Detox the Old and Welcome the New You!

January is officially the month for renewal and cleansing. Many of us have over indulged during the festive season, but even if we haven’t, this month gives us the perfect opportunity to reflect and adjust our lifestyles, eliminate bad habits and become the fabulous vibrant person we know we can be. A very popular first step in this process is detox-ing, which is a great kick start in eliminating any excess of chemicals in the system, easing the burden on the liver and kidneys and rejuvenating your entire body. There are many different approaches to detox-ing, some of which can result in quite extreme reactions without proper preparation or supervision. A simple and gentle way to start, without the need for supervision is to reduce or cut out completely the food and drink that makes life difficult for your digestive system, liver and kidneys. Start by cutting out dairy products, red meat, stimulants like tea & coffee and sugary treats for 1 week. This will give your body some breathing space and allow it to gently eliminate any build up of toxins. Feast on fresh fruit & vegetables, steamed fish, herbal teas and go easy on starchy foods like bread, pasta and potatoes. Ensuring you are drinking sufficient water, (between 1.5-2L every day) will also help this process. Instead of tea or coffee, start the day with fresh ginger, lemon and cayenne tea, stimulating your liver and digestive system and boosting circulation, so that you are ready for the day ahead. Enjoy the break from your normal routine and allow some space in this week of cleansing for some quiet personal time. 2010 won’t know what hit it.

You can make ginger, lemon & cayenne tea yourself by adding freshly sliced root ginger, a slice of lemon and a very small pinch of cayenne pepper to a cup of hot water. Cayenne pepper is quite hot, so start small and add more if you can take it.