Pre-tox foods
Avoid going longer than three to four hours without eating to keep your blood sugar levels steady, and make sure each meal contains some protein and quality fat. Breakfast is key to your body preparing itself for the battle ahead. Poached eggs on wheat-free bread is an ideal breakfast because it's a great balance of protein, fat and carbohydrate.
Another great way of keeping your body fighting fit is by filling it with lots of food that slowly release energy throughout the day. Stir in nuts and coconut oil to porridge, thus mixing good fats with the carbs that will guarantee to keep you fighting fit 'till lunchtime.
Alcohol hits the liver hard and if you are going to a lot of Christmas parties then you need to do all you can to help your liver. Green tea helps liver health by breaking down fatty deposits in the organ. Instead of coffee you could start the day with a mug of hot water with lemon. This will kick start your metabolism and boost liver function.
Raw foods are an essential weapon against the ravages of the party season as it feeds the body with essential vitamins. Try taking some raw carrot batons and mange tout to work with you to snack on as stocking up beforehand makes up for nutrients you miss out on later.
Even though your head might be telling you to skip lunch to make room for the party snacks later that evening, this is not a good idea. A hungry body goes into famine mode, forcing the adrenal glands to work overtime just to keep you ticking over, depleting your energy levels and leading to exhaustion and stress.
A glass of full fat – but not semi-skimmed or skimmed – has been proven to slow down the rate at which your body absorbs alcohol. Extract of milk thistle has been acknowledged for centuries as a liver tonic and will both prevent and repair alcohol induced damage to the organ.
We are not talking about the berries on a holly bush but the magical powers of cranberries - a fabulous source of vitamin C, which help the body fight off infection. They are also a great antioxidant too so a cranberry cocktail could be the only sensible choice you make at the office Christmas party.
While it is not the most exciting Christmas choice, you could make it help you look your best as water is great for flushing out your system and can help your skin look radiant and firm and give it that yuletide glow. Try to drink at least two litres of water throughout the day.
Avocado is really a saint at Christmas time, not only can you use it as a face mask to give your skin that party perfect glow but it is one of the few foods that contain glutathione, a liver enzyme and antioxidant that protects your liver from damage as it processes alcohol.
A hangover remedy recommended by renowned party animals – student nurses - is a can of flat coke and two tomatoes. Tomatoes are very rich in both vitamins A and C and the coke is rich in sugar, the combination of which can give your body the boost it needs to get you out of the house and to work on time.