The right way to detox for the new year

last updated on
June 16, 2023
by
Alisa Vitti

When the new year comes around we often feel prompted to both detox and lose weight, or, we detox simply because we feel we need to lose weight. This means that the idea of detoxing has become implicitly connected with cutting back on calories, cutting out food groups, eating very little, and even fasting. The thing is, a real detox is not a crash diet and a crash diet does nothing to help your body really detox or keep that weight off. January is the detox and diet month, but the best way to “diet” is to detox in a real way. Detoxing in a real way does not mean deprivation. By all means, do a dry January and don’t touch a drop of alcohol, but feed yourself and feed yourself well if you really want to lose pounds, and get that glow.You need to feed your hormones if you want to rev a sluggish post-holidays metabolism. You can end the war with your body and instead develop the kind of healthy, supportive relationship you need that will have the added bonus of always keeping you in your best shape.In Traditional Chinese Medicine detoxing is reserved for Spring and Fall. Spring is actually when your liver is available for a full detox. According to the Five Element Theory, your liver is most active in the Spring and needs special support. Winter is not the right time for a concentrated liver detox, and of course, you’re always better off not letting yourself get to the point where you need a detox to recover. That means not bingeing on unhealthy foods and alcohol in the first place. We instinctively know that Spring is the time for cleaning house and purging all our unwanted possessions, but we still always try to force a detox in January after the holiday fun.Instead, in January, focus on eating a nutrient-dense diet, full of good fats, greens and high-quality proteins. Your liver needs the fuel to process the excess hormones and toxins and eliminate them from your body. The FLO Living protocol is packed full of cleansing foods that address your liver, intestines and lymphatic system. In fact, the third central pillar of the protocol is supporting your organs of elimination. Your elimination organs require nutrients to breakdown toxins, and you get nutrients from food. You do not and will not get enough nutrients from a juice fast or cabbage soup diet!

How your liver detoxes your body:

Phase 1: The liver breaks down toxins into smaller components by using nutrients such as glutathione, B vitamins, and C vitamins stored in the liver from your food. These smaller components are free radicals and actually more toxic now they’re broken down, so they need to ushered out of the body ASAP.Phase 2: These free radicals are combined with the selenium and amino acids in the liver - again, sourced from your food - and they become harmless and water-soluble through the process. Phase 3: The water soluble molecules or waste finds fiber in the large intestine with which they combine and leave the body.Phase 4: You wake up in the morning, have a glass of water, and have a bowel movement shortly afterwards. Toxins are also eliminated via your skin and your lymphatic system.

How your liver affects your weight

If these phases are not completed successfully, because the body doesn’t find the nutrients or fibre it needs to process the toxins then:

  1. Those toxins get absorbed back into the bloodstream and recirculate
  2. Your body houses the toxins in your fat tissue
  3. This makes it harder to lose weight, because your body then does not want to let go of that toxin-full fat, knowing that then it would become polluted with all those built-up toxins that now have nowhere else to go. Your fat keeps a hold of your toxins and your body keeps a hold of the fat.

So, when you don’t detox effectively and instead opt for crash dieting or fasts which deprive your liver of the nutrients it needs to process toxins, you set yourself to actually retain fat and subject yourself to a toxin-soup that causes all kinds of problems with your health and hormones.

My new year detox recommendations

If you feel the need to detox in the new year, then boost your intake of the nutrients your liver needs and assist and support your body in eliminating toxins naturally. It’s all about eating MORE not LESS. Let’s let go of this idea of punishing ourselves and instead focus on nourishing our bodies.

  • Eat more glutathione-heavy vegetables like avocados, carrots, broccoli, spinach, apples, asparagus and melon. Add two additional servings a day
  • Eat more selenium-full foods such as oats, eggs, and Brazil nuts.
  • Eat more fiber from nuts, seeds, lentils and peas. Add flaxseeds to your breakfast eggs and lunch salad.

You can also speed up the elimination process and get those toxins out your body fast with a couple of simple lifestyle hacks.

  • Sweat - encourage your lymphatic system to get in on the game of releasing toxins by giving it a gentle movement massage. Workout in a way that makes you sweat, whether that’s a home dance workout or a hatha yoga class.
  • Soak - draw yourself a bath full of epsom salts, the ancient and highly effective way to detox via your body’s largest organ - your skin.

Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this - the science of your body is on your side!to your FLO,AlisaGood things come in threes:

I want to hear from you!

First, do you feel like you need a detox? Second, what are your post-holiday symptoms? Third, everyone you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social ;)

Is Your Period Healthy?

How do you know if your hormones are healthy? The answer is in your 5th vital sign - your period. The color of your flow, frequency of your period, and symptoms you have each month can tell you a lot about your health. There are 5 different V-SIGN TYPES, and knowing which one you have will help you get healthy now and prevent disease in the future. Click here to take The V-SIGN TYPE™ Quiz NOW

Integrative Nutritionist, Author, & Founder of FLO Living

Alisa Vitti

Explore the Store

Best seller

Restore Supplements

Reduce Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) symptoms like painful periods, weight gain, acne breakouts, and unwanted hair with Restore, our PCOS supplement kit.

$
-
$
139
Best seller

Nurture Supplements

Optimize your fertility and get your body baby-ready with Nurture, our therapeutic-grade fertility supplement kit.

$
-
$
219
Best seller

Balance Supplements

Support whole-body hormonal balance and regular, PMS-free periods with these five essential micronutrient formulations, designed to be taken simultaneously every day.

$
259
-
$
219

Explore the Store

Best seller

Balance Supplements

Support whole-body hormonal balance and regular, PMS-free periods with these five essential micronutrient formulations, designed to be taken simultaneously every day.

$
219
-
$
259
Best seller

Cycle Syncing® Supplements

Feel better and perform more effectively when you support your hormonal health during every phase of your cycle.

$
259
-
$
299
Best seller

Cycle Syncing® Membership

A revolutionary roadmap for women to help balance their hormones and care for their bodies, so they can feel their best all month long with Cycle Syncing®.

$
28
-
$

Get started

We can help you address your underlying issues and understand your hormones like never before

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • “MyFLO has been a true game changer for me and my cycle. I now have an increased awareness of my body's needs throughout the month.”

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • “MyFLO has completely transformed my relationship with my cycle. I am sleeping through the night, intuitively managing my stress, and eating with my cycle.”

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • “I use MyFLO every day to track my cycle and symptoms. I've managed to significantly reduce PMS symptoms like breast tenderness, and my cycle length has gone down from 40 days to 30 days.”

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • Boost micronutrient levels

  • Manage blood sugar

  • Reduce stress

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • "My period was missing for 3 years after getting off birth control. MonthlyFLO helped me finally get my period back.”

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • I feel more empowered to understand my body and heal my hormones. I no longer accept the patriarchal dismissal and confusion about the female cycle”

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • “I got my period back after 15 years! Thank all of you for your support. I'm just so grateful!”

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • “FLO Living has seriously changed my life. It gave me the courage and bravery to get off of birth control, and completely changed my outlook on health. I look and feel better than I ever have in my life”

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • Detox estrogen

  • Reduce inflammatory foods

  • Improve elimination

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • Stabilize blood sugar

  • Reduce Androgens

  • Restore ovulation

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • Boost progesterone production

  • Support estrogen elimination with dietary changes

  • Replenish micronutrients

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • Detox estrogen

  • Improve bowel movements

  • Reduce inflammation

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • Manage blood sugar

  • Address micronutrient deficiencies

  • Restore ovulation

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • Detox chemical stress

  • Micronutrients to boost egg quality

  • Reduce inflammation

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • Stabilize blood sugar

  • Detox chemical stress

  • Targeted micronutrients to support ovulation

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • Micronutrients to boost egg quality

  • Reduce inflammation

  • Support immune function of uterus

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • Implement Cycle Syncing ®

  • Detox chemical stress

  • Boost micronutrient levels

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • Manage blood sugar

  • Detox estrogen

  • Boost progesterone production

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • Stabilize blood sugar

  • Reduce stress

  • Boost energy

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • Cycle Syncing® Food & Workouts

  • Stabilize blood sugar

  • Restore Micronutrients

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • Cycle Syncing® Food & Workouts

  • Boost progesterone production

  • Support estrogen elimination

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • Cycle Syncing® Food & Workouts

  • Micronutrients to boost egg quality

  • Reduce inflammation

Alisha A   /  46 years old

Heavy bleeding
Fibroids
Infertility

Flo Care Plan

  • Cycle Syncing® Food & Workouts

  • Boost progesterone production

  • Increase micronutrient levels

Please Rotate Your Device