All In One

With onset of New Year, we are very sure on that bikini body that we have been longing to achieve. We put it in our resolution goals, and we are set on it. No, we are not starving our body neither we plan to gulp down bitter gourd juice. We are only looking forward to sweeter goals with delectable foods, and in a fun manner. Are you with us?

Apple Cider: Not everything that is healthy comes in great packaging and on top, comes with a great taste. If you wish to live long and see your skin glow every day, it is important that you make a daily habit on investing some of your time in drinking apple cider (empty stomach, in the morning). Not only does it help in reducing blood sugar level, it also helps you to lose weight, lower the risk of heart disease, and improves digestion. A word of caution: Do not drink it raw. Make sure to dissolve a few drops in distilled water to avoid letting your esophagus feel burnt.

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Bananas: Bananas are always in win-win situation if you plan to go on a detox diet. Rich in pectin, it sticks to toxic compounds in the blood and helps to flush them out through urine. Not only this, but pectin also limits the amount of fat your cells can absorb. This fruit, if consumed twice daily as pre meal snack also allows you to fight bloating. It is also enriched with potassium which can help diminish retention of fluids in the body.

Cut down on sugar: When we think about cutting down on sugar, do we just think that it is all about going ahead without sugar? In order to get a glowing skin, better immunity, to drop those few extra pounds faster, it is important to cut down sugar from the diet, not just in terms of sweet or replacing white sugar with sugar replacements but also making sure that the foods are identified that contains sugar such as bread, crackers, etc.

Don’t stress: We hear it is indeed very easy to say but difficult to take into practice. But, simple things taken into account can help you de-stress and in a way, detoxify easily. It is important to listen to your mind and find stillness in a day that could help you clear your mind. Deep breathing, having a cup of tea (sugar less of course), or talking to your close ones can help your relieve stress and help in detoxification.

Exercise: Not many are aware but exercise forms a very important part of detoxification. Movements in a body helps to circulate blood. The more the movement is, the more it helps the liver and lymph nodes to do the job of cleansing in a better manner. Regular exercising can also help the digestive system to work well and more the sweating is, it helps in flushing out the toxins from the body.

Fasting: Detoxification is a process of eliminating toxins from the body and fasting helps in the process. During fasting, when food does not enter the body, it relies on the fat reserves to provide energy to the body and once the reserves are used, stored chemicals are released into the system and further eliminated with the help of different body organs. Not just this, but it also helps in triggering the healing process. Make sure to hydrate yourself with herbal teas when you are fasting as some of these help in aid of digestive system.

Green tea: Like it or not, but green tea is an absolute must when you plan to opt for a detox diet. Rich in antioxidants, green tea rehydrates and cleanses our system. It helps in boosting our immune system and protects liver from any toxic substances. It is naturally low in calories which can also help in weight loss. Just in case, you are not a fan of it, try and mix it with berry shake, or make a smoothie with cucumber and green tea.

Hot oil massage: Mix equal quantities of virgin olive oil, coconut oil and almond oil and lightly warm it to apply on your face and body. This hot oil massage is completely relaxing and soothing for your body. It helps in detoxification as it stimulated blood circulation and makes the skin softer and glowing. To complete the process, do make sure to indulge in a detox bath using either Epsom salt, green tea, coffee grounds.

Include garlic in your diet: For thousands of years, garlic has been in use for a lot of medicinal purposes. Garlic does not directly flushes out toxins from the body but it helps in the production of glutathione which is a substance that helps infiltration of toxins released from digestive system. It also helps in the purification of liver and garlic bits, when added to the diet, helps in lessening of symptoms of flu and cold. Garlic adds bonus points to your body when is consumed raw since it helps in better functioning of liver.

Juice detox: Juice detoxes are best when you have a sensitive stomach and you are feeling bloated. Having raw fruit and vegetable juices helps in giving your body the time to heal and reenergise. Not just this, but it also helps in boosting your energy and helps in overcoming the crashes that sugar and coffee could do to our body. Having cleansing juices and following up with a plant based diet can also help in reducing inflammation.

Kiwi: Kiwi fruit is a perfect choice for people but not many are aware that it is a fruit which should be eaten all year long for the health benefits that it carries. It consist of natural digestive enzyme that helps in dissolving proteins easily, helps in regulation of blood pressure and it helps in removing toxins from intestinal tract. Detoxification of intestinal tract helps in metabolism and increases the ability to lose weight.

Lemon: There are many benefits that are associated with lemon and drinking lemon water every day can help you with a stronger immune system as the antioxidants found in lemon helps your body fight diseases. It also helps fight skin damage due to sun or other pollutants. Above all, it acts as a cleanser on the liver and drinking warm water with lemon helps release toxins from the liver.

