Introduction
I’m not a big fan of frequent detoxing where there’s no real requirement or, indeed, proper guidance. For many, a detox is just another extreme swing of the pendulum, and I work with enough people with disordered eating to know that extremes are really easy for people when it comes to food – what they find hard is being flexible, instinctive and adaptable. There is often a misconception that detoxing equates to a diet of juices and smoothies, which is actually incorrect, since our liver requires nutrients that exist outside of fruits and vegetables in order to detox most effectively. We also have to consider that Spring, and specifically the Spring equinox, is actually the most natural time of year to clear out excesses, since with this bright season comes light, warmth and energy. Although January feels like the right time, because of the excesses of Christmas, seasonally it is still mid-winter and a time to feed our bodies through colder temperatures and darkness.
Having said that, I am writing this with a body that is fatigued and pleading with me to clean up. After a month of excess sugar, meat and alcohol, my skin is unhappy (I have some redness on my chin which is an indication of a clogged liver according to Chinese Medicine) and I feel lethargic, a bit low and quiet unlike myself. So, yes, January for me is going to include a liver clean-out. Read More