Too many Christmas canapés over the festive period can leave you feeling fatigued, bloated and not so merry. Embracing yourself in a New Year resolution with a detox diet can help you bounce back, giving you a much-needed boost of energy and that ‘feel-good’ feeling.
A detox isn’t a quick-fix, seven-day fast. Just because you’re detoxing doesn’t mean you need to cut out all food. In fact, it should be the opposite. The key to detoxing is clean eating, so you’re less likely to crave foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar. Your own kitchen is the best place to start. Here are a few of our top tips:
● Avoid processed and overrefined foods
● Say ‘no’ to junk food
● Reduce the amount of salt and sugar you eat
● Choose lighter options and plant-based alternatives for dairy products
● Add more whole fruits and vegetables to your diet
When it comes to detoxing, soups, smoothies and juices are a top choice. They’re easy to prepare and jam-packed with vitamins.
Top tip: prepare for the week ahead by popping your soups, smoothies and juices in the freezer in individual servings. Simply defrost fully when needed.
With Thermomix®, blending fruit and vegetables couldn’t be easier. Just pop the ingredients into the mixing bowl and select the Blend mode. Blending will start slowly at speed 5 and increase automatically to speed 6-8 until you have a silky smooth consistency.
Eating salads is another fool-proof way to get all the benefits of your essential fruits and vegetables in one meal. There’s so much variety, too. The beauty of a salad is that you can make it your own by swapping out ingredients as and when you please. Find tips on how to build your own salad in our article.
Whatever you cook, be sure to choose your ingredients wisely. Some foods are better for detoxing than others. Here are some of our favourites:
Full of vitamin C, lemons are antioxidants. They help to restore the body’s pH balance, while boosting the immune system. With a distinctive sharp flavour, lemons can really bring a dish to life by adding a zingy punch.
Combined with black pepper will boost your immune system and relieve inflammation.
Like broccoli, cauliflower and kale, cabbage contains sulforaphane, which helps to fight toxins. It’s not to everyone’s taste, so if you’re not a fan but still want to reap the benefits of the green goodness, try blending it in your soup or juice.
A helpful cure for you if you’ve been making some not so healthy choices. As well as helping to settle your stomach, ginger can aid in digestion and reduce bloating. Try grating some in your juice or making a pot of ginger tea for a refreshing change.
As a superfood, beetroot is a great choice for you if you’re detoxing. There’s a reason why it’s known for being super. As it’s full of magnesium, iron and vitamin C, beetroot is great for the skin, hair, cholesterol levels and can aid in athletic performance.
Detoxing by making healthier, more nutritional choices will help your body to repair and regenerate, leaving you feeling refreshed, recharged and raring to go.