Meditation: Detox does not only take place in our body but also takes place in our minds. As important as it is to detoxify our organs, it is also important to detoxify our minds with negative feelings, thoughts. It is important that each day, we close our eyes, get comfortable, feel our senses and not think about them. Scan your body with attention and do not let thoughts gather your mind. Try and free your mind from any thoughts and take deep breaths. It will not relieve you from any anxiety but will also help in clearing your mind for better space for work.

Natural supplements: In order to provide body the overall health support, it is important to detox the body with the help of natural health supplements. These can help clear the circulatory and digestive system though flushing of toxins. One of the most necessary natural supplements available in the market is modified citrus pectin which is extracted from the peels, seeds, and pulps of citrus fruits. It reduces inflammation, boosts immunity and also helps protect against chronic illness.

Oil pulling: Oil pulling is a technique that came in long back and is certainly not an old wive’s tale. It is an ayurvedic practice that requires oil to be swished around in the mouth. This technique pulls out bacteria and toxins out of the mouth which ultimately results in healthier teeth and gums. Oil pulling makes sure to activate the salivary enzymes which absorbs toxins from the blood and detoxifies and purifies whole body.

Parsley: Rich in vitamin A, B, C, K, iron, and potassium; parsley is a perfect ingredient to incorporate in your diet in order to detox well. It helps to reduce water retention, bloating, and eliminates excess fluid. It also reduces risk of cancer, beats inflammation, and protects your blood vessels. If you plan to remove any excess water weight, simply make a shake by adding parsley, ginger, celery, lemon juice, and you will be good to go.

Quick yoga: In order to detox, it is certainly not important to restrict your body to green juices. Simply opt for a five-ten minute yoga detox every day. Whether you are at work, or home; there are some simple asanas and stretching exercises that could help you flush out toxins. Try different stretching exercises or simple asanas for cleansing and eliminating effect.

Raw food diet: Sometimes, it is a good idea to make your body go through changes and for good. While we cook, most of the enzymes are destroyed and it kills the detoxification properties. A raw food diet is said to eliminate all the toxins from the body and it restores enzymes that are needed for digestion.

Sauna: Your body certainly needs rest after a long, tiring week at work and what’s better than calming yourself out at a sauna. The sweat promoted by sauna helps the body get rid of the waste that gets clogged within. It helps in flushing out bacteria, dead skin cells out of the skin and helps you get a radiant skin. Also, due to the heat of sauna, heart rate increases which allows the blood vessels to expand and it purifies the body from toxins.

Turnip greens: Very well known for their anti-inflammatory, weight loss, and detoxification properties; it is very important to include this vegetable in your diet. A little bitter in taste but will make sure that there is a long way for you. The antioxidants that are present in turnips support our natural detoxification activity and contain compound known as glucosinolates which activates the enzymes that are responsible for detoxification. Still, bitter much?

Unplug: In this technological era where we all are dependent on our cell phones and are connected with each other via social networking; we do not realise how it impacts our life (not in a good sense, though). For a complete detoxification and to live a life which is stress free, it is important that we digitally detox. With this, you will find more peace, you will get to think more, it will make you more productive, and studies shows that it boosts your immune system. Are you ready for the challenge?

Vegan: It might not be too good a news for carnivores but it’s true for the fact that detoxification is always a better idea when you become a vegan. Vegan world is full of good foods and plants that are nutritious for our body, helps in detoxifying and cleansing our body which most of us need to keeping in mind the toxins we take in from the environment, the stress, and the eating habits. You could make yourself dandelion green smoothie (best for detoxification) or maybe, beetroot burger patties or how about ginger cookies?

Water: Drinking good amount of water is crucial to our health and most of us are very well aware of this fact but somehow, we tend to avoid it in our minds. Drinking good amount of water helps in flushing liver tissues, removes toxins, and also it allows kidney to filter properly while liver metabolises its own waste. Experts suggest drinking eight glasses of water each day.

X-ray your diet: There is always this one day in a month when we plan to stick to a diet routine and plan accordingly but somehow, we lose the track. It is important, in order to detoxify properly, to keep a regular check on your diet. Consumption of foods that contain a lot of sugar, oil content, or saturated fats results in imbalance and further weakens immune system. Can we hire a nutritionist here?

Yoghurt: Considered as a superfood, yoghurt is not only beneficial for your stomach but is also good for your liver as it helps in flushing out toxins from your body. It is probiotic and its detoxifying properties makes it excellent for weight loss. It helps in restoring your skin, prevents hair fall, boosts digestion, and helps in strengthening of bones. The list can go on…not a small wonder.

Zucchini: This is that one vegetable that might not come in your mind when you think of detoxification and not many know but zucchini has the least amount of calorie count. It is rich in vitamins, manganese, riboflavin, and folate. It helps in lowering bad cholesterol, neutralises blood pressure, boosts energy, and makes sure to keep your liver healthy by helping in release of toxins. Maybe, opt for a zucchini cooler?