The Man’s Guide To Detoxing

You may not realise it, but your body is essentially one big toxic waste dump. In fact, according to a consortium of health professionals including the Environmental Protection Agency, it’s estimated that each year the average human inhales around two grams of solid air pollution, eats 14lbs of food additives and absorbs up to a gallon of other chemical nasties like pesticides

Add to that the calorie-packed pints, deep-fried cheese boards and sugar-laden sweets you’ve spent the last month pumping yourself full of and chances are your face is looking like a week-old turkey with dry skin and blotches.

“The skin itself is an organ of elimination, so the body will transport excess wastes there to be removed through the lymphatic system and sweating,” explains Candice Gardner from The International Dermal Institute. “This can lead to a dull and puffy appearance.”

If all that has you searching for a five- (or in this case, nine-) step programme to reverse the effects of a year-end pickling, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s what you need to know.

Drink Pints

No, not of beer, but the clean, alcohol-free stuff that springs up from mountain wells. Whether you plan to go dry for January or not, now is the ideal time to hike your H2O.

“The most important starting point to assist the body and skin in eliminating toxins is to increase water intake,” says Gardner. “Drinking this in place of other fluids such as caffeine and alcohol will assist in rapidly flushing the toxins from the system.”

As a general rule, you should aim to knock back two litres a day but you can gradually build this up with a few extra glasses at regular intervals, and there are plenty of apps to help you keep track.

Hit The Gym

There’s a fair chance the muscle hut has been on hiatus for the last month and the only pumping you’ve been doing is your face full of food and booze.