Detoxing to purge the excesses of the festive season is one of the ways many of us kick-start the new year. And there are a myriad of diet plans, spa breaks, health and beauty products marketed with a detox label to pick from as we attempt to atone for our over-indulgence.
The term is used to promote everything from foot patches to shampoo. Products and plans range in price from, say, a few pounds for a detox drink or a fiver for body wash, to thousands of pounds for a spa break designed to flush away the toxins.
For example, you might choose Gillian Mckeith's 24-hour detox, which is on sale at amazon.co.uk for £19.99. This contains a range of "detoxing" ingredients, from papaya to carrots and silica. It claims that you will "experience the feeling of being lighter, fitter and gain new energy" – with results in one day.
Alternatively, you may opt for a luxury spa break, such as the Ultimate Detox at New Park Manor in the New Forest. It offers a 10-day programme that combines a range of activities, including talks on nutrition, daily meditation and treatments. This would set a couple back a hefty £2,485 if they chose to stay in a forest room.
However, while the benefits of a relaxing new year break are not to be underestimated, the British Dietetic Association (BDA), which represents 6,000 UK dieticians, says there is no "potion or lotion" to "magically" rid the body of chemicals. "You are buying into a marketing myth if you choose, say, a three-day detox kit," says Catherine Collins, a dietician and spokesperson for the BDA. "These detox products often take a convoluted approach to getting rid of toxins and try to blind people with science – and can be very expensive."
Left to its own devices the skin, kidneys, liver and lymphatic system combine to make the body capable of getting rid of most toxins it takes in. But if you want to help optimise your body's health, there are plenty of ways to detox without stretching your purse-strings.
"Small and simple changes to your lifestyle are the obvious long-term solution – and this doesn't cost a thing," says Sian Porter, a dietician based in East Haddon, Northamptonshire.
By eating fresh fruit and vegetables and drinking six to eight glasses of tap water, you'll give your body a boost. "Alter the proportions of the food on your plate by piling on more fruit and vegetable," says Collins. To help in a quest for a balanced diet, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has an example "eatwell plate" that can be used as a guideline.
And avoiding sugar, caffeine, alcohol and processed foods is not only good for our body, but should help cut the cost of your supermarket shop. Also, buying bottled water is unnecessary, according to Collins, unless you prefer the taste. "And organic food is no different nutritionally – although people buy organic for a number of reasons."
If your usual supermarket is one of the more expensive chains, trade down a brand. This way, you can save all year round, and budget stores such as Lidl still have plenty of fresh produce to pick from. "Also, a can of fruit may only cost about 35p and that counts towards your daily fruit intake ," says Porter.
Use leftovers from the festive season to make healthy and nutritious soups, smoothies and juices. Once you've run out of this, you can buy frozen fruit and vegetables cheaply and make healthy smoothies for breakfast using a blender – these still contain the nutrients your body needs. In fact, freezing can help preserve nutrients in food picked at the peak of their freshness.
Collins adds that monitoring your eating habits is an essential part of a long-term healthy detox plan. "Check your habits and rituals for any signs of mindless eating – one way to learn to control your food intake is to set aside one day a week when you consciously eat less." You can take a quiz to see if you tend to eat more than you need at mindlesseating.org.
Finally, one of the best ways to re-energise and detox the body is to get exercise. "Doing anything that gets the heart beating faster will help your body shift toxins," says Porter. "Ideally, you want to be breathless rather than speechless for the best effect."
Going for a brisk walk or a run is free – and the fresh air will help clear out your system.
