Time to Detox!
After all the greasy gluttony that Eid-ul-Adha brings, we are often left with dull (possibly acne stricken) skin, and weighty guilt of all the unhealthy we have been helping ourselves too. Now what? You know that food waste isn’t leaving your body that easily. With the increase in the use of innovative ingredients like activated charcoal and lava water in cosmetics, “detoxification” has become a commonly used term in beauty. But, did you know that it’s more than just topical and can go as deep as your organs? Nusrat Noshin shares a brief lesson and easy how-to’s on internal detoxification.
What is Detoxification?
It is essentially a fancy word for the internal cleansing of our body. There are several ways to do so, but it mainly focuses on purifying the blood, increasing its circulation and cleaning out the liver, intestines
Why Detox?
Usually our body’s natural cleaning process is not enough. We often lack nutrients that aid the function of our organs, thus hampering their process of cleansing us internally. That is where detoxification comes in; it elevates our waste processing mechanism.
Therefore, not only will you feel healthier and more energetic, but you will also have better skin, hair and an overall lifestyle.
Do you need to Detox?
If you experience any one or multiple of the following:
- Unexplained fatigue
- Sluggish elimination
- Irritated skin
- Allergies
- Minor infection
- Puffy eyes or bags under the eyes
- Bloating
- Menstrual problems
- Mental confusion
Then chances are you need to detoxify.
Now,let’s get into the real talk!
How to Detox?
Detoxifying is not as complicated as it sounds. You only have to bring a few minor changes to your everyday routine.
Lemon and honey water:
Wake up to a warm cup of lemon water. It will supply you with the hydration that you lose overnight, and the electrolytes that trigger the liver to release more enzymes that promote digestion and elimination of toxins. (Honey is optional for taste)
Avoid sugar:
Sugar causes your pancreas to produce more insulin, therefore depreciating it unnecessarily. In the long run, this can cause diabetes and weight gain. So, limit your daily consumption to 150 calories (9 teaspoons) for men and 100 calories (6 teaspoons) for women, and NEVER go over the limit!
PS: Please don’t use artificial sweeteners and aspartame. Their cons outweigh their pros.
Switch your caffeine choices:
If you are a coffee person, then this is bad news for you. Although caffeine is a great way to rejuvenate yourself, it can cause gastric issues like indigestion and an overdose may cause insomnia (both of which you’re battling if you’re detoxifying). Hence, you need to reduce your caffeine intake. Take it slow at first; switch to black tea (sugar-free of course) if you are an avid coffee drinker. It has more caffeine than green tea but less than coffee.
Then, move on to green tea. (To those who have a misconception about its taste, authentic green tea has a very mild taste and a little tea goes a long way for it to brew. So don’t go overboard.) Green tea and tea in general have excellent antioxidant properties.
Snack right:
Get over those oily pakoras and think of eating healthy and nutritious. When snacking, go for easy to access but unprocessed food (frozen food like nuggets and samosas are a no-no). Go for high sugar, dried fruits like dates, mangoes, apricots, figs etc. as they have more nutritional values compared to their fresh state. Also, get hooked onto nuts like almonds. Low in cholesterol and high in antioxidants, almond is the key to a healthier skin and a happier heart.
Move that body:
This is an important way for you to get that blood circulating. Now, a vigorous workout is not recommended, rather go for light exercises like push-ups, basic yoga and stretching, just to get your body moving in the morning. This helps warm up the muscles, refreshes your mind and improves productivity.
