Let the Detoxing Begin!

‘Tis the time of year for everyone to take stock of how much they ate over Christmas and how much tighter their jeans are, and overload themselves with guilt. The feeling of extreme lack of health can be overwhelming. And you never want to look at a Chocolate Orange again.

And this is when people get excited about detoxing. 

‘I’ll clear out my body,’ they think, ‘and wipe the slate clean. Then I’ll start again like a decent human being, and the 7000 calories every day from December 24 until January 2 can be forgotten.’

Okay, a word about the nature of detoxing, if you don’t mind. Ever been to the pub and while you’re getting a round in someone says smugly: ‘Just a Coke, please; I’m detoxing’?

Detoxing? That’s not detoxing. A Coke is not detoxing. 

If you mean you’re trying not to drink 20 units of alcohol per night, say so. There’s no shame in it. But kindly don’t equate all that sugar and caffeine with anything remotely healthy.

I myself have just done a quick detox diet – just three days. I went with Nosh Detox, and admittedly, they provide a very easy-to-follow, spoon-fed kind of detox indeed. 

They deliver freshly packaged food to your door each evening, enough for the next day, all neatly labelled with a menu attached. That’s the kind of detox that makes it easy on you – all you need to contribute is willingness. You don’t have to plan menus, nor walk straight past the confectionary aisle as you shop for cabbage and root ginger.You can bury yourself in your work, then surface only to head to the fridge, grab the designated packet, microwave (if necessary) and chow down. 

But how difficult is detoxing?  Who has the willpower to resist the junk food? The wine?  The – gasp – milky tea? 

The Nosh Detox diet is a gluten and dairy-free affair. I know many people react a lot to those and feel the benefit when they are removed from their diets. Personally, I didn’t feel it. Either better or worse for having avoided gluten and dairy. And actually, I realised that, Christmas bingeing aside (which is practically a cultural tradition and can therefore be excused), I actually eat fairly healthily. I’m not addicted to chocolate. I do like a glass of wine or three, but can give it a rest when necessary. 

Go, me. 

But I can imagine that if you’re feeling really unhealthy or your lifestyle generally makes it difficult to eat well then a kick-start detox diet – a proper one, which doesn’t involve Coke – could do the trick. 

The delivered-to-your-door element might appeal to many, and if you’re the high-powered City-working type then it should make your life a lot easier. But I must say I quite like the ‘everything in moderation’ approach. 

What do people think? Do detox diets work? 

Nosh Detox is based in Smith Street, London, but now delivers nationwide.

To order call: 0845 257 6674 or email: info@noshdetoxdelivery.com