The festival of lights may be passed us, but the festivities will continue till the New Year rolls in. Isn’t it 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 the detox 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.
Make way for these five foods today:
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 fibre content prevents constipation and promotes regularity for a healthy digestive tract.
How to have it? Boil cut up into bite-sized pieces and sprinkle with salt, pepper and
lemon. Put it in a raita or cold soup. Or add to your pasta sauce.
- Who hasn’t heard of the Cabbage Soup Detox Diet? We don’t suggest you go to those extremes but eat plenty of cabbages. It helps cleanse your liver – extremely necessary after all that partying. The fibre ensures your digestive system stays on track and expels all toxins from your body regularly. Regular consumption of this zero calorie food decreases the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
How to have it? Coleslaw may have been done to death, but we suggest other simple salad recipes. Try fermented forms such as sauerkraut and kimchi, which are full of probiotics. Or as part of a simple soup that guarantees weight loss.
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? Apart from regular use in food, brew up a cup of turmeric tea first thing in the morning. Boil water and add 1 teaspoon turmeric and a bit of grated ginger. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Strain, add lemon and enjoy.
- 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 also 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 are what make it so beneficial.
How to have it? Most studies reveal that garlic must be consumed raw to enjoy its benefits. Sprinkle chopped garlic liberally over cheese toast. Mix minced garlic in salad dressings and hummus liberally. Or try a low-fat garlic pickle.
- 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? Replace your 11 ‘o’ clock beverage with a cup of green tea and enjoy a cup an hour or so after lunch.
Written by Neha Jain
She may have multiple degrees to back her expertise, but Neha Jain believes there’s nothing complex about nutrition. There is no magic formula for a healthy diet – the trick lies in balancing a variety of food groups and ensuring you’re eating the right portion size. With an MSc in Food and Nutrition from Delhi University and diplomas in naturopathy and yogic sciences, Neha is also a certified diabetes educator with extensive experience in endocrinological disorders and weight reduction, having worked with renowned endocrinologist Dr Ambrish Mithal in Delhi. Her goal is to help people find easy ways to make healthy choices, and believes HealthifyMe has simplified her task with its technology. Neha’s made the right choices for her family – she’s helped her husband control his high cholesterol levels and borderline diabetes by changing the meal plan at home, and introducing him to regular exercise – and now she’s hoping to ‘healthify’ you too.
