Party “extras”: good or bad?

Those who do good…

Contrary to popular belief, some foods on your festive menus are excellent for your health! Because in the heart of winter, they provide you with "star" nutrients, essential for your well-being. Seafood, for example, is a pure cocktail of magnesium, iron, iodine, copper and zinc . While fine fish, such as salmon or red tuna, are full of the rare long-chain Omega 3, EPA and DHA, while foie gras provides precious vitamins from groups B, A and D.

And those to be wary of

Meals too rich in sugar, salt and fat, as well as alcohol, put pressure on your body, which worked non-stop to digest, manage and store them.

The result?

A few pounds may have settled in and water (called "lacunar") has accumulated under your eyes, on your cheeks or thighs... So many signs that will quickly fade with a rebalancing treatment that will take care of your body.

Focus on the best detox allies

Plants are good for purifying your body, but choose those that are richest in water, fiber and potassium because they will help you eliminate water deficiencies:

• Fresh or dried seaweed: consume without moderation since it also helps regulate the intestines.
• Aromatic herbs like parsley, mint, or green tea… Ideal for flavoring your dishes and hot drinks.
• Defatted cocoa: to sprinkle on your recipes and not to be confused with chocolate, which is too fatty and too sweet.
• Leafy vegetables: spinach, rocket, lamb's lettuce, purslane, etc. Perfect for eliminating excess.
• Purifying medicinal plants such as artichoke , cherry stems or meadowsweet which give a boost to the emunctories, these organs capable of evacuating accumulated waste, such as the liver, kidneys or intestines.

Also bet on fermented products: yogurts, lassis, buttermilk (skimmed), kombucha, etc. And to give an exotic touch to your detox program, let yourself be tempted by kimchi, a traditional Korean dish of spicy, macerated and... fermented vegetables!

5 tips to revitalize your body

1. Avoid salt, in all its forms

Use your salt shaker sparingly but also be wary of very salty foods such as cold cuts, cheeses, olives, crisps, fish sauce, pickled herring, etc. and even effervescent tablets which contain a lot of salt.

2. Hydrate, again and again

After the holidays, your body, composed of 70 to 75% water, is probably thirsty and needs to recharge. So, drink plenty! And since most fruits and vegetables are made up of 90% water, consume as much as you want. Also make room for vegetable broths (unsalted), pressed fruit diluted with water and herbal teas that can replace tea and coffee, sugary and alcoholic drinks.

3. Capitalize on “ballast” foods

Often heavier than a regular meal, a holiday meal tends to make your digestive system work twice as hard. This is where "ballast" foods come into play because they are valuable for facilitating transit. And, what's more, they are in season! So put leeks, sorrel, spinach and salads in the spotlight in your little winter dishes... Not forgetting rhubarb: a light and 100% detox dessert, if you accompany it with an apple or a pear which will be excellent substitutes for sugar.

4. Stock up on minerals and trace elements

Months in "r" are generally those of oysters and shellfish. So, treat yourself and enjoy their benefits! Fat-free, full of protein, iron, zinc and magnesium, which we often lack, they are to be enjoyed with just a squeeze of lemon whose vitamin C will facilitate the assimilation of iron.

5. Recharge your batteries

In winter, the lack of light sometimes affects your morale... It's time to focus on feel-good vitamins! Present in oily fish (sardines, mackerel, tuna, salmon), vitamin D boosts your immunity, just like vitamin C , which you can find in abundance in winter citrus fruits, exotic fruits, but also in parsley, spinach, sorrel, rocket, lamb's lettuce and cabbage, which contains just as much.

Did you know? Almost exclusively provided by fruits and vegetables, vitamin C is not stored in the body and must therefore be taken daily. So, brighten up your winter season with fresh fruit juices and salads!