Why a January ‘detox’ can do more harm than good AOk Drinks nutritionist says: “There are no quick fixes”

Feeling bloated after too much bubbly? Partied out? Stuffed after too much Christmas cake and turkey sandwiches? Stuart Roberts, nutritionist and founder of antioxidant juice AOk Drinks (www.aokdrinks.com), confirms recent media reports that short-term detox programmes to ‘flush out your system’ are a waste of time and money.

“Do-it-yourself detox kits are widely available to buy, but your body has its own incredible detoxification system known as your liver and kidneys. DIY kits can cause more harm than good, particularly if your body has become accustomed to over-indulgence over a long period of time. The body can go into shock if you go from one extreme to another. You may end up feeling more tired, looking washed out and lack any energy to get yourself to work, let alone do any exercise.

“Quick fixes are not the answer to long-term health improvements. Instead, I recommend small lifestyle changes that you can incorporate into your daily life throughout the year – rather than just focusing on January. You can increase the amount of fruit and vegetables you eat by adding chopped fruit and nuts to your morning cereal or making a winter salad for a lighter evening meal.

"You can try cutting out processed foods particularly those containing saturated and trans (man-made) fats. I also recommend walking more regularly, avoiding sitting down for long periods of time without moving, drinking more water, upping your vitamin and antioxidant intake and, when possible, getting more quality sleep during the night,” says Stuart Roberts.

“There are no quick-fixes to health and nutrition, however, there are small steps that we can take that add up to massive changes in how we look and feel.”

AOk is a red grape, cherry, aloe vera and ginger drink, with a hint of vanilla. One 250ml bottle of AOk provides your daily recommendation of antioxidants (nutritionists recommend 3,000-5,000 per day and AOk contains 3,600) and just 145 calories.

Stuart created the drink in 2008 to provide a synergistic combination of antioxidant packed ingredients. Designed to meet consumer demands for healthy convenience, the drink is a tasty alternative to mainstream flavours and offers an original taste.

Stuart Roberts says: “Antioxidants are vital in our diets. With most things, consistency makes the difference. Consuming your ‘five-a-day’ and recommended amount of antioxidants (which can help prevent injury and muscle soreness after exercise too) will all add up to make you look and feel better over time.”

FACTFILE:
AOk retails for £1.69 per 250ml bottle and is available at selected Waitrose stores nationwide (www.aokdrinks.com/antioxidants/file/stores.php), www.Waitrose.com and www.Ocado.com.

What's in AOk?
One 250ml bottle of AOk provides:
Your daily recommended requirement of antioxidants.
One of your ‘five a day’.
Only 145 calories.

Detox This New Year With Lull

Start the New Year as you mean to go on… LULL is a healthy, 100% natural, ‘chill-out’ drink, perfect for detoxing this New Year.

Overindulgence during the festive season can leave many of us feeling bloated and lethargic. While the body has an innate tendency to maintain a healthy balance, if its natural detoxifying functions become congested or tired, we can become imbalanced. LULL provides carefully selected valuable and essential nutrients to aid regeneration and restore inner-wellness and balance.

LULL provides life-enhancing vitamins (15% RDA of vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C & E), stress-relieving magnesium (15% RDA) and antioxidant protection from the nutrient-rich juices of kiwi, blackberry, blackcurrant and red-grape, all specifically blended to 'soothe mind and body'.

Every 250ml bottle of LULL contains 2000mg of botanical extracts from plants, sourced from around the world. The beneficial properties of the botanicals have been appreciated by cultures around the world for centuries. They include cleansing fennel, relaxing lavender, rejuvenating hibiscus, uplifting green tea, happiness-inducing passion flower, soothing lemon balm, comforting lime blossom, anxiety-fighting jujube, stress-relieving hops, calming chamomile and balancing valerian.

100% natural, LULL is low in calories (just 43 calories per 250ml bottle), contains no added sugar, artificial flavours, colours or preservatives. LULL has a clean and balanced taste, with a subtle natural sweetness. LULL is slow burn and diabetic friendly. No spike = no crash!

LULL comes in a stylish, easy opening aluminium bottle, that not only protects the delicate botanical extracts from UV light, so ensuring they remain in perfect condition, but it’s also environmentally friendly – light, unbreakable and fully recyclable.

LULL is a premium priced drink (recommended price of £1.90 per 250ml bottle) and is available online (www.drinklull.com) and from high-end independent retailers, gyms, beauty salons, spas and wellness centres.

The Detox in a Box. It works

Why not start 2012 with a body free from pollutants? And do it in a safe, easy way!

Starvation diets and expensive therapy treatments are two ways of achieving a detox, but if you want to detoxify the easy way and not spend an absolute fortune in the process, try The Detox Pack by Health Plus, instead!

This handy little box contains all the nutritional supplementation you need in order to de-pollute the body the natural way over a 28 day period.

Detox PackDesigned to take the stress, fuss and misery out of detoxing, the Detox Pack contains 28 little sachets of natural vitamin and mineral tablets/capsules – so you know exactly what you need to take on a daily basis, all without the need of strict diets and colonic irrigation! Simply by taking these carefully selected nutritional supplements, your body will be left cleansed, pure and ready to start a new year afresh.

The unique anti-pollutant formula contains antioxidants, Glutathione and L-Cysteine to gradually remove toxins and heavy metals from the body, allowing your system to cope better with all that modern life has to throw at it.

Simon Bandy, nutritional supplement expert from Health Plus says: “Detoxifying the body is a process which should be carried out every 3-4 months, but it is especially important in the new year if you’ve overdone it with fatty foods and alcohol. This sudden increase in food and alcohol consumption can shock your body as it becomes contaminated with these toxic impurities. Allowing these substances to fester in the body will leave you feeling and looking grey and sluggish. Detoxifying rids your body of this poisonous waste and leaves you feeling energised and invigorated.”

The Detox Pack retails at £13.95 for a 28 day supply and is available from www.healthplus.co.uk and at all good health shops nationwide. These gelatin-free supplements are suitable for vegetarians and free from lactose, wheat, yeast, gluten and sugar.

Company information: Health Plus was established over 20 years ago with a mission to promote optimum nutrition across the world. Family-owned and run since November 1991, the company supplies a wide range of British made, high quality nutritional supplements.

(EDITOR: I have been fortunate enough to try the Detox in a Box and I am pleased to report that I feel sure that it is working. Each daily dose comes in a separate pouch, so that there can be no mistakes with taking too many or not enough of a certain tablet/capsule. Which can be a major worry for some people.

I have been feeling less tired lately and do seem to have more energy and the only different thing I have done is to embark on this Detox in a Box course. It's simple to follow and in my case, has provided some good, positive results.)