural sweetener to taste. Matcha is the bright-green powdered grounds of young green tea leaves and is incredibly rich in antioxidants – (one glass of matcha is the equivalent of 10 glasses of green tea in terms of it’s nutritional content) due to the fact that one ingests the entire green tea leaf, not just the brewed water. Beware, you might never drink coffee again!

Healthy Snacks
When the body has been indulging, it’s normal for it to want to continue. You can reprogram your taste buds towards healthy snacks by swapping chocolate for dried figs dipped in organic tahini, or a mix of goji berries, raw organic almonds, walnuts and sunflower seeds: all rich in nutrients and full of energy, detoxifying fiber and healthy fats. Raw vegetables high in water (such as celery and kale) are also recommended. Have a banana for a low-GI and potassium rich snack.

Afternoon Juices
By mid-afternoon, most of us experience an energy slump, particularly if we’ve been living on a high-calorie, high-GI diet of sugar and alcohol. An antioxidant rich juice can assist with the rebalancing of your health habits. Try juices made with carrots, parsley (the chlorophyll stimulates digestive enzymes), half a beet (helps detoxify the bladder and kidneys), celery (a great diuretic), a knob of ginger, and an apple to sweeten. Coriander is excellent for eliminating heavy metals (such as mercury and lead, which accumulates after smoking) from the system.

Avoid Extra Toxins
During detoxification, avoid the consumption of any alcohol (even the famed hangover ‘cure’, the Bloody Mary), excessive caffeine, red meats and dairy products. That means no chocolate, cream, milk, cheeses, ice-cream or coffee creamers. Casein found in dairy products can create extra mucous in your body, inhibiting the detoxification functions of the lungs. Give your body a rest while it reorients towards a healthier diet. Substitute watercress and sunflower or sesame seeds instead, which contain more calcium than milk, and make sure to drink plenty of filtered water. Add a dash of organic apple cider vinegar for further detoxifying benefits.

Bathing
The skin is a our largest and most underrated organ – it can efficiently eliminate toxins through its pores, making it an ally in your rebalancing detox. To help the skin do it’s job, pour one cup of Epsom (magnesium) salts into a hot bath along with several drops of an essential oil such as jojoba, lemon, rosemary or olive (apply first to the underside of your forearm to test for any allergies.) These ingredients will natural stimulate the body to draw toxins out and away from the body.

Exfoliation
Exfoliating the skin increases respiration and the elimination of toxins. You can make a simple body exfoliant at home with everyday ingredients. Mix 1/2 cup of oatmeal (as opposed to whole oats), 1 tablespoon of cornmeal, with several drops of almond oil and enough milk to form a paste. Apply it with your hands to your entire body, avoiding the face, using gentle circular motions before rinsing and brushing the skin with a loofah or sponge. This will stimulate the lymphatic drainage system which aids the immune system in destroying pathogens and filtering waste.

Facials
A great facial to try at home can be made by mixing 1/2 cup of plain yogurt (a skin brightener), 2 teaspoons of lemon juice (also great for the skin), with honey (which softens the skin and improves appearance.)  Apply on clean skin, leaving for 15 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. The mixture restores natural colour and form to the skin.

Tired Eyes
To alleviate tired or puffy eyes, soak cotton pads in cooled chamomile tea, which contains the soothing compound azulene, or black tea, high in tannic acid and caffeine, which dilates blood vessels and helps to draw blood away from the eye area. Lay on an elevated pillow for 20 minutes for best effects, and follow with a rich eye-cream to hydrate and further stimulate blood flow. The old trick of cucumbers works as well!

By Sophie Ward