Now that the holidays are almost over—read: “almost” over as I am sure there are still some of you seniors still partying to the tune of “post-holiday” songs—we now need to pay attention to our holiday-abused bodies. The unfairness of it, as to what I see and feel, is that for every party you get yourself into, there would be ten times the effort to get the body right. With that said, you need to practice moderation at all times.

However, it is quite impossible to not join in the fun so below are some tips on how to do a post-holiday cleansing diet to help you get back on track:

•    The idea is to “cleanse” the body of all and any accumulated toxins during the holidays. Consider this as starting the year right by thinking healthy however, it is strongly recommended for you to consult your doctor first before starting any cleansing diet as each has their own restrictions and can be a health hazard for an aging body like ours.
•    Assess your body. Know what gets your bowel moving. For me, a bowl of oatmeal sprinkled with a sachet of organic psyllium husk usually does the trick. Some may opt to use mild laxatives, however it is not always recommended and never for maintenance. Choose healthy alternatives such as castor oil.
•    When trying to cleanse the body, try not to think about your diet, nor food. The usual trap when dieting is spending too much time thinking of what to eat and what not to, by which you end up hungry and feeling deprived.
•    For liver cleansing, take cold pressed extra virgin olive oil every night. This is the safest dosage, by the way. Please consult your doctor if you plan to adjust dosage for a maximum effect.
•    Sweat it out. There are other means to flush out your holiday toxins and it is not always southward. Sweating it out is one of the safest way to detoxify your body without really harming or upsetting any internal organs. Exercise if you can or if your range of motion limits it, go for a sauna.
•    Stick with anything liquid for a week. Having said liquid does not mean you do without the solid stuff. You still eat them however, to help your digestive system, you will need to mash it. Shakes and smoothies are good for a detox diet.
•    Do not take animal protein while on a detox diet. This include meat and dairy.
•    Of course, there should be no sugary and starchy foods for now.
•    Most seniors are healthy enough not to require a full blown detox program. Some may get away with a simple fruit-and-vegetable diet for a week.