WHAT HAPPENS WHEN...

Overdone the festive cheer? Yeah, thought so. And now you’re debating whether or not to give your liver a helping hand with all those toxins...

...you go on a New Year detox?

ALL DAY, EVERY DAY

You’re detoxing right now. Yes, you. So beware of any products that claim to ‘detoxify’ or ‘cleanse’, because you’re already doing the hard work yourself. ‘Your liver is processing toxins at all times,’ explains Emma Dawson, nutritionist at Nuffield Health. FYI – a toxin is anything that directly damages your body or harms your immune response.

SLOW AND STEADY

Just like you’re drawn to the January sales, toxins are drawn to fat cells. ‘When you lose weight, those toxins are released,’ says Dawson, so the faster you lose weight, the more your body has to deal with at once. Play the long game with a more sustainable 12-week healthy-eating plan.

SWEAT THE BAD STUFF

Spinning might not appeal when your head is doing just that, but cardio will help. ‘When you sweat, your body gets rid of harmful chemicals,’ says Dawson. ‘Plus, exercise boosts the enzymes that support detoxification.’ Fuel up on sweet potato first for an extra boost. Yes, that includes the fries.

WORK YOUR GUTS OUT

Bottom line? You dispose of most of your toxins in the toilet (biology ain’t pretty) so if nothing’s happening in the pipes department, you won’t achieve those detox goals. ‘If you’re constipated, toxins in the waste product of your intestines can be reabsorbed,’ says Dawson. A high-fibre diet packed with vegetables, pulses and whole grains should keep things moving.

BACK TO REALITY

The cleanse is over – so what’s next?

‘The odd shop-bought sandwich or sugar-laden cake shouldn’t have a huge impact – even after a detox – as long as you continue to eat well overall,’ says nutritional therapist Alice Mackintosh. As for those G&TS – your reduced alcohol intake of late means hangovers may feel worse and you might become tipsy faster.’ Meet the new, lightweight you.