Footballers’ detox: focus on Palace Merano

Why do so many top players take a “detox cure” between seasons? And why has the Palace Merano, in northern Italy, become a benchmark address for regaining energy, regulating inflammation and leaving lighter – both physically and mentally? Luxe Wellness Club takes a look at a method that combines preventive medicine, manual therapies and cutting-edge nutrition.

Detox & soccer: what’s the point?

The schedule of professional footballers has never been denser, with a succession of matches, travel, time zone changes and repeated microtraumas. At the end of the season, many suffer from systemic fatigue (oxidative stress, sleep disorders, digestive imbalances) and low-grade inflammatory disorders. Serious “detox cures” are not miracle diets; they offer a highly structured recovery period:

Reduced inflammation (via antioxidant nutrition and certain hydrotherapy techniques).
Drainage and metabolic boost (controlled liquid days, gentle activity, naturopathic support).
Neurovegetative rebalancing (breathing, meditation, guided sleep).
Injury prevention (myofascial work, progressive reathletization, targeted physiotherapy).

Objective: optimize recovery without compromising resumption – and return to training with improved cardiac variability, recalibrated body composition and enhanced mental clarity.

Palace Merano: a European detox institution

Located in Merano, at the foot of the Dolomites, the Palace Merano has established itself over the past twenty years as one of Europe’s benchmarks in medical wellness. Its Revital® method combines functional and allopathic medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), naturopathy, advanced physiotherapy and a clinical biology department. The approach is integrative: full diagnostic assessment, individualized care plan, daily follow-up by doctors, naturopaths and therapists.

Nutrition is a pillar of the house: the Palace Detox® program (anti-inflammatory and antioxidant), Palace Biolight® (balanced, less restrictive) and Palace Sport® Nutrition (adapted to the energy needs of athletes). A “liquid day” can be integrated to promote drainage (vegetable broths, mineral supplements and phytotherapy).

Signature treatments includehydro-aromatherapy, fango (thermal mud) wraps with cold contrast on the legs to boost venous return, powerful hydromassage jets, cupping to activate microcirculation, and extensive myofascial work. Oxygen-ozonotherapy, phlebo Revital®, massophysiotherapy, osteopathy and, if required, regenerative aesthetic treatments are also available.

Zidane, a symbol of loyalty to the method

World soccer icon and now official ambassador of Palace Merano, Zinédine Zidane has been a frequent visitor for almost three decades. His testimony resonates with what many pros are looking for: a place to “unplug”, be “recharged” by a multidisciplinary team, and fine-tune diet, sleep, recovery and training load. For Luxe Wellness Club, this illustrates a fundamental trend: the modern detox is no longer a star’s whim, it’s a tool for sporting longevity.

A program designed for athletes : Sport and Fitness

While the DNA of Palace Merano remains metabolic detox, the company has also developed programs specifically geared towards performance and rehabilitation:

Revital Sport &Remise en forme®: physical and mental rebalancing, work on endurance, mobility, stability and injury prevention. Ideal between seasons or between two blocks of competition.
Sport Performance®: 6-day (7-night) protocol with comprehensive assessment, intensive care planning, reathletization sessions and individualized coaching.

The Sport & Recovery Lab is a new laboratory dedicated to muscle recovery and cognitive stimulation, integrating biomechanical assessments, neuromotricity tools and modern return-to-play protocols.

These programs are grafted onto the detox modules and adjusted to the physical preparation planned by the player’s staff (pace, load, position specificity).

A typical day at Palace Merano (pro player version)

**07:00-08:00 ** Morning biomarkers (weight, hydration, blood pressure), quick consultations (medical and/or naturopathic) to adjust protocol, guided breathing.

**08:00-09:00 ** Detox Breakfast: unrefined foods rich in polyphenols and fiber; no alcohol, coffee, dairy products or added sugars.

**09:00-12:30 ** Hydro-mud therapy block (aromatic hydromassage bath, thermal mud wrap with cold contrast), drainage jets, cupping.

