With the Christmas party season soon to be in full swing, and as our bodies are likely to get more of a ‘battering’ than usual, it’s important to look after our health by ‘Pre-toxing’; a concept which prepares your body and helps to minimise potential damage from excessive alcohol and food consumption. With the help of Veganicity’s nutritional expert, Simon Bandy, here is the ideal six-step plan to help avoid festive fatigue.
Don’t crash diet to fit into party outfits
Eat sensibly and ‘stock up’ on nutrient rich foods. Try not to snack on sugary or high fat party foods which can cause fluctuating blood sugar levels, which may lead to fatigue.
Drink (not just booze)
Prepare your gut and immune system for the festive boozy onslaught. Pineapple and asparagus are great for cleansing the system before it’s assaulted with mince pies & mulled wine. Choose drinks mixed with dark berry juices as these tend to be packed full of antioxidants. Drinking 15 drops of Veganicity Elderberry Tincture (£5.95 for 50ml) in a little water twice daily helps to boost levels of antioxidants in the body.
Sleep well
Late night gift shopping, parties and long days at work are often unavoidable in the run up to Christmas. Try to fit in a pre-party snooze. It can be better to have an early night than a morning lie-in where possible, and avoid too much sugar around bedtime.
Do some light exercise
It’s a great way to improve circulation, shift toxins and help recover from a hangover.
Look after your skin
Using a good dry body brush can help skin to glow and stay blemish free. Always remove make-up at night and keep up a good, daily beauty regime. Found in many beauty creams, hyaluronic acid can soften skin to give a lasting anti-ageing effect.
Take a break and look after your liver
Don’t be surprised if your liver is still feeling signs of strain after Christmas. Before the party season begins go alcohol free and during the season take two to three consecutive alcohol-free days off a week in between parties to help your liver recover. According to NetDoctor.co.uk takes an hour for your liver to process one unit of alcohol and providing your liver has no lasting damage, it can repair itself quickly and can take as little as 24 hrs to go back to normal.
To turn your pre-tox into de-tox, drink plenty of water throughout the day after a heavy night and eat healthy foods that are packed full of proteins and nutrients, such as fruit, nuts or seeds and broccoli. Multivitamins can help, but ensure you start taking them at least eight weeks before Christmas for full effect and can aid the immune system in recovery.
