CLEANSES Photo Birgith Roosipuu / Unsplash
Cover Photo: Birgith Roosipuu / Unsplash

Overcome the post-holiday slump with a revitalising cleanse to kickstart the year

The holiday season is perhaps the most spirited moment of the year, a time to let loose as our hedonistic sensibilities come alive. After all, amidst extravagant spreads, delectable sweets, and delicious beverages, indulging ourselves is all but expected. However, this can often leave us feeling sluggish, foggy, or even a bit ill as we enter the new year. If you feel the need for a refreshing start to 2023, you may want to consider trying out a quick cleanse—just remember to check in with your body and see how you're feeling along the process!

See also: Women’s Health With Evolve: debunking common diet and exercise myths

1. Alcohol Detox

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CLEANSES Yesmore Content / Unsplash
Above Photo: Yesmore Content / Unsplash

While our favourite libations certainly make for lively get-togethers, they also tend to wear us out in the wake of festivity. If the post-holiday crash is slowing you down, perhaps it’s a sign to skip the booze for the first month of the year and partake in Dry January. In fact, even short-term abstinence from alcohol “improves insulin resistance, weight, BP [blood pressure], and cancer-related growth factors” for moderate to heavy drinkers too. On occasions where you'd usually go for a refreshing cocktail or your favourite bottle of vino, why not explore some mocktails and non-alcoholic spirits instead?

See also: 6 Easy Mocktails To Make At Home

2. Vegetarian/Vegan

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CLEANSES Photo Marquise Kamanke / Unsplash
Above Photo: Marquise Kamanke / Unsplash

While many of us may struggle to commit to a full-fledged plant-based lifestyle, studies show that going vegan for even ten days can result in significant health benefits. Beyond weight loss, participants also saw improved blood sugar levels and blood pressure, with the overweight participants seeing the most improvements. To make the most of these benefits, why not take it up a notch and join Veganuary for the whole month?

See also: Vegetarian vs Vegan: What's The Difference And Which One Suits You Best?

3. Juicing

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CLEANSES Photo Zlatko Duric / Unsplash
Above Photo: Zlatko Duric / Unsplash

The juice cleanse is another quick detox that people often turn to for a speedy restart. Commonly accompanied by a preparation stage and a post-cleanse transition, the juicing period is only meant to last for a couple of days. In addition to blends of fruit and vegetable juices, some also choose to incorporate plant-based milk and gluten-free whole foods to overcome the hunger pangs. Despite the comparably strict diet, some proponents report that they feel more energetic after the cleanse, and believe that juicing can flush out toxins while introducing nutrients and healthy enzymes. 

See also: Benefits of A High-Protein Diet: Better Skin, Muscle Retention, and More

4. Blending

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CLEANSES Photo Alex Lvrs / Unsplash
Above Photo: Alex Lvrs / Unsplash

If you’re intrigued by the juicing cleanse but concerned about the lack of fibre, antioxidants, and overall filling qualities of the detox, blending may be a better fit. Unlike juicing, blending incorporates the pulp fruits and vegetables which contain antioxidants and the fibrous parts of the produce. Since fibre slows digestion and assists in managing blood sugar levels, blending provides some key benefits that juicing might lack—especially considering both juices and smoothies are high in sugar.

See also: The Good Plate: Dietitian Chella Po on Guided Nutrition

5. Bone Broth

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CLEANSES Photo Bluebird Provisions / Unsplash
Above Photo: Bluebird Provisions / Unsplash

Bone broth has become quite a buzzword for the past couple of years. Made by simmering joint bones low and slow in some water, sometimes with the addition of vegetables, herbs, and other flavour-packed ingredients, it is lauded for its anti-ageing properties, digestive benefits, and more. As the name suggests, the bone broth fast consists of drinking bone broth exclusively for the cleanse period. Some also opt to add a touch of fats before consumption to make the broth more satiating, such as MCT oil or ghee. Great for those with a busy schedule, the fast is easy to prepare ahead of time: simply measure them out into jars and store them in the fridge, so when it’s time to consume, all you have to do is warm it up and season to taste.

See also: Food Trends: Why Are People Obsessed With Bone Broth?

6. Sugar Detox

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CLEANSES Photo Mathilde Langevin / Unsplash
Above Photo: Mathilde Langevin / Unsplash

Following a series of holiday cocktails, apple pie, and gingerbread cookies, you might also feel sluggish due to the overconsumption of sugar. Due to the highly addictive nature of sugar, reducing sugar may be a challenge. However, a quick sugar detox can help break the cycle and reset your cravings. Instead of trying to cut out sugars entirely, focus on reducing your intake of added sugars. On the other hand, fibre-rich sources of natural sugars such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are great sources of sustainable energy as fibre slows down the absorption of sugar.

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