DETOX TALKS

Who said you can’t indulge in sweets. When you do, make sure you get rid of toxins from your body

The festivals, Eid, Ganeshotsav and Onam gave way for festive decadence where most of us were guilty of sweet debaucheries, and just maybe, overdone food cravings. With the onset of the seasonal period of more festivities — Navratri, Dusshera, Durga Puja and Diwali — nearing, it’s probably best to undergo a cleansing process and detox your body.

“A detox is needed after prolonged intake of sweets and heavy dishes during festivities. Detox drinks can also help with long-term weight management by removing the toxins that interfere with proper body functions,” explains Chef Amit Sharma, co-founder and chef, Poetry by Love & Cheesecake.

Chef Ranveer Brar goes on to point out that detoxification is steeped in Indian culture and tradition where “it has been a standard practice in our culture to detox and cleanse through vrats (fasting) or restricted eating during festivals”.

HOW TO DETOX?

Manpreet Ahluwalia, chef, Headquarters, Colaba goes on to further elaborate that when it comes to following a detox diet, be it a drink or a dish, it should be “nutritionally balanced”. Moreover, they not only help in eliminating toxins from one’s body, but also aid in weight loss and improves digestion. Chef Ananya Banerjee from The Lab, says, “In addition to this, they are great for improving your complexion and aiding in digestion. They also serve as a natural rejuvenator, both for your energy levels, and mood.”

THE DON’TS

One must not blindly follow detox plans, Ananya adds, “As most detox diet plans include either fruit juices or shakes, your body experiences lack of salt, fiber, protein and other essential nutrients. Following this diet plan for too long could lead to health complications like low blood pressure, giddiness, fatigue and hair loss among others.”

Busting the myth that a detox equals starving oneself, chef Mitesh Rangras from Derby clarifies that “detox, in no way, means to starve yourself, but rather, it means eating clean”. He says, “Try and eat lighter, healthier food that is nutritious and easy to digest, so your system gets to relax a bit.”

THE DIFFERENT TYPES

One might be wondering how and where does one begin. Dr Siddhant Bhargava, chief nutritionist and co-founder of Food Darzee, says that there are “typically three types — those that replace foods with liquid, those that support your body’s natural detoxification process and those that cleanse your digestive tract via the colon”. Detoxification can be done by the following most popular detoxes, as listed by Dr Siddhant: Juice or smoothie

■ cleanser: Drinking fruit and

vegetable based juices, as long as they are freshly pressed, is healthy as they are packed with nutrients. ■ Liver detox: In this technique, the diet is rich in raw and cooked fruits and vegetables, and includes soluble fibre and limits alcohol intake.

■ Food restrictions: This method restricts certain foods and food groups like gluten and diary to flush out body toxins.

■ Colon cleanse: It attempts to cleanse the digestive tract and get rid of body toxins by promoting bowel movements.

We’ve listed some detox drinks and salads that you can prepare yourself.