The festive season has finally come to a close and it’s time to wave goodbye to endless parties, chocolate, alcohol and left-over turkey sandwiches. And whilst it can be a very merry time, our bodies sometimes struggle to cope with the food and drink overload.
A Scottish entrepreneur who runs clean eating and detoxing business, Juicy-Ness, is sharing her tips on how to banish the bloat and flush out your system after Christmas and New Year over indulgence in a bid to kick start 2016 in a healthy way, for less than £1, in some cases.
Alison Macleod, 28, of Inverness, successfully launched Juicy-Ness in 2013 after herself embarking on a detox juice programme and experiencing significant weight loss as well as improved skin and better sleep. To-date Alison has dropped 34 pounds and Juicy-Ness has since gone on to be a finalist in the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards in the healthy food and drink category 2015.
Alison said: “When you have been eating too much carbohydrates and drinking too much alcohol, it leaves you feeling deprived of energy. Your skin looks dull and your stomach can feel bloated.
“But the key is not to beat yourself up about over-indulging. We all do it, and Christmas is a time to be enjoyed with friends and family. However, it’s important to recognise when you have been putting the wrong food and drink into your body and regain control and get yourself back on track.
“I know from experience that when you are eating clean, you feel better, your skin and hair looks better and you sleep better, and those are just a few benefits of flushing out your system.”
Infused water
Alison’s top tip for cleansing your system if you have over indulged in alcohol.
Add slices of lemon and lime and infuse with water overnight in thefridge in a two-litre jug. Drink a large glass first thing in the morning and sip regularly throughout the day to cleanse and flush out toxins.
Alison said: “If you have been over-indulging in alcoholic beverages over a long period, your body will be dehydrated and your skin in likely to be dull. This is a quick way to flush out toxins from your body as citrus such as lemon is known to cleanse the liver, and if done over a period of seven days, your skin will be left glowing. It’s simple and cheap, a lemon and a lime cost less than £1!”
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Carrot Juice
If you have been over indulging in fry-ups and junk food to try and banish the night before headaches, this is a perfect alternative to a carbohydrate heavy breakfast – and will leave you feeling refreshed and energised
Ingredients:
• 3 large carrots
• 1 lemon
• 1" root ginger
• 1 apple
Method:
Juice all ingredients and pour over ice in a tall glass
Alison said: “The lemon and the ginger add a real zest to this recipe – making you feel awake hydrated and refreshed. It’s a great alternative to a heavy breakfast, and will really put you in the mood for healthy eating this will leave you energised and fulfilled. Try it for a week, and see how you feel.”
Courgette soup
A perfect alternative to turkey sandwiches
Ingredients:
• 1 onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2-3 courgettes
• 1ltr stock
Method:
Serves 2-3
Sauté onion & garlic for 2-3 minutes. Add diced courgette and vegetable stock and simmer for 30 minutes
Double up the recipe and freeze for handy lunches through the week.
• For more information on Juicy-ness, see www.juicy-ness.co.uk, find Juicy-Ness on Facebook or Tweet @Juicy_Ness1
