Detoxing is key. However the misconception about it is mystifying. Your body is not a trash can – you can’t just fill it with rubbish then clean it out. Our nutritionist EVE NJAMBI takes us through the detox complexity.

If you do try a detox diet & it makes you start eating better, then that’s great! But if you actually want to improve your health, you will need to make eating & lifestyle changes that go beyond the few days or weeks of a detox program. While detoxing is perceived to help, there is no scientific evidence that detox programs actually eliminate toxins from our bodies. Why? Simply because your organs do the detoxing for you. Restrictive detox diets, juice cleanses, pills, laxatives and liver tonics are popular because they offer an apparent quick-fix solution to poor eating choices and lifestyle habits. They should be used to “supplement” your nutrition, not replace it. If you want to reboot your diet without the unnecessary restrictions, clean up your eating with these nutritionist-approved tips instead.

Remove toxins from your diet & lifestyle –You can eliminate highly processed foods such as processed meats & opt for plant-based protein foods. Also avoid alcohol & Tabaco.

Go Green. Eat unprocessed, healthy foods – Consume vegetables, fruit, lean proteins like fish, legumes, lentils, beans, nuts, seeds and foods containing fibre and pre & probiotic fibre for optimal gut health.

Cut out added sweeteners– Cut back on highly processed sugary foods like softdrinks, energy drinks and likes of sweetened yogurts, cereals and the usual suspects cookies, ice cream and other baked goods.

Boost your gut health– A healthy gut is important for almost every aspect of wellness including boosting your mood, sleeping, weight management and prevents chronic diseases. Eating prunes, pulses and pears help in this.

Eat Hydrating foods– In addition to drinking H20 and water-rich, low-calorie beverages like tea, also prioritize eating foods that are full of water like fruits, broth-based soups and even oatmeal.

Do a social media cleanse– social media can increase feelings of body dissatisfaction. If certain accounts make you feel down about your body, your weight or the way you eat unfollow it. Ditto for any accounts that recommend overly restrictive eating behaviours.