1. Tongue Trouble

One of the signs you might need a cleanse will be found in your mouth. Your tongue and mouth can reveal so much about your body and the way it is feeling. If your liver isn't very happy, your mouth will show you some signs. If your breath is a little smelly or your tongue is coated with a white film, it can be a sign of a sluggish liver. Chances are, over the past few weeks, you may have over-indulged on rich food and alcohol. And why not, that's what the festivities are for! However, the liver may be suffering a little as a consequence and as it processes about 75% of the body's waste products, it's no wonder that at this time of year it may be suffering from post festivity overload. There are other things which can put a strain on the liver, such as over the counter headache remedies, antibiotics and high protein diets.

2. Lower Back Pain

There are some signs that your kidneys are suffering from overload too. Excessive salt consumption can place a lot of pressure on the kidneys and if you have pain in your lower back on either side of your spine or you're feeling constantly tired despite the amount of shut-eye you may be getting, it may be a sign that your kidneys are feeling the strain. Be sure to drink around 1.5 - 2 litres of water a day to flush out the toxins from your body and reduce the risk of kidney stones.

3. Dry Skin

Did you know that your skin is your largest organ? It weighs around 3 kg! And seeing as it keeps your internal organs, well, internal, it's no surprise that when your insides are unhappy, it will manifest itself on the outside through your skin. If your skin is dry and scaly or you have broken out in spots around the T Zone area, then it may be that your skin is overloaded with toxins and it's time for a cleanse or a lifestyle shake-up.

4. Breathing Troubles

If you live in an environment which is particularly polluted, like a busy road, the city centre or you're a smoker, you may have trouble taking deep breaths. Our lungs oxygenate the blood and remove carbon dioxide, and if they're not working at their full capacity, they can't filter the nasty bits from our environment.

5. Bloated

Spots on your chin or a bloated stomach in the morning can be signs that your bowel is sluggish. If your bowel isn't on top form, it can create nasty substances which can lead to long term health problems.

6. Chin Spots

Spots along your chin line can reveal a couple of things. It can be a sign that your intestines are a little on the sluggish side and it can also be a sign that your lymphatic system is in need of some care and attention. Your lymphatic system is essential for overall good health and when it is under performing, it can find it difficult to deal with any illness or infection. Dark circles under the eyes can also be a sign.

7. Feeling Low

We all know that a combination of work and life can take its toll on the body and mind. If you're feeling on the verge of a cold all the time, constipated, bloated and generally sluggish, then chances are you're in need of a lifestyle shake-up to get you back on track.

These are just a few signs you may be in need of a cleanse. I'm always a little wary of the detox approach as it sometimes promotes extremes. What do you think? Do you think detoxes work?