Eat clean, feel light

Eat clean, feel light

During Diwali you may have enjoyed all the sinful treats in the name of festivities and feasting. From Laddoo and Kaju Barfi, to Chakli and Farsaan, you may have indulged in tasty bites at home and get togethers without counting calories. However, once the festive period gets over, you start feeling worried about how to shed the extra kilos and detox the body. 

While gymming and yoga can help, it is important to eat clean and add ingredients and foods in your diet that naturally detoxifies your system, helping you to rejuvenate and feel lighter. Warm water, lemon, green veggies, colourful fruits, yoghurt, cucumber, mint, herbal tea, honey, and dry fruits are some of the elements that help in detoxification. But while cleansing your system, you may also want to make your meals interesting and delicious. Mumbai-based nutritionist Joanita George says that you should always begin by drinking a full glass of room temperature water which is infused with lemon and honey in the morning. “To consume a delicious detoxifier, consider Vanilla Chia Pudding. Chia seeds are full of protein, calcium, antioxidants, magnesium, iron, and potassium and make for a perfect breakfast that is tasty and healthy. You can mix them in almond milk, add vanilla, and some maple syrup and consume as a breakfast or a full meal,” says George. 

She feels that lemon is the most effective way to cleanse your body and also helps in weight loss. “You can mix 2 tbsp of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 2 tbsp of pure maple syrup and 1/10 tsp of pepper and drink it throughout the day to detox all the festive calories accumulated in your body,” she suggests. 

You may be aware of the health benefits of apple cider vinegar for your body, hair and skin. But did you know it is extremely good for detoxification and that it helps create pH balance in the body? “You can consume it in warm water or add it to your drinks. Apple cider vinegar helps in detoxification as it helps your body run at a more optimal level,” says Delhi-based physcian Dr Sagarika Bandopadhyay. 

Bandopadhyay believes that simple ingredients available in one’s kitchen should be looked at with a new perspective and consumed as detoxifiers. Simple items like beet, green vegetables and quinoa have amazing cleansing properties. “Don’t undermine the humble beet. It is rich in natural plant chemicals that have been proven to help fight infections, help purify the blood and also helps in liver detox. You can either roast it (mostly in the oven) and have it with salt or make it a part of your salad. Similarly, quinoa has some amazing benefits. You can make Veggie Quinoa Breakfast Bowl by simply adding plenty of veggies, olive oil and sprinkling quinoa on the salad and your detox dish is ready! You can have it for dinner too,” suggests Bandopadhyay.

Something as simple as hibiscus tea can be of great help in body cleansing. George says that if you feel bloated from all the rich food that you have consumed during Diwali, it is time to feel lighter and relaxed, by consuming hibiscus tea. “If you sip some hibiscus tea, the flavonoids in the hibiscus plant will counteract bloating by influencing hormones that regulate water and electrolytes balance, thus healing bloating,” she suggests. 

If you are a little lazy and do not want to prepare a meal, you can much on almonds in the raw form. “These are rich in fibre, protein, calcium, healthy fats and vitamin E, and pack a punch as it regulates blood sugar and remove impurities in the bowel. You can add them in salads, meals and drinks and detoxify your body easily,” says George. 

Salads and good health are closely related, and when it is about cleansing your body of toxins, which are a result of binge eating, salads can be your best friend. “Consuming rainbow salads is a great way to eating healthy and removing toxins from your system. Use a variety of colours in your salad — use lettuce, purple cabbage, red pepper,  avocado, sesame seeds, salt, and pepper to make a rainbow salad. You can also make a crunchy detox salad using raw broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, sunflower seeds, and a lemon ginger vinaigrette,” says Bandopadhyay.

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