Too much turkey or champagne? We want to know who has the fattest liver after the excesses of the end of year celebrations! Some opt for a detox cure and black radish juice to recover.
- Post-holiday detox cures have no scientifically proven benefit.
- A healthy diet, exercise and sleep are more restorative.
Between Christmas and New Year’s Day, we eat and drink a lot. This accumulation of fat, sugar and calories is harmful to our liver and our body. We can however overcome these excesses, but is it necessary to opt for these detox cures detailed in the magazines?
The vogue for detox cures
Detox cures have been in fashion for several years. They are featured in many magazines. There is no shortage of suggestions on essential oils, plants to eat or on the preparation of herbal teas.
But, it’s about selling you something. The “detoxification sector” advocates the idea that it is possible to rid your body of all its impurities (pesticides, heavy metals and fats) and to find almost new organs. But the scientific evidence is weak, if not absent.
Should you consume black radish juice? It would have a detoxifying and antiseptic effect on the body and would better eliminate toxins. Should we increase our consumption of garlic, which contains sulfur components that act as heavy metal chelating agents? Or cilantro? Or take a chlorella supplement? They are all absorbents, but are they useful?
Australian researchers have looked into this question, reviewing all the research done on detox diets in a study published in 2018 in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.
They studied the results of a hundred more or less serious research on the subject: none of them has scientifically demonstrated the benefits of these cures.
3 very simple tips to follow: healthy eating, physical activity and sleep
It is better to eat a healthy and balanced diet the day after the party than to rush on the latest detox diet. If you have drunk too much, it is advisable not to drink alcohol the following days, so as not to put a strain on your liver and stomach again. Avoid foods high in fat (fatty meats, cheeses and pastries). Fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains and lots of water will be your best allies. It is recommended to reduce fried foods and sugar to meet the recommended calorie limits.
Do not neglect physical activity. But before starting or resuming sport you can already compensate for the extra calories by doing more exercise than usual. Walk for more than an hour or jog for more than ¾ hour for the bravest: physical activity helps to eliminate “toxins” and fats.
On the other hand, the day after a party, it is preferable to avoid excessively intense activity in favor of endurance activities: swimming, running or even cycling.
Take care of your sleep. The link between being overweight and lack of sleep has been established for a long time. Go to bed before midnight and avoid waking up at dawn, or, if necessary, try to sleep at least 8 hours, in order to rest your body and your brain and to benefit your metabolism. A nap can also be restorative.
In conclusion, detox diets, whatever they are, have no more interest than a healthy diet. Especially since diets based on plants or plant extracts can be harmful, like this young Briton who made herself ill with a detox diet based on valerian, a plant that causes a dangerous decrease in salt in the body. blood (hyponatremia).
Be careful, even offered in pharmacies, food supplements forget to mention their side effects on their packaging.