**12:30-13:30 ** Palace Detox® or Sport® lunch depending on training load.

**14:30-16:00 ** Massophysiotherapy (myofascial release, mobilizations), targeted osteopathy if required.

**16:00-17:00 ** Sport Lab session (reathletization, proprioception, postural work) or active outdoor walking.

**17:00-18:00 ** Parasympathetic recovery: hot/cold contrast, breathing, guided meditation, nap.

**19:30 ** Early dinner, rich in micronutrients (vegetables, good fats, vegetable proteins/fish according to protocol).

**21:30 ** Sleep hygiene: minimal digital ritual, gentle stretching, early bedtime.

This framework is modulated according to the objective (controlled weight loss, tendon/ischiosis healing, glycemic regulation, sleep normalization, etc.).

Nutrition: the power of therapeutic cuisine

Palace Detox® relies on unrefined, pH-neutral foods rich in antioxidants, vitamins and fiber, while excluding dairy products, meat, alcohol, coffee, sugar and refined products. According to the balance sheet, a liquid day (freshly prepared vegetable broths, herbal teas) facilitates drainage without compromising mineral intake.

For athletes, Palace Sport® Nutrition takes care to preserve lean body mass, stabilize blood sugar levels and fuel beta-oxidation (fat utilization) without a yo-yo effect. The dietetic team coordinates protein intake (often fish/eggs or vegetable, depending on the case), sodium/potassium balance and chrononutrition (lighter evening meals, post-care snacks if necessary).

Key recovery treatments

Hydro-aromatherapy & fango: controlled vasodilation, elimination of metabolic waste, neuromuscular relaxation.
Cupping: activation of microcirculation, fascial release, improved tissue mobility.
Massophysiotherapy: a combination of manual techniques and rehabilitation to reduce inflammation and motor dysfunctions.
Phlébo Revital®: targeted management of venous return (very useful for heavy legs after the season).
Guided breathing and relaxation: restoration of vagal tone, improved sleep latency.

The whole process is coordinated by the medical team, with daily calibration (adjustments if there are signs of under-recovery, overload or digestive disorders).

When should you schedule your spa treatment if you’re a footballer?

Inter-season (7-10 days): optimal window for a complete detox + biomechanical overhaul.
International truces (4-6 days): abbreviated version focusing on drainage, sleep and myofascial release.
Return from injury: join the Sport & Recovery Lab to secure the transition to recovery, in liaison with the club’s staff.

Avoid: weeks with a heavy specific training load or just before an important match (detox can temporarily lower energy availability).

Results: what can we expect?

Every organism reacts differently, but common returns include:

Improved sleep and night-time recovery, clearer mind.
Reduction in subjective markers of inflammation: bloating, diffuse pain, heavy legs.
Body recomposition: gradual reduction in body fat (especially visceral fat), preservation of muscle mass.
Improved quality of movement: perceived flexibility, hip/ankle mobility, posture.

Follow-up at 4-6 weeks (nutrition, breathing, mobility) ensures lasting effects.

Formats & practical information

Duration: 6 days (7 nights) to 10 days depending on objective.
Flagship programs: Revital Detox®, Detox & Longevity®, Revital Sport & Remise en forme, and Sport Performance®.
Supervision: doctors, naturopaths, physiotherapists/osteopaths, Sport & Recovery Lab coaches, on-site analysis laboratory.
Nutrition: customized menus (Detox, Biolight, Sport) and liquid day available.

In terms of budget, a 6-day (7-night) Sport/Performance protocol starts at €6,480 depending on room and season, excluding options and additional medical procedures.

Luxe Wellness Club review

The Palace Merano has modernized its offering without denying its identity: a demanding but benevolent detox, medical logistics rare in the hotel industry, and now a sports center that speaks clearly to athletes. For footballers (pro or enlightened amateur) looking to purge the season’s fatigue, readjust routines (sleep, nutrition, mobility) and return with fresh energy, the address ticks all the boxes.

The cure is not “spectacular” in the sense that it is lived in regularity: repeated treatments, a tasty but strict therapeutic cuisine, and an accompaniment that listens to the body’s signals day after day. It’s precisely this seriousness that makes it, in our opinion, one of the best European options for the off-season.

Book with Luxe Wellness Club

Luxe Wellness Club helps players and staff (or demanding amateur sportsmen and women) to find the right timing, choose the most appropriate program, coordinate with your coach/club and optimize your stay (transfers, rooms, extensions).