Diet And Detox
Author: Namita Nayyar
Today we live at a pace that would have seemed unbelievable and indeed impossible
to our grandparents.
With the increasing demand of jobs, long travel, odd working hours, bringing
up children and hectic social lives. We tend to become tired and rundown.
Besides our bodies are under constant assault from pollutions, stress, bad
posture, sedentary jobs and own bad eating habits.
Over a period of time, these effects build up and emerge in many different
forms-everything from passing infections, skin eruptions, headaches & digestive
problems to serious conditions, such as ulcers, cancers and heart disease.
The more we overload over body, the more it sinks under the strain. When
we begin, detoxification-we give our bodies the chance to repair and cleanse
and restore a more balance state to the entire system.
Detoxification shows up in number of ways. Besides achieving a healthy weight,
you can expect to have a clearer skin, healthy looking hair, strong nails
and more energy. Detox also has a very calming effect on the mind, particularly
if it is combined with meditation. Above all this, it puts you on the right
course of long term health.
HOW IT WORKS?
Our bodies are completely complex organisms in a state of constant growth
and renewal on cellular level. When we pour toxins into our bodies, it treats
these as a matter of urgency and works on processing them to render them
harmless. This leaves the body with less energy for everyday processes of
cleaning, healing and renewal. With increasing demands over a period of
time, the body is unable to keep up the pace and the strain begins to show
on the overworked liver and kidneys, leading to slowing down of body's performance.
When we detox, two thing happen. First, we stop overloading the body with
harmful substances and secondly, we give it plenty of the right nutrients
to actually speed up the elimination of old toxins and promote cell renewal.
As you rejuvenate the cells, become healthier and you look and feel younger!
SUPER SCAVENGERS
The World Health Organisation (WHO) had clearly stated that Vitamin A, C
& E are vital for health. These vitamins, together with mineral selenium
are known as antioxidants.
They can protect us not only against minor infections but also serious degenerative
diseases such as cancer and heart diseases, as well as conditions that come
with premature ageing. They work by acting as scavengers for free radicals.
We clearly need as many anti-oxidants as we can get! One of the best place
to find them is in fresh fruit and vegetables and that is why these foods
are vital for detoxification. Many nutrients are destroyed by cooking and
that is why raw food is much more effective as a source of health and forms
the core of a healthy diet plan.
Raw food and fresh juices have remarkable cleansing and regenerating effect
on the entire system, as they retain all their nutrients, which might get
destroyed while processing and cooking.
Juices, both fruit and vegetable are essential part of the whole process.
Besides they are easily assimilated by the body and contain all the nutrients
present in raw fruits and vegetables.
You can also choose from a wide range of delicious soups and salads. Try
to incorporate these eating habits into your daily diet. You can eat as
much as you want of the salad and soup meals. Remember to snack on as much
fruit as you want during the day, as well as having at least two fresh juices
daily, herb teas and of course, lots of water.
The detox diet helps to cleanse your system! The plan begins with a juice
fast, which eliminates toxins at a very low level, and then continues with
a highly nutritious food that promotes cellular renewal.
The diet might last for 2-4 weeks. By the fourth week you will be on your
way to establish a healthy diet for future. Below is an example of what
a detox diet, might look like to begin with:-
The first two days:-
Breakfast: Natural yogurt with seeds. Apple and carrot juice.
Mid Morning: Apple
Lunch: As much salad as you like made from any of the following raw ingredients-cucumber,
peppers, radishes, sprung onion, any kind of salad leaves.
Mid afternoon: Apple
Supper: As much as fruit salad you like made from fresh fruits with orange
or apple juice as sweetener.
You might drink plenty of water and herb tea throughout the day.
NOTE: Do not begin on a detox diet without the prior permission of your
doctors if you are suffering from any health symptoms or condition.
Article by Dr. U. Mahlothra (Nutritionist) and updated on 20th December,
2001