If, like me, you believe in the virtue of feasting over the Christmas and New Year break, you will no doubt be feeling the after-effects still.
The Christmas break is something I really look forward to. It is the ultimate downtime. Nothing to do, nowhere to go, no one to be. I am definitely more, shall we say, ‘flexible’ with my diet - I stay within the boundaries by I ain’t no saint.
Now, I don’t push the boat out too far, but I can get mired in the shallows when I’m a little more relaxed with life – bloating, skin breakouts, less clarity-of-mind and just generally feeling a little fuzzy around the edges.
Getting back into the day-to-day takes a little doing – much like trying to turn the QE2 around - and I have some big plans for this year (you guys will love them, can’t wait to share!), so it’s time. Time to cleanse. Give my liver a reboot, boost my energy levels and get a little sparkle back.
The good news is that there is no need to go in and go hard to take the load off the organs that detoxify the body (the liver, kidneys and bowels). Go gently and make it achievable. No need to just breathe air for 3 days. As we all know, wellbeing is a slippery slope so it’s important to just start.
Time for (herbal) tea!
There are many ways you can cleanse your system which I will be sharing with you over the coming weeks, but my first port-of-call is nothing more complicated than a cup of tea during the day.
Tea in, toxins out. And repeat.
A deceptively simple way to detox while going about your day. No hassle, low price and very little time required. I am having a bit of a love affair with T2 teas at the moment so here are two of my favourite cleansing teas from these clever folk:
Matcha
Ah, Matcha… the eighth wonder of the world! We all know the virtues of green tea – a supreme antioxidant. Well, Matcha is like drinking 10 cups of brewed green tea. It has more antioxidants than any other superfood. Nothing compares to this powerhouse simply because the chlorophyll – a potent detoxifier - content is so incredibly high.
How I drink it:
Matcha powder is the best product to purchase. Brew it as your first cup of tea in the morning, make a green tea smoothie with some leafy greens, apple and some ice, or even try it in these delish Matcha pistachio coconut balls.
Detox Tea
When licorice root, stinging nettle and lemongrass come together (like in this tea), you know you have some serious detox potency happening.
The almighty licorice root - a nourishing and soothing remedy that’s good for recuperation, gut health and adrenal fatigue. In Chinese medicine, it is added to nearly every herbal formula to harmonise the characteristics of other herbs. It is used to treat chronic inflammation, helps get the liver back on track and is an excellent detoxifer (more so on the colon and blood supply), as well as an excellent skin healer.
Stinging nettle is an all-rounder as far as detoxing goes. It’s a diuretic – neutralises toxins to speed up elimination. It’s an alterative herb - slowly restores proper functioning of the gut. And it stimulates the lymphatic system – gives the kidneys a helping hand.
With that distinctive citrusy aroma, Lemongrass might not be taken so seriously but it’s a fantastic diuretic for the liver and kidneys. It’s astringent and great for eliminating accrued fats by giving your metabolism a boost.
How I drink it:
It’s most effective in the morning but you can also brew a big pot first thing and sip on it when you feel yourself reaching for a treat during the day. The licorice root is a sweetener and will help with any cravings you might have. Try it on ice if the weather is hot!
So there you have it. A simple way to get your system back on track for the year ahead. Nothing too hard there, my friends, it can be yours at the click of the kettle switch!
What are the signs that you need to detox? Have your tried anything you’ve found effective for cleansing your system after the festive-feasting season? Do share!
* This is a sponsored post. Please know I will only ever share products and services that I believe will add value to the lives of this community.
