How to pretox your way into Christmas

Forget about the detox and get on with pretoxing, says Klaudia Balogh
Kohlrabi, cabbage and raisin salad with lemon dressing
Klaudia Balogh3 January 2017

If you’re already stressing about the detoxing diet you want to start after the festive season, then don’t.

There’s a way to get ahead of the game and get your body prepped for all the holiday-season deliciousness without having to give up on those Christmas mince pies.

And, before you make a wild guess that pretoxing probably means starving during the days leading up to Christmas, then take a seat, because it’s the opposite.

Eating is one of the most important parts, but what does matter is the quality and quantity of the food you consume.

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We talked to chef and nutritional therapist Holly Sugars from Food Envy London. She said “It’s all about preparing your body for that onslaught of rich — lot of butter and oil-filled — Christmas food.” She added that while detoxing is rather a retrospective short-term solution and an intense shock to your system, pretoxing helps the body work at its 100 per cent efficiency and helps it to be able to cope with the excess of things that aren’t necessarily great for it.

Holly gave us eight guidelines to pretoxing and told us what results to expect.

Remember, that each individual tip below will add to a less guilty aftermath. You don’t have to keep yourself to every single item, although if you incorporate them into your lifestyle now and continue it in the future, you’ll see some great benefits how the body reacts when it’s fueled with the right things.

Crushed sweet potato with red onion and sesame seeds

1. Increase your metabolism

It’s the body’s chemical process that breaks down food and transforms it into energy. The faster it is, the less likely you are to gain weight. A faster metabolism helps the body get rid of the excess of food it doesn’t need instead of holding onto it.

2. Don’t skip a meal

Eat little meals and often. Not eating all day just to feel good about attacking the fridge at night is not a good strategy. “You can still have a bigger lunch or dinner, but have a snack in between,” Holly said. “This keeps the metabolism up. Keep it feeding with stuff, but healthy stuff. Not crisps and sugar.”

3. Drink green tea

It’s great for cleansing, Holly said. Although, if you’re not a green tea fan, then herbal, peppermint or ginger and lemon teas are good alternatives as well. Try to avoid adding refined sugar. If keeping it sweet is important to you, reach for the honey instead, but with moderation.

4. Eat balanced meals

Holly suggests that each meal should have around 50 per cent vegetables, 25 per cent protein and 25 per cent carbohydrates.

5. Get off the couch

Incorporate some exercise into your days. Whether it’s just a walk around the park, a training in the gym or a spin class, physical activity is a big factor. “The harder you make your body work, the more you get out of it,” she said. “The fitter you are, the higher the metabolism is.”

6. Stay hydrated — lots of water (a gallon or around four litres a day)

“I hate water,” Holly admitted. “So I drink fizzy water, which I love.” So even if water isn’t something that flows easily for you, then add lemon or orange for flavor. Throughout the festive season, what tends to flow easier though, are cocktails and prosecco, which you don’t have to ditch as long as you keep up your water intake between and after those happy hours.

7. Eat fibre and whole grains

“They get everything shooting through,” she said. Fibre aids digestion and helps prevent constipation; therefore, helping the body to get rid of those extra calories faster. Whole grains such as lentils and beans are a great source of protein which also help keep the metabolism going.

8. Get your beauty sleep and give your stomach a rest

Aim to get between eight to nine hours of sleep to help your body rest and recover. If you can squeeze in a 20-minute nap or rest during the weekend, it’s also helpful.

What to expect:

1. Fewer negative effects of overeating and overdrinking

No bloating, no heartburn, better ability to cope with the hangover. Pretoxing will ensure that you won’t be the person at the dinner table holding their stomach complaining about feeling sick because they ate so much.

2. More trips to the loo

A faster metabolism equals more No. 2. because it helps your body get rid of what it doesn’t need faster, don’t be surprised if you have to excuse the family two or three times during the day. Don’t worry. It’s totally normal.

3. Better skin

The skin is the human body’s largest organ, so if anything shows what you consume, then it’s your skin. The cleaner your diet is, the cleaner your skin will be.

Klaudia Balogh is a freelance health and fitness writer. Follow her on Twitter @ByKlaudiaBalogh

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