Diwali is right around the corner and the festival means great food, good fun, family time and festivities. And it’s okay to let go of the diet for a day!
That being said, it’s sometimes difficult to come back to old habits after a session of partying and eating recklessly. How do we counter this? By simply being more mindful of what we eat, and following the do’s and don’ts for post-Diwali detox by our experts.
The idea of detoxing the body is to follow “clean” eating that focuses on wholesome foods. Festivals are meant for enjoying, but it is important we remember to celebrate responsibly. Have fun in a healthy way to live a healthy lifestyle.
Mumbai-based Sarvesh Shashi, founder and CEO of SARVA yoga studios identifies “bingeing vs moderation” as the main predicament. So, instead of eating a whole box of kaju katlis in five days, how about you substitute it with one kaju katli and one besan ladoo (its filling, has comparatively lesser calories) a day, and don’t forget to squeeze in a 10-minute walk/jog/yoga session before the festivities begin.
Here’s a list of detoxifying practises if you want to do some asanas.
1. Downward facing dog or ‘Adhomukhashvanasana’
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This allows the blood to rush to the parts of the body that are generally upright. As blood rushes to these parts, there is better circulation, heightened sense of focus and a cleansing of the lymph nodes present in the upper part of the body.
2. Eagle pose or ‘Garudasana’
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This asana twists the major muscle groups, and improves circulation to the rest of the body by gently raising your heartbeat. It stretches the arms and legs.
3. Half fish pose or ‘Ardha Matsyendrasana’
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In Yoga, twisting equals detoxing. This one’s particularly important since this pose detoxifies the digestive system.
4. Half chair pose or ‘Parivrtta Utkatasana’
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This one’s for the big detox day! Twisting, holding, balancing—the works. This asana opens the heart, twists the core, tests your balancing capabilities and more.
5. Forward bends or ‘Hasta Uttanasana’
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Inversions increase the blood flow to the upper body and the head. This forward bend also compresses the belly, which further detoxifies the stomach.
Minal Shah, Senior Nutrition Therapist at Fortis Hospital, Mumbai believes there’s always a possibility we will have diversions and should consider these few days our cheat days. So, the best post-festivities plan is to get back to the routine and not feel guilty about indulging in festive goodies.
1. Step up the fibre
Choose whole grains over simple carbs. Make some effort while chewing. Have whole grains and millets like jowar, bajra, ragi and oats. Add a bowl of fresh-cut salad for a good amount of fibre with a dash of vitamins and much-needed antioxidants post-feasting.
2. Add Omega-3 fatty acids
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Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties that prevent and treat many diseases, and maintain good heart health. Include a handful of nuts like almonds, walnuts and pistachios, or 2 tbsp of seeds like sesame, flax and chia seeds, or fresh avocado in your milkshake or salad. Keep track of the quantity as these are calorie-dense good fats and will be hazardous if you go overboard.
Nutritionist Priya Palan, Dietitian at Zen Multispeciality Hospital, Mumbai suggests getting your health back on track by making the right food choices and exercising daily to reboot your system.
1. Drink plenty of fluids
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Drinking water can make the job of flushing toxins easier for the body. An infusion of water with fresh fruits and vegetables can help to enhance the flavour. Lemons are packed with Vitamin C and antioxidants, which help in fighting disease forming free radicals. Drinking it at the start of the day can help flush out toxins and cleanse the system. Cucumbers hydrate the body and also act as a diuretic that helps get rid of toxins through urination.
2. Improve gut health
Add probiotic foods such as curd, kefir, tempeh and kimchi to improve digestive health.
3. Add ginger
Ginger contains gingerol, a bioactive compound that has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The drinking of ginger water can help to relieve indigestion and flatulence.
Lead Image Credit: Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Instagram
