What is the definition of “Detox” according to you?
Detox in the usual term means a process by which the body eliminates waste and toxins. It is a process where the body detoxifies the liver, digestive system, kidneys, lungs, and skin. But if we take additional efforts to detoxify the body, it accelerates the natural detox process and helps the body heal faster. Due to this, I advocate detox.
Further, it is of utmost importance to know when detox becomes an absolute necessity. Detox is a must if the body starts showing physical discomfort e.g. constipation, gas, bloating, diarrhea, vomiting, stomachache, acidity, indigestion, low energy/fatigue, deteriorated hair and skin quality, mood swings, frequent migraine, etc. If you notice any symptoms, you need to think of detox for sure.
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Now the question comes, how to detox. Few people swear by detox diets which usually involve fasting for a particular period, consumption of salad, fruit juices, green tea, etc. Few people also take natural laxatives to clean their digestive system. Few people opt for an extreme diet that involves 7 to 14 days of detox with detox powders, fruit/ vegetable juices, supplements, laxatives, etc. So, which is the right way? Let’s discuss.
Ways to detox:
1. Water
Water helps immensely in detoxifying the body. For detox, one can consume 3 to 4 glasses of infused water in a day. To make infused water, a combination of fruits, vegetables, and herbs is used. Sliced fruits and vegetables are soaked in a jug of water for a few hours. This process allows nutrients from fruits and vegetables to mix with water. After a few hours, the water is strained and consumed. The idea behind is to get maximum nutrition with minimal calorie intake. Apple, orange, pomegranate, strawberry, lemon, turmeric, ginger, coriander, mint, cinnamon stick, star anise, etc can be used to make infused water.
2. Hydrating liquids
Apart from infused water, hydrating liquids like coconut water, lemon water, buttermilk, green tea, turmeric latte, etc can be consumed throughout the day. Stay away from sugary drinks and fruit juices. Coffee and masala tea should be consumed in moderation.
3. Opt for simple food
This requirement is basic when we are on detox. One should consume light and cooked food only. Raw salads, a diet high in protein, red/black beans, etc are healthy but heavy on the stomach to digest. When on detox, one should consume good fat, protein, and carbohydrates in moderation. Khichadi, dal/rice, soups, eggs, oatmeal, fruits, etc can be consumed.
4. Remove junk/fried/sugary food
Outside food is full of oil, preservatives, salt, and sugar to increase the taste. We all know it’s unhealthy. It’s wiser to remove them when on detox.
5. Fasting
Our Indian culture and every religion support fasting in some or other form. We all consume much more food than we require and fasting gives break to our digestive system which helps our body to heal faster. However, one should provide the body with adequate nutrition after breaking fast.
Try implementing the above steps for 7 days in the first go. You can increase or decrease the number of days based on recovery.
Detox – one should implement frequently to avoid major physical discomfort in the body.