Christmas and the festive period tend to be a time of indulgence and treats. With the arrival of January, the “new year, new me” mindset drives many of us into a health kick or detox. We've asked our nutritionist, Beth, to explain what exactly a detox is and how supplements can help.
What Is A Detox?
A term often passed around without much understanding; a detox is a process our bodies go through daily. Through the work of your organs, namely your liver and kidneys, the body detoxifies to expel waste products and toxins. While this occurs naturally, we can choose to engage in healthy behaviours (and disengage in unhealthy behaviours) in order to accelerate the detoxification process.
How Do I Detox?
There are a variety of ways we can aid the detoxification process. For example, you can limit alcohol intake and drink more water. You can also reduce sugar and processed foods in your diet, while replacing them with more antioxidant-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables. You can improve your sleep, increase your exercise, and limit stressors.
Alongside these lifestyle changes, one of the easiest and most convenient ways you can support the detoxification process and boost your health kick is through the use of supplements.
Our Top 3 Supplements To Support Your Health Kick:
1. Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies
These delicious apple flavoured gummies are fortified with vitamin C, chromium and 500mg apple cider vinegar. Chromium plays an essential role in body weight maintenance and blood sugar control. 1
Vitamin C is an antioxidant which protects the cells from oxidative stress. This can reduce risk of disease and promote anti-ageing properties of the skin. Vitamin C also contributes to normal psychological and immune system function, as well as to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. 2
2. Inulin Powder
This vegan-friendly bestseller is a convenient source of a high fibre prebiotic. Prebiotics feed the good bacteria within our gut. This bacteria aids digestion in improving the absorption of nutrients from the foods we eat. Supporting your gut with a supplementary prebiotic can assure you are absorbing as much goodness from your food as possible.
Inulin also helps keep you fuller for longer, curbs feelings of hunger and aids satisfaction following a meal. 3
If improving your sleep is part of your detox plan, inulin can help. (4) Studies show that after taking inulin, time spent asleep has been found to increase, and time spent restless in bed was found to decrease. As an unflavoured powder, Myvitamins Inulin can be used in baking or stirred into liquids for a convenient way to boost your health kick.
3. Vitamin B Tablets
These tablets contain a high-strength expert blend of all essential B-vitamins, boasting over 100% of the recommended daily amount.
The B vitamin complex is associated with a wide range of different benefits. These include energy production, normal psychological, immune and nervous system functioning. (5) After a busy festive period, many of us could benefit from the outer and inner boost these vital nutrients provide.
While most B-vitamins are found easily in food, some vitamins, such as vitamin B12, may be harder to find within the diet. This is especially true for those following a vegetarian or vegan diet, as vitamin B12 is usually found in animal-based products.
Furthermore, the B-vitamins are water soluble. This means that rather than being stored in the body, excess B vitamins are moved out of the body via urine. Therefore, we require daily consumption of this range of vitamins in order to keep levels sustained. A convenient way to do this, aside from consuming a varied, balanced diet, is through the use of a supplement.
Why Should You Start A New Year Health Kick?
Instead of looking for quick-fix weight loss solutions this New Year, boost your inner wellbeing with these simple nutrition tips. A well-balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants can transform the health of your gut, skin, immune system and more.
- Chromium promotes metabolism and supports weight control physiologically.
- Vitamin C protects the cells from oxidative stress and also contributes to normal psychological and immune system function, and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
- Inulin helps you to feel fuller for longer, curbs your hunger feeling, and makes you feel satisfied.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4663569/
- B vitamins contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism, normal psychological, immune and nervous system function, the maintenance of normal skin, hair and nails, and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
