After the Christmas celebrations, don't we all yearn for a new body to bring in the New Year?

The easiest way to start a gentle detox process is to eat less comfort food (bread, biscuits, sweets) and more fruit between meals.

Use up any leftover meat and vegetables by serving up tasty stews and hearty soups with plenty of garlic to fend off flu bugs.

By including a dash of cayenne pepper, you'll also stimulate your metabolism, which helps the body get rid of excess fat.

Cayenne pepper is a popular spice known for adding extra zing to dishes but few realize its great health-promoting potential.

The name is derived from the city of Cayenne, located on the Cayenne River in French Guyana.

The spice is not related to black pepper but is made from the ripe fruit of a variety of dried hot peppers native to Central and South America.

It's thought the Portuguese introduced cayenne to India from where it spread to Europe, Asia and Africa.

Herbalists consider cayenne to be one of the safest and most potent stimulants with a wide variety of applications.

It has been used for centuries as a remedy for weak digestion, to improve circulation and ward off colds and flu. Cayenne also kills many bacteria responsible for food poisoning.

Applied topically, it can help relieve the pain of arthritis and has been used in the treatment of sores and abscesses.

The active ingredient in cayenne is a phytochemical called capsaicin which can cause a warm glow on initial application and may linger for about 30 minutes before it subsides.

When using cayenne, ensure you don't let it come into contact with irritated skin or open wounds and keep it away from your eyes and nose. If this does happen, the burning sensation may be intense but is harmless and transient and best washed away with water.

If the fiery sensation occurs in the mouth, sip a little milk. Here are some popular uses for cayenne through the ages:

For sore throats or the cold virus: At the onset of symptoms, put a quarter of a teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a glass of warm water with the juice of a lemon and a teaspoon of honey. Stir thoroughly, use as a gargle or drink slowly.

Cayenne helps to promote detoxification by causing the skin to sweat, the eyes to water and nose to run.

For toothache, here's an old Irish remedy: One level teaspoon of cayenne pepper combined with one pint of strong Irish whiskey was left to sit for two weeks but thoroughly shaken every day. Four drops of the extract on cotton wool placed on the infected tooth was said to ease the distressing pain.

To prevent cold feet and chilblains: Sprinkle cayenne pepper inside your socks.

For weight loss: Adding cayenne to food is thought to increase the burning of fat which is useful to help shift those post-Christmas pounds.

To cure a hangover on New Year's Day: Mix together the juice of two lemons, a quarter of a teaspoon of cayenne pepper and a tablespoon of maple syrup in a mug. Add hot water and enjoy an instant boost.

Martina Watts is a qualified Nutritional Therapist at the Crescent Clinic of Complementary Medicine, Brighton (call 01273 202221), and the Dolphin House Clinic, Brighton. Call 01273 324790), or visit www.thehealthbank.co.uk