Post-Festivities Detox Tips
The new year is finally upon us. As we come off the revelry and festivities of Christmas and ushering the new year, it’s time to start anew, on a healthier foot. Every celebration involves food and being the foodies most of us are, we have indulged in copious amounts of delectable food and lip-smacking drinks. That’s why in 2023, experts have advised to follow a detox regimen to get your body rejuvenated again. After the season of parties, splurge dinners and alcohol of the holiday season, most of us would be carrying additional weight and bloating. While there’s nothing wrong with a much deserved year-end celebration, kicking off the new year in a refreshed spirit will set the tone for the rest of the year.
Following are 11 post-indulgence detox tips:
1. Drink warm lime water with honey every morning
Drinking this stimulates the digestive tract which aids in constipation prevention. The lemon also promotes liver function, which gives the digestive system a little boost to break down complex foods. Honey, on the other hand, treats any gastrointestinal disease that might be present.
2. Cleanse your liver with water
The liver is the body's main detoxifier. There are a few straightforward ways to help the liver detoxify toxins, among them being water intake. Water regulates our internal body temperature and aids in better nutrient absorption. Even digestion is supported, which right away leads to cleansing. You should consume three to four litres of water every day, depending on the type of exercise, exercise level and body weight. We recommend drinking two glasses of warm water as soon as you wake up in the morning to boost metabolism and eliminate pollutants in your system. Wait for about 30 minutes before eating your breakfast. Buttermilk, coconut water, herbal teas and plain water are drinks that may aid in keeping you hydrated all day.
3. Exercise regularly and consistently
According to studies, regular exercise helps the body detoxify itself and lowers physiological inflammation. Exercise is an essential component of any detoxification regimen. It encourages digestion and maintains the digestive system's functionality. Try incorporating yoga into your routine or on your rest days. A long walk is another way to lower stress and balance your metabolism. With the help of exercise, the lymphatic system can get rid of everything it doesn't need. To reap the best benefits, exercise for 75–150 minutes per week and engage in strenuous physical activity, such as jogging, or at least 150–300 minutes per week of moderately intense exercise, like brisk walking.
You don’t have to overdo it by partaking in vigorous exercises all the time. Go for long nighttime walks and try to exercise at a low to moderate level. You'll be able to control your hunger and stay alert and energised thanks to this. Your appetite can be greatly increased by high-intensity exercise, which can make you yearn for high-calorie foods once more. You can progressively increase the frequency of your fast-paced workouts to 2-3 times per week.
4. Try intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting is a common diet that schedules the cycle between voluntary fasting and non-fasting over a given period. Although our bodies are very capable of detoxifying themselves, intermittent fasting is advised to promote this process.
5. Keep yourself well hydrated
Besides aiding the digestion and absorption of nutrition, water enhances the body’s detoxification process. According to studies, an ideal daily water intake for men is 3.7 litres and for women is 2.7 litres. You can give your body a hand after the festivities by upping your water intake to about three litres each day. You can consume water all day long in the forms of coconut water, soy milk, lemon juice, and buttermilk.
6. No processed food
Stay away from processed food throughout the process of detoxification as it adds to the body’s burden. The ideal strategy for body detoxification involves avoiding inflammatory foods including dairy, gluten, refined sugar and processed carbs. Avoiding these meals gives our digestive system a break.
7. Consume food rich in antioxidants
Eating a diet rich in antioxidants will help your body fight the oxidative stress brought on by pollution. Feed your body with food rich in vitamins A, C, E and selenium, which are abundant with antioxidants. According to scientists, foods including berries, fruits, nuts, chocolate, vegetables, spices, and drinks like one cup of green tea per day may contain the highest quantities of antioxidants.
8. Improve your gut health
When you eat healthy meals or food that are gut friendly, it helps your intestines function optimally. As a result, you’ll notice that your skin looks better, stress levels are lower and energy levels are balanced when the gut is healthy. If your gut is healthy, your body may burn excess calories quickly. Maintain a good balance of consuming protein and increase your intake of fruits and vegetables, fresh juices, healthy grains, nuts and seeds. Green tea, herbal tea and detox water are all gut-friendly beverages. You should also limit your alcohol and fizzy drinks intake. Because they include more calories, cut back on processed, high-carb, fatty foods. Moreover, you should wait 30 minutes after eating before drinking water.
9. Eat a balance of protein-rich and fibrous food
After eating delicious carb and calorie-rich food during the holiday season, it’s now time to balance it out with protein- and fibre-rich foods. Cut back on sweets, foods produced with refined wheat, fried and packaged foods, coffee, and alcohol for a while to reduce inflammation in the body. Prioritise food high in protein and fibre, such as seasonal fruits, green vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Fruits and vegetables make the best detox foods since they are rich in enzymes that improve digestion as well as nutrients that act as strong cleansing agents. Fruits and vegetables are also rich in fibre, which encourages healthier bowel motions and helps the body remove toxins.
10. Fruits and vegetables are your friends
On top of being a rich source of dietary fibre, fruits and vegetables are excellent providers of vitamins and minerals. These include berries, beets, cabbage, radish, broccoli to name a few. Not only are they delicious, they’re also packed with fibre, antioxidants, and minerals. Antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C, and E, selenium, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin, work together to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation brought on by an excess of free radicals and pollutants. Vegetables increase metabolism, promote fullness, and lessen appetite, all of which may help with weight loss, a welcomed result. It's best to come back to eating a balanced diet post-festivities because we all are guilty of overindulging at some point. Limiting processed carbs and sugar is the best course of action during this detox phase.
11. Get restful sleep everyday
After all the late night parties and dancing the night away, the new year calls for rejuvenation, by ensuring quality sleep. A restful night's sleep promotes healing and disease prevention by allowing your body and mind to recuperate. While you sleep, your brain may regenerate and remove harmful toxins. Aim for a minimum of seven hours of sleep daily. Given all the excitement the past few weeks, it’s crucial for your body to get all the rest it deserves. Balance is key when it comes to partying, eating and even exercising. Everything in moderation. We hope these tips are helpful in getting you back on track for the new year.