The festival of lights may have passed us, but the festivities will continue till the New Year rolls in. So, its time for a detoxification diet to eliminate toxins from the body before the next round.
Detox diets vary, but most of them involve a period of fasting followed by a diet of raw veggies, fruit, juices and water.
Give detoxification a spin by making detox foods a part of your daily diet. That way you’ll never need to plan an after-party purge again. Here are some easily available foods that are great for detoxification.
Beetroot
Can’t stand the except when it’s disguised? Make an attempt to as it can help you detox super fast. New research shows that beetroots may qualify as a superfood. Studies have shown that beets and beetroot juice can improve athletic performance, lower blood pressure and increase blood flow. The high fiber content prevents constipation and promotes regularity for a healthy digestive tract.
How to have it?
Boil bite-sized pieces and sprinkle with salt, pepper and lemon. Put it in a raita or cold soup. It can also be used as one of the ingredients in a pasta sauce to bring in some color and nutrition.
Cabbage
We don’t suggest you go to extremes, but inculcating some cabbage into your diet would be a good way to detox your body. Cabbage helps cleanse your liver – extremely necessary after all that binging. The fiber in the vegetable ensures your digestive system stays on track and expels all toxins from your body. Regular consumption of this zero calorie food also decreases the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
How to have it?
Boil cabbage with onion, garlic, carrots and beans and season with lemon, salt and pepper for a quick and filling cabbage soup. You can also make a quick cabbage and carrot salad with raisins, along with a dressing of freshly squeezed orange juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. A tasty recipe for post party detox!
Turmeric/Haldi
Turmeric/Haldi is ubiquitous in Indian religious ceremonies and cooking. The root of turmeric is also widely used to make medicine. Turmeric is beneficial in cases of heartburn (dyspepsia), stomach pain, diarrhea, intestinal gas, stomach bloating, loss of appetite, jaundice, liver problems and gallbladder disorders.
How to have it?
Haldi milk is a great way to detox post Diwali. Add a tsp of haldi along with cinnamon piece, few peppercorns, cloves and cardamom to boiling milk and boil for 2 minutes. Strain, add a tsp of honey and enjoy this nourishing drink.
Garlic
This one’s a staple on many detox diet plans. Apart from being beneficial in conditions related to the heart and blood system, it is also used for the treatment of fever, coughs, headache, stomachache, stress and fatigue. Garlic helps maintain healthy liver function and is among the foods that can keep cholesterol under control. Don’t worry about the stink; the compounds that make garlic stink is what make it so beneficial.
How to have it?
Add grated garlic to curd along with mint for a quick dip. Enjoy the dip with cucumber and carrot sticks. Garlic pickle is also a great addition to help in detox. Cloves of garlic can be pickled in vinegar and salt solution along with beetroots, radish, and carrots.
Green Tea
The high presence of antioxidants puts green tea on most detox lists. These antioxidants seek out and kill free radicals – known to have a hand in ageing and other diseases – before they can do any damage. Regular consumption of green tea includes improved brain function, fat loss and a lower risk of cancer.
How to have it?
Steep a tsp of green tea leaves in hot water for 5 minutes, strain and sip on this healthy beverage. You can add some lemon to it as well. Green tea concoction can be added to your morning smoothie for a quick detox breakfast.
