Have a happier holiday with a pre-Christmas detox
If you’ve already had your fair share of mince pies and mulled wine (not to forget that daily hit of chocolate courtesy of your advent calendar), you might already start to feel the skirt tightening around the hips.
Sadly many of us forget about diets and healthy heating know-how as soon as the calendar hits December 1st and put it waaaaay at the back of our Mind Palace with other things we’d like to forget about (ex-boyfriends and those too drunken nights mainly..) and live our hedonistic lives as if it was the heyday of Ancient Rome and we are the Emperor Empress – only to wake up on a cold and harsh January 1st, feeling all panda-eyed, hungover… and poisoned.
This year, instead of waiting till a New Year has graced us with its presence, why not kick-start your healthy new way of life with a Christmas pretox? Yes, yes, there are lots of parties and get-togethers to ruin it all, but with a few tricks you can not only look even better in that new dress (which cost as much as a month’s rent) come NYE and also feel a bit less lethargic, panda eyed and hungover – OK the last two may be unavoidable despite your best efforts.
Detoxing helps rejuvenate both body and mind, improves your energy and mood, aids weight loss and clears up your skin so what’s not to like.
Here are our top tips on pretoxing ahead of this festive season.
Be carb savvy
There’s no reason why you should cut out carbs completely. Just say no to white bread and pasta (full of refined sugars) and opt for wholegrain carbs such as brown rice and dark rye bread. And eat less of it as well.
Eat more fibre
Adding enough fibre to your diet will help you maintain normal blood sugar levels and release energy into your body slowly rather than the rollercoaster quick fixes (red: chocolate) can offer. Nuts, seeds and fruit is a great way to add more fibre to your diet.
Cut down on the caffeine
We know… We’re not great without our daily fix of caffeine from our local coffee shop, but by cutting down – or eliminating – caffeine from your diet for a while can make great changes to both your health and sleep. Herbal teas are a great substitute for those who need a hot drink once in a while.
No booze (or as little as possible)
Almost impossible, with all those friend catch-ups and client meetings, you say? Skip the alcohol for a week or so and see your body and mood improve. Also keeping the intake of your favourite tipple to a low, will greatly reduce the chances of awkward drunken photos appearing on Facebook.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
Not drinking enough water is the main reason for people feeling drained and unfocused. Ensuring you stay hydrated will also keep your hunger at bay, so there’s less chance of snacking during the day. Keep a bottle at your desk and refill it every time you go to the kitchen.
Image: Flickr Creative Commons / Macinate (Any excuse for adding an image of a cute cat..)


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