Over hauling your diet is a great way to start the New Year, particularly after a holiday season filled with treats, sweets and cocktails. “A detox is more valuable than ever before. A lot of people don’t realize how stressful eating can be on the body,” says Lisa Jubilee, a New York State certified dietitian nutritionist. “When we eat constantly, not only does it require energy but it also disrupts the immune system. We’re getting toxins from the environment and our foods. These things build up and sometimes your body needs a break. ”

HOW YOUR BODY WORKS

While kidneys filter water and wastes out of the blood and make urine, our liver is also crucial for removing toxic substances from the blood, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. “The liver is an important organ for the body to handle drugs and toxins and to assist in breaking down internal waste products,” says Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, M.D., chairman and professor of internal medicine and chief of hepatology at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. “It processes substances into by-products that are perhaps less tox xic or can be more easily excreted from the body either in bile or in urine.” He adds, “You should eat a balanced diet to ensure adequate functioning.”

SO WHAT EXACTLY IS A DETOX AND WHY DO IT?