“It’s Diwali and you cannot say no to mithai!”
The five glorious days of Diwali bring with them the warmth of relationships, celebrations, rituals and traditions, not to mention all the lip-smacking food! The best of us can be tempted to go off our diets when faced with the prospect of those fluffy pooris with aloo, melt-in-your-mouth boondi ladoos and warm almond-slivered halwa. If, like me, you’ve indulged in one too many ladoos this Diwali season and are looking for an effective post Diwali detox, you’ve come to the right place.
At the outset, it’s important to remember that our bodies are well equipped to naturally eliminate toxins and you don’t need to go on any drastic detox diet. In fact, some of the popular detox diets may actually do you more harm than good and there is no evidence that supports the use of these diets for toxin elimination. However there are some easy, evidence-based methods you can incorporate to optimize your body’s natural detoxification system.
1. Drink more water
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: let this be your post Diwali detox mantra. Water enables your body’s natural detox mechanism to get rid of waste products from your blood. Our cells use nutrients to produce energy and continuously repair themselves. However this process releases by-products like carbon dioxide and urea which can cause harm if they build up in excess in our body. Water enables the body to eliminate these by-products through urination, sweating and breathing. Additionally, water also aids digestion and nutrient absorption so ensuring that you’re drinking enough water is important to detox. The adequate daily water intake is 3.7 litres (15.5 cups) for men and 2.7 litres (11.5 cups) for women. You may need to customize this based on your activity levels, your diet, and where you live.
Read More: The 7 Surprising Benefits Of Drinking Warm Water In The Morning
2. Get enough sleep
Getting adequate, good quality sleep enables your brain to recharge and eliminate the toxins that accumulate throughout the day. Getting a good night’s sleep is necessary for supporting your body’s natural detoxification system. Sleep deprivation can cause toxins to build up and can impair your health over a period of time. For example, one such toxin, a protein called beta-ameloid is known to contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s Disease. Poor sleep is also known to increase stress, anxiety, high blood pressure and heart disease. So don’t skimp on your shut-eye and make sure that you get between 7-9 hours of sleep every night to help optimize your body’s natural detox system post-Diwali.
3. Eat foods rich in antioxidants
Eating an antioxidant rich diet helps your body reduce the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that our body naturally produces for cellular processes like digestion. However tobacco smoke, alcohol, a poor diet and exposure to pollutants can produce excessive free radicals which can damage our cells.
Free radical damage can have several negative health repercussions and is known to play a role in the development of heart disease, asthma, dementia, liver disease and certain types of cancer. A diet rich in antioxidants helps the body fight against the damage caused by excess free radicals. Focus on getting your dose of antioxidants through a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, spices, nuts and berries. Drinks such as green tea, coffee and cocoa based beverages are also good sources of antioxidants.
Get an antioxidant rich recipe here!
4. Cut down your intake of salt, sugar and processed foods
One of the easiest ways to optimize your body’s natural detoxification system is by cutting down your consumption of junk food and foods high in salt and sugar.
Research shows that eating a lot of sugary and highly processed foods can lead to the development of obesity and chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. These diseases harm organs like the liver and kidneys that play an important role in our body’s natural detox mechanism. Foods that are high in salt can cause your body to retain excess fluid which in turn causes bloating. If you’re eating a lot of salty foods and not drinking enough water, your body releases an antidiuretic hormone that prevents you from urinating, hampering your body’s detoxification process.
Cutting down on processed foods and foods high in salt and sugar, and upping your intake of water can give a boost to your body’s natural detox processes after that Diwali binge.
5. Stay active
Getting some form of regular physical activity each day enables your body’s detoxification system to work in an optimal manner. Regular exercise is the best way to reduce one’s risk of many diseases including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer. It also reduces inflammation which helps the body’s detoxification system to function properly. Aim for a minimum of 130-150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise, like brisk walking, or 75-150 minutes of high intensity exercise, like running, per week.
So if all that binge eating during the festive season has led to post Diwali despair setting in, worry not! Follow these easy to implement tips into your daily routine and you’ll be back on track before you know it.