Balance December 2017 - 49

SU RV I V E A N D T H R I V E

2. RETOX

3. DETOX

RAISING THE BAR
Try some drugs
The parties are in full swing, you've eaten more
canapés than hot dinners this week and there
might be some blood left in your alcohol system.
You're probably immunosuppressed.
High dose vitamin C is your first defence. This
helps your body deal with the toxin overload.
Then try beetroot supplements (which improve
bloodflow and help your liver process the
onslaught) and turmeric pills. One trial found
curcumin, the compound in turmeric, can
actually help reverse the onset of fatty liver
disease. One a day of each should do it.
Be a high-functioning drinker
Sweating at your desk praying the boss doesn't
notice your booze breath? Don't cry-sleep in the
office toilet just yet. We've got your back.
First, your face - pallid thanks to
dehydration, exhaustion and a lack of nutrients.
Combat each with electrolyte drinks, cherry
supplements for sleep-inducing melatonin
and daily orange fruit and veg for carotenoids,
which brings a healthy colour back to your skin.
The shakes are from erratic blood sugars and
the hit to your nervous system. Ensure there's
glucose with your electrolyte drink to fix the
former, then for the latter, try an L-theanine
supplement - this is the amino acid in green
tea that relaxes your nerves. Oh, and take some
mouthwash and scrub your tongue - this is
where booze-breath bacteria builds up.
Have your Christmas cake and eat it
The post-booze munchies is legit. British
scientists found that, no matter how calorific
your tipple, you're still likely to scoff more
than usual after a night on the sauce. We're not
about to tell you to give up the midnight snacks
- in fact they can be good for dealing with
hangovers - but eating the right things can go
some way towards reducing the party paunch.
For starters, stock up at home, but be
realistic: you won't be craving a kale salad
nor will you be adroit enough for anything
gastronomical. Ensure there's some fibrous
carbs kicking around to act like an alcohol
sponge. If you're feeling really clever, boil some
eggs before you go out - L-cysteine, an amino
acid abundant in eggs, has been found to
reduce the toxic effects of drink.
When you get in, throw the eggs into some
good quality bread with some pre-prepared
asparagus - another food with alcoholprotective amino acids.

FORGIVE ME FATHER CHRISTMAS FOR I HAVE SINNED
Get moving, gradually
Exercise will help you get back onto
the wagon come January, but don't
go all guns blazing and sign yourself
up for an ironman triathlon out
of guilt. This isn't university and
you're not 18 any more.
Studies show frequent
inebriation and blood sugar spikes
do your immune system no good.
So while you can't bounce back like
a student these days, you will likely
suffer something akin to freshers'
flu. Overdoing the exercise will do
little more than send you straight to
bed with a hot water bottle.
Instead, build yourself back up
slowly. Some slow paced yoga
- think hatha instead of vinyasa - is
a good way to get your circulatory
system going again. Then you can
build up to something like Hotpod
and eventually some heavier cardio.
Also, don't forget to hydrate.
New year, new mood
Don't sing the Christmas blues.
On a chemical level, boozing
and high-GI foods both cause
happiness spikes, but so does all the
partying - the dinners, time with
friends, relaxed working and so on.
What goes up must come down,
and you might find yourself in
neurochemical debt come January.
Suddenly the dark evenings feel
darker and you miss having a cheese
course with breakfast.

Balaensce
lov

So here's how to detox your brain.
Wake up smarter, for starters, by
investing in smart bulbs which can
mimic the sunrise and wake you
up gently. When you're up, start a
gratitude journal, by writing down
everything you're grateful for in
life. According to Tony Robbins,
business strategist and life coach
to presidents, you can't feel sad or
angry when you truly feel grateful.
Hit the shower
This final nugget of detoxing
wisdom clears your mind and body
both, but it takes a little bravery.
Each morning - or at least every
morning you can tolerate it
- step into the shower as normal.
Then do your best to go into a
meditative state before turning
the temperature to cold for as long
as you can bear.
While scientists are still
researching the effects of cold
showers on a person's mood, there
are some studies which suggest
they can help treat symptoms of
depression and anxiety. What's
more, your blood vessels contract
and dilate as you change from
hot to cold and back again,
stimulating healthy blood flow -
essential for both clearing alcohol
from your system and energy
production. A little shivering
certainly beats the alcohol shakes
at your desk, at least. B

TH R E E A MI GO S A F TE R A H E AV Y WE E K

PU KKA
Detox organic tea,
£2.49
The ultimate cup to help
your body spring clean.
pukkaherbs.com

December 2017 BA LA N CE

R E BE L KITCH E N
Organic Coconut Water,
250ml for £1.99
Pure, pink and
sustainably sourced.
waitrose.com

R E N E W L I FE
LiverDTX,
£34.99
A 30-day liver
cleansing programme.
planetorganic.com

49


http://www.pukkaherbs.com http://www.waitrose.com http://www.planetorganic.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Balance December 2017

Balance December 2017 - 1
Balance December 2017 - 2
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