It's the time to detox

internal purification

It’s that time of the year again when your calendar is filled with party invites and weddings. Generally, we tend to ditch our diet during such times and go on a bingeing trip. We eat and drink more. Late nights and less sleep become the norm.  It is usually after the New Year, that we face the repercussions. But wait! There is a solution — detox. Natural cure is the best cure in the world and a guaranteed way of feeling good.

One of the many things you could start your detox ritual with is giving up coffee. Instead, drink green tea regularly. It has multiple benefits. For instance, regularly drinking green tea is said to help in losing weight. It increases fat oxidation and eliminates excess levels of water from the body. Green tea is also said to lower cholesterol levels due to the presence of tannins.

Apart from this, you can also add spices to tea, like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and pepper. Ginger is considered to be a universal remedy because it has so many benefits. Ginger boiled in water should be consumed after meals for aiding digestion. It also reduces inflammation. Apart from green tea, chamomile tea also has a relaxing effect on your frazzled nerves.

While we are on the subject of drinking, make sure to drink more water. Have the juice of a lemon with a glass of warm water first thing in the morning. This helps flush the system. Have probiotic foods, like yoghurt or probiotic drinks. Probiotics hold natural and good bacteria, which bring about a balance in the digestive system.

Calming bath

There is nothing better than a warm bath to make you feel better. Bath salts added to bath water can help remove fatigue and induce relaxation. In order to make your own bath salts at home, just add two tablespoons of salt crystals to the bath water, along with some essential oils. Among the oils that may be used are cinnamon oil, lavender oil, rose oil, geranium, neroli or eucalyptus oil. You can add five drops of an essential oil to pure olive oil and then add it to the water along with the salts. Cinnamon oil relieves fatigue and muscular tension, while lavender induces relaxation. Rose oil is said to have a calming effect on the mind. A thing to remember here is that essential oils should not be used by themselves.

Excess fluid around eyes can be a result of alcohol and bingeing during parties. According to skin specialists, gently tapping the skin around eyes with the fingertips can sometimes help the collected fluid to drain out. Work from the inner eye and go towards the temples. Grated potatoes or potato juice, applied around the eyes also helps to reduce puffy eyes. So do tea bags. Steep them in hot water, cool them and use them as eye pads.

Apart from a detox programme, you may want to shed a little weight after all that spicy and rich food. But first, take your doctor’s green signal before following any programme, or making changes in your diet. A low-fat diet should include low-fat dairy products, less salt and low-calorie snacks. Munch on raw cucumber, carrots, fruits, roasted diet-snacks when you feel hungry. You can make a snack out of popcorn (without butter), murmura, boiled or sprouted kala chana, adding lemon juice and chaat masala.

Include raw, natural foods and fresh fruit and vegetable juices. Natural foods are those that can be eaten raw, are naturally derived, are unrefined and unprocessed. Not only do they detoxify the system by promoting the elimination of wastes, but also bring about a sense of wellbeing and vitality. Include fresh fruits and lightly cooked vegetables, unprocessed cereals, sprouted grains, nuts, seeds and yoghurt.

Take up yoga. Asanas are particularly beneficial for strengthening the body, making it flexible, supple and youthful. Combined with breathing exercises, they boost oxygenation, purifying the organ systems and induce relaxation of both body and mind. It also helps reduce stress.

Last, but not the least, you can go for a deep tissue massage. It will not only be  relaxing, but will also help to release toxins due to massage on pressure points. So, what are you waiting for? Make that cup of green tea already!

(The author is a beauty expert)