By Coach Maria - Salus Nutritionist & Food Expert

After weeks of (over)indulging in sugary sweets, lots of food, family/friend/work parties, sleep deprivation and stressful schedules; you might be feeling the need for a serious nutrition intervention.

Maybe you're looking into some sort of detox routine that might include getting ALL of your nutrition by drinking it via shakes or smoothies.

Or maybe you're thinking about going the traditional - albeit unsuccessful - route by deciding to significantly cut calories and/or deciding to skip meals.

I have a better alternative and one that will not deplete your body and your brain of much needed nutrients.

You can "detox" your body and your digestive system naturally by doing what you know you should do - eating real food and saying "no" to junk.

Let's face it, all the sugar we've been exposed to has done nothing to improve our health.  It has, however, made you feel run down and has caused your brain to become dependent on more sugar. 

By following these simple steps, you can turn that all around while still eating great food, not starving yourself and providing your body with the nutrients that have been sapped over the holiday season.

1. Clean House

Well, ok...I don't mean getting out the cleaners and actually cleaning your "house".  I mean getting into your fridge and tossing all the leftover holiday junk, throwing away the leftover candy, chocolates and excess sugar treats that might be sitting on your counter or sitting in your pantry.  Clean slate. 
Just. Do. It. Now.

     2.  Detox

After weeks of sugar and refined carb-loaded food items, your system needs to shed the built up sugar, salt and toxins.  Your body has come to rely on the sugary treats and now craves it to the point of having a sugar-tantrum in the form of being bloated, having headaches, feeling low energy.  The only way to minimize those cravings is by doing the same thing we do when our children throw tantrums - IGNORE THEM and NOT GIVING INTO THEM! 
Make a commitment to go at least 1 week without any sugar exposure. 
Deciding to forgo any sugar exposure may seem extreme, but I can tell you that the benefits are even better than what you imagine.  The first week is the toughest, as your body and brain scream for sugar.  However, if you continue to ignore it (eating more protein and healthy fats combats those sugar cravings!), by week 2, you'll see and feel some amazing things!

     3.  Nourish

The biggest mistake people make when going through a "detox", is neglecting to nourish the body.  Deciding to rid your body of the bad stuff is fantastic, but neglecting to replace those exiting toxins with whole food nutrients will do nothing to heal you.
Make certain you are providing yourself with plenty of real food protein - especially for breakfast.  This will help blunt the cravings and assist your metabolism in shedding the excess in your system.
Eat plenty of vegetables - of all kinds - and do not forget how important the inclusion of healthy fats are to your routine - they will help keep you satiated when the cravings are there.

     4.  Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of water throughout the day will assist in the flushing of toxins consumed over the holiday.  There's no need to go crazy with this, folks.  Just make sure your are drinking water throughout the day instead of soda, juices, coffee/tea. Simply water!

     5.  Get rid of the scale

Too many people obsess about the scale.  Weighing in the morning, after eating a meal, after going to the bathroom, after reading a book.....
Your weight is not an indicator of anything that's real important - like your health. 
You know what's more accurate?  Going by how you look, feel, perform and sleep.
How are your clothes fitting?  How does your skin look?  How do you feel when you wake up or when 3 o'clock rolls around at work? 
Those are all MUCH better indicators of how well (or how bad) you're eating.


Happy & Healthy New Year!