January detox? Make sure you do it right

It’s that time of the year again, time to reflect on our bodies and the damage we have inflicted on them over the Christmas period. Too much food, too much booze and too many nights out leave many of us feeling sluggish, gloomy and broke! So now seems like the perfect time to “take a month off” to “detox” our bodies. This means a month without alcohol and only eating healthy food. In fact, we recently wrote about the Dryathlon Campaign being run by Cancer Research UK. But is having a month off always the best thing for you? Whilst we agree that it is, it is important that it is done right.

The first thing you need to know is what is meant by the word “detox”? To put it simply, it means to remove any toxic substances from the body. To put it even simpler, it means DON’T DRINK! As your body clears any trace of alcohol from its system you should begin to feel healthier, have more energy and lose weight. However, many people believe the myth that a short term break from alcohol can un-do any damage that may have been done in the previous months. Not only will this not be able to heal any long term damage that has already been caused by heavy drinking, but it creates an unhealthy attitude towards alcohol that a high level of drinking and damage to the body can be rectified by a short break.

The big danger is that old drinking habits hit the body again as soon as February arrives, which can actually pile extra pressure on the liver.

If you are participating in a January detox, try not to think of it as a detox. That is, do not think of it as a quick fix to un-do any damage that may have been caused to your body. Instead, try to use January to change your attitude to drink and to make general lifestyle changes that will lead to a healthier life and are achievable in the long term. It is also a good opportunity to prove that you do not need alcohol to enjoy yourself. Once your attitude to drink changes for the better, it will become a lot easier to make long-term changes that will make your body healthier.

If you find it particularly difficult to live without drinking in this period, it is important that you do not suffer alone. If you have developed dependence to alcohol then going ‘cold turkey’ can cause damage to your body. If this is the case then it is important to speak to your doctor as soon as possible.

So take a month off alcohol and enjoy the many benefits that a life without alcohol can bring to you. But use it as an opportunity to make long term changes to improve your health. If you choose to start drinking again, it is important to follow 3 simple rules to ensure that your liver remains healthy: