Your complete guide to... DETOXING

No longer the shortcut to speedy weight loss, embarking on a detox could be one key to good health

- CLARE SWATMAN

A few years ago, it felt as though the world and his wife were detoxing, with celebs from Carol Vorderman to Jennifer Aniston singing the praises of a thorough cleansing of the system. And while excessive, long-term detoxes are not recommended these days, with the excess of Christmas well behind us and spring still a way off, you might feel as though you need a little bit of help to get back on track and give your body a much-needed boost.

These days, a healthy detox is more about eating well and getting the right balance of nutrients to support your liver.

Here, nutritional therapist Kelly Mulhall (thenaturalbalance.net) explains how to give yourself a much-needed cleanse...

WHAT IS A DETOX?

Your liver has more than 500 functions, and removing toxins and waste is one of them. When we eat or drink to excess or eat lots of fatty and sugary foods, our livers have to work extra hard to eliminate all the added toxins from our bodies – and can sometimes become overloaded.

‘Detoxing is the process of removing toxins and wastes from our body in order for it to function better,’ explains Kelly. And, while experts agree it’s not essential for healthy liver function, it can help to reset your digestion, boost the immune system, excrete excess hormones and reduce our toxic load.

REDUCE TOXINS NATURALLY

If you overload your body with toxins, it struggles to cope. By slowly cutting back on all the things it doesn’t need or like, you’ll give your body a chance to cleanse itself properly. Try cutting out or limiting the following for a few weeks (longer if you like) and see how you feel.

CUT BACK ON CAFFEINE