Multiple three-course dinners with your nearest and dearest, copious glasses of prosecco and untold amounts of mince pies and cheese… Christmas is in full swing. But rather than relying on a January detox to undo the damage caused throughout December, prep your body with a pretox. Helping to make sure your body is prepared for the extra eating and drinking, a pretox helps to prevent damage to your cells and gets your detoxification system ready for Christmas overload. Kickstart your metabolism and get ahead with these six superfoods. Trust us, your body will be thanking you come the new year.
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1 Drink matcha green tea to help your liver clean the boozy nights “Matcha green tea contains high levels of catechin polyphenols – or healthy plant chemicals – that help stop damaging toxins from recirculating in your body,” explains nutritionist Libby Limon. “What’s more, they help protect your liver cells, and encourage the body to make glutathione, a liver antioxidant. This makes it easier for your body to process all that mulled wine and reduces the chances of you getting a hangover.” Although it doesn’t help erase those office Christmas party memories!
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2 Eat chia seeds to prepare your stomach for January eating “Chia seeds are a great source of soluble fibre, which helps keep your digestive system healthy and working optimally,” says Libby. “It helps create a healthy stool that moves at the right pace through the digestive tract, so your body can start adjusting to days with no mince pies, roasted turkey and mugs of gravy for breakfast.”
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3 Add avocado to your diet to breakdown the prosecco that’s still bubbling “Avocado is one of nature’s best sources of glutathione, which helps protect your cells and boosts liver
detoxification,” describes Libby. “It’s also packed with high levels of vitamin E that perform the same function, making avocado your go-to superfood if you’ve drank too much prosecco throughout the festive period.” -
4 Consume turmeric to help your body digest the Christmas dinner that’s still lingering “This ancient Indian spice is a powerhouse of strong antioxidants that help cleanse your system from all sorts of harmful toxins. This makes it an essential mealtime ingredient if you want to boost your immune system and lower the chances of getting ill,” says Libby. “What’s more, turmeric stimulates the liver and gallbladder to produce bile, which is key for digesting turkey and rich Christmas pudding.”
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5 Eat veg like broccoli and kale to fight off a cold “Veg from the brassica family, including broccoli, spinach and kale, contain a group of plant chemicals – or polyphenols – called glucosinolates. These are super beneficial for the liver and enhance detoxification in your system,” explains Libby. “This in turn gives your immune system a boost and helps you fend off winter colds.” So if the party season is catching up with you, stock up on your greens!
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6 Snack on acai berries to give your skin life after a December make-up marathon “If you were the last one on the dance floor in December, chances are you also forgot to clean your make-up off a few times at the end of a night out,” says Libby. “Acai berries are one of the best sources of vitamin C which helps your skin look and feel well. Their dark blue colour is a rich source of antioxidants called proanthocyanidins which have been found to protect your liver cells against over-drinking.”
