New Year’s resolution: DETOX!

It’s true, every year after the festive season (or should we say the overindulgent season) most of us say to ourselves “my new year’s resolution is to lose weight”… Well the best and most effective way is to start with a detox. And because even the most saintly of us consume more than the normal monthly quota of champagne in the lead up to Christmas, we are best to focus on a liver detox.

Detoxing and your liver

Our liver plays a significant role in the elimination and detoxification of our bodies. It plays many vital functions including metabolism support, cholesterol balance, fat metabolism and glucose breakdown. It plays such an important role in our health and natural detoxing process, but most of us neglect this and do not have a healthy liver.

The liver works as our natural filter that eliminates the toxins we build up with our busy lifestyles and convenient foods we consume. It also maintains the health of other vital organs. Therefore after Christmas is the perfect time to do a liver detox!

What to eat during a liver detox

During a liver detox, you are not allowed to consume processed foods such as sugary foods, white breads & pastries, coffee, alcohol, saturated fats and red meat (basically anything that is pre-packaged you have to stay away from while on a detox). You must drink at least two litres of water each day while you are on a liver detox. First thing in the morning, try to drink a glass of warm water with lemon juice. This is a great way to start your natural detox process by increasing enzyme activity.

You can also take liver supplements while on a liver detox. Some great herbs are Milk thistle, dandelion (which you can drink each day as a tea), Gentian and the amino acid Taurine. Taurine will help with fat metabolism and liver cell regeneration.

Remember while on the detox to eat as many highly nutritious foods like, green leafy vegies, berries for their antioxidant content and also seeds for their omega 3 source.

The best time frame to do a simple liver detox is one week. You will feel and notice a big change in your body, and you will definitely lose weight, but you must remember that a liver detox is the start of a lifestyle change. If weight loss is your biggest issue, remember in the long term you have to support your body’s natural detox process with a healthy diet and an “everything in moderation” attitude!