5 Ways to Detox After the Holidays Have Left You Feeling Ho-Ho-Horrible

By Meghen Jones

Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s… it’s all finally over! Now that the holidays have come and gone, you’re probably regretting all of those fulfilling dishes you just couldn’t resist, especially since everyone else was enjoying them, too. Let’s be real, who wouldn’t want their fill of juicy, honey-baked ham and dressing covered in sweet cranberry sauce? Your mouth is probably watering as you reminiscence on how delicious those holiday dinners were. But, don’t you feel like your body has taken a huge hit? You find that you feel more tired than usual—plus, you’re probably not too happy about gaining back the extra pounds or inches you worked so hard to lose over the past semester.

That’s why it’s time to snap back into shape with a friendly detox diet! A detox diet is an easy way to eliminate toxins from your body, improve health, and promote weight loss without risking your overall well-being. For college students, like yourself, it’s pretty convenient, and it doesn’t require you to spend an unnecessary amount of money on food or hours on exercise. All you need to know is how to begin, and that’s where uCribs comes into the picture! We always want you to feel your best, and for that reason, we are sharing 5 of our favorite tips for detoxing after the holidays have left you feeling ho-ho-horrible!

Drink warm lemon water.

Typically, it’s suggested that you drink at least eight glasses of water a day, but between the holiday hot toddies and specialty Starbucks Frappuccinos, you definitely fell a bit behind. When it comes to a top-notch detox method, however, water is your best friend, especially lemon water. Lemons contain a high amount of vitamin C, soluble fiber, and plant compounds that aid in weight loss and reduce digestive issues and kidney stones. Not to mention, drinking warm lemon water helps your digestion, flushes out toxins, and cleanses the liver. Even more, warm lemon water promotes hydration—and we can’t stress enough how important it is to stay hydrated in order for your liver and kidneys to filter out toxins. All you need is fresh lemon juice and warm water, and you will have this highly-coveted, yet simple detox drink.

Eat plant-based meals.

While your poor holiday eating habits may have weighed you down—literally and figuratively— it’s important that you don’t restrict food, no matter how much weight you might have gained. Not only does skipping meals affect your immune system and bone health, but it can also cause physiological issues, like a loss of concentration and the onset of depression. Instead of doing away with food completely, you should consider incorporating plant-based meals and other whole food nutrition into your diet. A plant-based diet is like spring cleaning, except you’re focusing on yourself and eating fresh fruits and veggies to cleanse your system. You can start by learning new recipes, like salads dressed in mango juice and zucchini noodles with fresh tomato sauce. It’s easier than you think! Sure, fruits and veggies may not be your usual go-to, but it can detoxify your system and cleanse your palate. Trust us— you will feel revitalized!

Focus on intermittent fasting.

Fasting is a great way to detox! However, it can be difficult if you hadn’t done it prior, especially when you’re an on-the-go college student. As a busy person with a lengthy to-do list, it’s not realistic to stay focused on your studies without the proper fuel to keep you energized. Believe it or not, there is a way to detox without depriving yourself of food! With intermittent fasting, you will eat meals and snacks within an eight-hour timeframe of your choice, such as 12 PM to 8 PM. When you wake up in the morning, drink a cup of decaffeinated coffee during your usual breakfast time. Since decaffeinated coffee has “PYY” protein, which is released by cells in your large intestine to suppress your desire to eat, it will reduce any hunger pangs you might have. Before you know it, you will have fasted for sixteen hours, and your digestive system will have completely reset.

Take part in a daily yoga session.

After indulging in so many delicious holiday bites, you may be feeling a bit more fatigued than usual. While food does provide energy, overeating will make you tired—especially if it’s not the healthiest selection—and in need of a serious detox. With the semester fast approaching, you’ll need a quick way to get your usual energetic self back on track, like yoga. Practicing yoga increases your energy, strength, and endurance, while engaging weak or under-activated areas of the body. In fact, there are eight poses associated with increasing energy and reducing fatigue, including the Cobra Pose, Downward Dog, and Shoulder Stand. All you need to do is incorporate a 30-minute yoga session into your morning routine, and you will feel re-energized soon enough!

Visit an infrared sauna.

While detoxing is your primary post-holiday goal, we know that not everyone likes to resort to a new and possibly overwhelming fitness routine. The soreness alone will make you resent working out, and we don’t blame you! But hey, there’s always another way to break out into a sweat without doing anything too intense. Out of all of the possibilities, an infrared sauna may be your best bet. Infrared saunas use light to emit radiant heat, which allows the body to sweat at lower temperatures. Since the infrared light penetrates deep into the skin, the heat will pull out any toxins—thus, promoting a much-needed detox and aiding in any weight loss you want to accomplish. At the end of your session, you’ll be drenched in sweat, but it will be worth it in exchange for feeling so good!

It’s obvious that you don’t have to go to the extremes to reset your body after the holidays. At the same time, you want to take action as soon as possible, instead of continually letting your health fall by the wayside. By ignoring your body after such an indulgent and stressful time of year, your physical, mental, and academic well-being can be impacted. The pounds aren’t important here—it’s your mindset and how you choose to care for your body afterward. We recommend that you choose mindfulness, nourishment, and self-love by incorporating our 5 tips for a post-holiday detox. With these suggestions, you will feel back to your normal self in no time! Whatever that is.

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