Flush out those toxins

While a good diet and exercise regime are critical elements to a fitter life, experts say it is important to routinely undergo a detox programme to stay fit

The recent focus on health, hygiene and immunity have trained the spotlight on good life choices. There is much awareness about the need to eat right, exercise enough and stay clear of infections to ensure that one stays fit. But what of the mostly unavoidable accumulation of toxins in the process of living our daily life? That’s where detoxification comes in.

PRESSING THE RE-SET BUTTON

Day-to-day stress, poor food choices and lack of exercise and sleep can all cause inflammation. Inflammation disrupts and impairs the body’s natural ability to protect and heal itself. A detox can help reset the scales as it were, and put the body back on an even keel.

While you can’t completely avoid exposure to free radicals, you can make lifestyle choices regarding diet, exercise, and environment to help keep your body balanced and minimise damage and disease.

“An unhealthy diet (high in sugar and fat), alcohol, additives and dyes, exposure to cigarette smoke, pollution, radiation, pesticides, ozone etc. produces free oxygen radicals, the rogue molecules which damage cells, proteins and DNA and cause chronic inflammation in the body” explains Vandana Luthra, entrepreneur, wellness expert and founder of VLCC.

Physical inactivity leads to visceral or belly fat accumulation and consequent release of cytokines. Any form of stress leads to chronic inflammation, producing the same unwanted results. “People initially experience fatigue and a feeling of being run down, followed by chronic problems such as heart disease, blood vessel disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease and other conditions,” says Vandana.

MORE DEMAND FOR DETOX

Waste/toxins removal is a very important part of healing process. “While the daily processes of perspiration, urinating and passing stool are some natural detoxes that cleanse and heal the body, often these simply aren’t enough. This is due to the stresses of modern life, pollution, lack of exercise and poor food choices,” says Megha Dinesh, co-founder Meghavi Wellness Spa.

“Even though detoxes have been prescribed since ancient times, the need for them has gone up as never before today, and cannot be ignored,” says Megha. In fact, ‘Detox’ is a modern-day buzz word. There are many types of detoxes one hears of digital detox, relationship detox, alcohol detox, food detox, etc.

WHY DETOX?

The purpose of any physical detox plan is to take the load off organs that routinely

An unhealthy diet (high in sugar and fat), alcohol, additives and dyes, exposure to cigarette smoke, pollution, radiation, pesticides, ozone etc. produces free oxygen radicals, the rogue molecules which damage cells, proteins and DNA and cause chronic inflammation in the body — Vandana Luthra, entrepreneur, wellness expert and founder of VLCC

detoxify the body - the liver, kidneys and bowels — and improve their performance. Such plans ensure that the digestive system gets some rest, by reducing food intake and removing processed, refined and ‘aggressive’ foods such as coffee, alcohol and heavy proteins from the diet. This gives the body the chance to cleanse itself.

In a physical detox plan, the main focus is on giving the liver the chance to recuperate. “It is one of the most stressed human organs, and perhaps the busiest, as it has to perform more than 500 functions every single day,” Megha points out. The most important part of a detox plan is to break the existing pattern and introduce intervals

HOW TO DETOX

in a cycle. “Fasting plays a very pertinent role. Two fasts per week for an adult, or daily intermittent fasting, are considered key to good health,” she adds.

Megha recommends consuming only fluids or fruits, or just water during the fasting period. “Intermittent fasting involves bringing all your meals into an 8- or 10hour window.”

Along with fasting, choosing fibrous food, introducing complex carbohydrates, minimising protein, sugar, oil and salt works wonders for revitalising the liver, she says.

For those suffering from the condition known as ‘fatty liver’, or a pale skin, practicing a four-day detox programme once a month for three months will bring great results, according to Megha. During these four days, only green and fruit smoothies are to be consumed, totally avoiding dairy products.