We all love the Christmas holidays as it brings family, friends and fun together, but this also means an excess of fatty food and alcohol — the two worst things for your liver.

Here are a few tips that will help you support your liver this Christmas and New Year:

• Take a good B-vitamin complex – not only will it aid your energy levels over the festive season, it will also help metabolise any alcohol;
• Herbs such as St Mary’s Thistle, Dandelion root and Schisandra can all help protect and detox your liver;
• Cruciferous vegetables are great for your liver. Up your intake of fresh rocket leaf and nibble on a radish;
• Festive blueberries and cranberries are also a great support for your liver. They contain anthocyanins – potent antioxidants which also lend the fruits their vivid colour – which help protect and restore your liver’s cells to enhance liver function;
• This one may seem obvious, but use alcohol responsibly and keep to a balanced diet.

If you need any help supporting your liver over this period, come in and see us at the clinic: there are many ways we can support.

Some of us also panic a little when heading into the festive season at the thought of potential weight gain. Research studies indicate that we can put on up 6 kilograms during this period! The aim during the holidays and party season is to maintain weight while also having a little fun.

Here are some tips for staying on track this Christmas:

• Keep moving and exercising despite your busy calendar – go for a walk, take a run, or exercise at home;
• Eat your veggies – just make sure half of your plate is filled with vegetables and salad. These are low in calories, high in nutrients and full of fibre to keep your digestion moving;
• Stay hydrated – keep up your fluid intake and have a glass of water in between alcoholic drinks;
• Chew your food thoroughly – we should be chewing each mouthful up to 26 times and will slow down the amount we eat;
• Enjoy a rest! You’ve worked hard all year and now it’s time to enjoy some time to yourself.

You still have time to join our 21-day practitioner-supported weight loss challenge which focuses on real wholesome food, healthy lifestyle advice and sleep and stress management techniques, and includes recipes, shopping lists, meal plan suggestions, and tips to help you stay on track.

Find out more details here or call at the clinic.