Post Holiday Detox Plan: Here’s how to cleanse from within and feel energetic after a long period of indulgence.
Christmas to New Year (and Diwali) is the period of the year where one indulgences in sugary food, alcohol and days of partying.
This is the time when one enjoys sumptuous dishes, music, dance and unlimited drinks, which eventually leads to excessive intake of calories, carbs and unhealthy fats.
One goes through the same thing during Diwali when you just cannot stop yourself from gorging on delectable sweets, be it home-made or from the halwai. Jalebi, peda, barfi, gulab jamun, rasmalai, rabdi, kheer, halwa, chocolates, deep fried foods (the list is almost never ending).
Festive diet are rich in fats, sugar and carbohydrates which often result in indigestion, bloating or heaviness, and causes your energy levels to dip.
Your diet and health routine that you have been following through-out the year goes for a toss (and personally I feel there is no need to feel guilty about this indulgence once in a year).
However, post the celebrations, its time to go back to your earlier routine. But this time, you also have to shed those extra kilos that you may have packed during this season.
And after days of over-indulgence, one can feel exhaustion creeping up in the body, and that is why its important to detox your body as well as mind in order to rejuvenate.
What is Detox Diet?
Detox, short for detoxification, is the body’s natural, on-going process of neutralizing or eliminating toxins from the body.
However, since the body is unable to absorb most harmful toxins, it accumulates thus making it harmful to our overall well-being.
That is why it is advised to go on a detox diet so that toxins can be chemically changed into less harmful compounds and flushed out of the body through stools or urine.
This method requires taking in certain food and drinks to get rid of toxins from the body.
These diets may vary in forms and the food selections are usually very strict. On the other hand, some are more lenient, and in certain cases drugs are also prescribed to assist in the detoxification.
So you may be required to drink lots of liquid or to eat food rich in fiber, some may even use vitamins, minerals, and medicinal plants.
How to Detox?
Most detox diets comprise of only fruits, vegetables, and water (meat, dairy, alcohol, and bread are strictly to be avoided).
Detox diet should be used for a short period. Detox diet is usually low in protein and carbohydrates and without these, muscle growth and energy can easily diminish if done over a longer period.
Here are some useful detox tips post-Christmas & New Year party (or post-Diwali). These are some excellent ways to get rid of the toxins that gets accumulated in the body after days of indulgence.
- Drink plenty of water to flush out toxins from the body.
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, drink herbal teas
- Avoid heavy food, sweets, sweetened drinks and alcohol for sometime
- Start jogging and/or head to the gym
Juice Cleanse for Detox
Best Juice Cleanses for natural and organic method of detoxifying and healing. Keeps you healthy and energized.
Juice cleansing is a “detox” diet which can last from a few days (to several weeks). When on juice cleansing diet, you consume only fruit and vegetable juices and abstain from eating food.
Juice cleanses are best post holidays, log weekends, festive seasons, when you over indulge in unhealthy foods and alcohol.
Its also recommended for brides-to-be, since they are also a quick way to slim down.
The “healthiest” juice cleanses combine juices from a variety of sources: fruits, veggies, nuts, and so on.
More Ways to Detox
Here are some more expert tips to cleanse/detox your system; get rid of the toxins that prevent absorption of healthy nutrients in the body and start feeling rejuvenated once more. Have more of these over the next few days (you can make these a part of your regular diet as well).
- Lemon Water: Begin your day with a glass of lemon water that aids in digestion and detoxification.
- Have warm water throughout the day: Boil a pot of water, let it cool down and keep sipping it through the day (As per Ayurveda, boiling the water lends it an energy which can purify our body).
- Green Tea: Rich in anti-oxidants, green tea helps in digestion and keeps the body hydrated (rich foods deplete water content in the body).
- Vegetable Soup: Have vegetable soup in your meals; its rich in antioxidants and great for flushing away body fat/toxins.
- Fruits: Have 3-4 servings of colourful fruits through the day. Choose from an array of fruits – apples, kiwi, guava, lime, melon, oranges, papaya, grapes, pears, pomegranate, strawberries, watermelon and more.
- Soaked Nuts and Dry Fruits: Soaked nuts help break down gluten from consumed carbohydrates and aids digestion. Nuts are packed with Vitamin B and also provide proteins that are readily available for absorption. Have a handful of soaked nuts and dried fruits every day.
- Light Food: Switch over to light food such as Khichdi, quinoa or porridge for few days; these are easy to digest and makes you feel light, yet energetic
Detox is not about skipping meals or starving yourself, or cutting down entirely on carbs and fats; neither is detox only about losing weight. Post-Diwali (or Post-Christmas) Detox is about catching up on sleep, getting rid of the bloating (gassiness), and feeling more energetic. Its also about getting back to your regular health and fitness routine.
Shahids birthday party was alcohol-free, detox shots of fruits were served
When Shahid Kapoor’s wife Mira Rajput hosted a birthday party, she ensured the part did not disrupt the actor’s diet who was extremely focused on his fitness regime for his look of a Raja in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati.
The alcohol-free party served detox shots made of celery, kale, carrot, cucumber and kiwi, alongside other healthy treats. The celebrations dished out super foods, salads, smoothies and guilt-free desserts.
So, the next time you’re hosting a party, start a healthy trend and replace alcohol with good food and drinks!
Closing Thoughts
What makes the detox diet different from other programs is that this is only for the short term. After a few days, you need to go back to your normal routine since you will need more nutrients (especially calcium and protein). It also means harmful toxins will build up again, so you need to do this periodically.
Most experts suggest doing this twice a year or once every six months as this program is not really for weight loss, but for elimination of harmful substances.
This program also teaches you the importance of moderation and also makes you reflect that changes are required to lead a healthier lifestyle.
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