After all the festivities are over, you may feel a little sluggish. It could be time to give your body a bit of an MOT. A simple detox may be the way to start the New Year in a positive frame of mind.
Why detox?
Toxins can enter your body in all sorts of different ways. And you even produce them yourself when you are feeling stressed or run down. The aim of detoxing is to help to remove these toxins from the body.
A couple of days’ gentle detoxing a month – in its simplest form by cutting out refined foods, stimulants such as coffee and tea and all alcohol – will improve your lymphatic system and give your liver a well-earned rest. It’s a good kick-start to a diet too, should you want to carry on.
No time to detox? Just five little changes will make all the difference...
1. When buying packaged foods look out for the green dot on our products
2. Buy fresh fruit every other day rather than once a week, otherwise it will fester in the bowl and get thrown away
3. Switch to skimmed milk and low-fat yoghurts and try low-sugar alternatives in drinks
4. Fill at least a third of your plate with vegetables as they should form the bulk of your two main meals
5. Try to drink six to eight glasses of water, or other fluids, every day to prevent getting dehydrated.
Be a real smoothie fan
Smoothies are a great way of keeping up your fruit and veggie intake and making the most of those that are slightly past their best. All you need is a reliable machine. The Co-operative Electrical has a great range of blenders, smoothie makers and juicers from trusted names such as Kenwood, Breville and Russell Hobbs.
Try these recipes…just put everything in the blender, whizz and serve.
Carrot and spinach swirl
Feeling sluggish? This will sort you out!
- 250g bag of spinach
- One carrot, chopped
- Glass of apple juice
- Slug of Worcester sauce
(Best served chilled)
Blue by you
- Handful of blueberries or blackberries
- One apple, chopped
- Pinch of cinnamon
- Small pot of live yoghurt
(Best served very cold)
Nutrition addition
Ideally, vitamins and minerals should be obtained from our food, but with busy lifestyles that’s not always possible. Taking a supplement can ensure you’re getting your essential nutrients.
The Co-operative Pharmacy has now launched its own-label vitamins range. There are 21 products to choose from and the well-priced range offers quality products from a trusted name. And, we are proud to say, we were the first own-label vitamins range in the UK to have Braille on our packs. There is a supplement for every lifestyle.
Supplements to try…
- Total Multivitamins & Minerals – specially formulated to provide 25 vitamins and minerals to help maintain health and assist everyday wellbeing.
- Odourless garlic capsules – may be important for a healthy heart and circulation by helping to maintain normal cholesterol levels in the blood.