NOTE: The following article was written by me for Mumbai’s DNA and was published on 22nd Oct 2017

With the long Diwali week just over, most of us can be held guilty of overindulging in festive fried food and sweets. This, clubbed with late night parties, consumption of alcohol; and stress, wears down the body and mind. This calls for detoxing the system, but there’s no need to buy those expensive detox tea and herbs for it. Here are a few simple and cost-effective ideas:

Gulkand

If you are feeling acidic or bloated then start your day with a teaspoon of gulkand. Rich in probiotic bacteria, it is our traditional, therapeutic mixture that will help calm the overfed stomach that is affected due excessive eating. This mixture of rose petals, sugar and herbs is the tastiest therapy one can reach out to get out of those post-diwali binge blues.

Golden milk

The liver is our first line of defence against all sorts of toxins. Traditional Ayurveda has long used turmeric to improve and regulate liver function. Rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, the good old ‘haldi doodh’ is the ultimate immunity booster, which the body needs to protect itself from any infections. A glass of it at bedtime, boosts immunity and helps recover from fatigue.

Buttermilk

Excessive eating along with alcoholic drinks and sleep deprivation ends up in ruining your gut flora and the intestinal mucus. Chaas (buttermilk) made with probiotic rich curd, water and spices like rock salt (kaala namak), asafoetida (hing) and cumin (jeera) will help improve your digestion, keep dehydration away and relieve you of acidity and constipation. It will help your intestines repair and recover.

Sugarcane

Alkaline in nature and loaded with soluble fibre, sugarcane juice is India’s native detox drink. It boosts metabolism, reduces cholesterol and aids in weight loss. Since it has low Glycemic Index, it is recommended for diabetics, and those with PCOD and insulin resistance too. Add some soaked sabja seeds to it, drink it up, preferably before 4pm.

Asana to the rescue

Try the Supta Baddha Konasana, which helps to turn up the parasympathetic nervous system, sometimes called the ‘rest and digest’ response. Here’s how to do it: Lay flat on your back with a blanket or towel rolled up, lengthwise under your spine. Bring the soles of the feet together as close to the hips as possible. Keeping the soles of the feet together, let the knees fall open to the side. Support the outer leg with blankets or pillows under the thighs. Let everything go as long as you feel supported and rested and try to stay in the pose for 10-20 minutes.

Image credit- Google images

NOTE: The following article was written by me and was published by leading Indian newspapers like Economic Times, The Indian Express, Hindustan Times and Economic Times amongst many others on 18-19th Oct 2017.

Overeating, over drinking or going completely sleepless creates toxicity for your mind and body, and hence the need to fall back upon a ‘detox diet post Diwali. Staying in balance during the festivities will ensure you don’t end up needing a post Diwali detox.

Few tips to remain in shape during the festive season are-

* Start your day with a teaspoon of gulkand (or a teaspoonful of gulkand mixed in milk). Rich in probiotic bacteria, gulkand works at enhancing your gut flora and thereby curb acidity, constipation, bloating and make your belly look flatter & thinner.

* In the middle of all the preparations, cooking, shopping and socialising, make time to eat. Starving during the day and binging at dinner represents the classical fasting and feasting behaviour. Eating every 2-3 hours will make sure you don’t end up feeling bloated, acidic, dull or tired. In short, you don’t end up needing a post-Diwali detox.

*Sweets: Stick to the traditional homemade sweets, laddoos, halwas, barfis etc. Made at home the traditional way, they are nutrient dense and regulate our blood sugars. Result of which is that you don’t crave and reach out for a bar of chocolate loaded with harmful preservatives and commercial sugars.

* Anything in excess is a bad idea. Distribute the sweets among your domestic help, watchman, driver and other people around you. This will reduce your chances of over indulging in them.

* Fried Food: Since the homemade namkeens like mathris, wadas, chaklis etc are deep fried in ghee or filtered oils like groundnut, sesame etc., they provide for essential fatty acids which work at lowering the overall GI of the food item. Their blood sugar regulating effect will keep you satiated so that you do not end up binge eating later.

* Avoid the packaged/processed ones since they are loaded with trans fats and high GI carbs, both of which together make for a lethal combination.

* Alcohol: If drinking till the crack of dawn makes your Diwali night come alive, ensure you sip on it slow. “Mindful drinking” will ensure you do not end up over drinking. Do not mix your drinks.

* Also ensure that you are not on an empty stomach. Eat a good wholesome meal before leaving home like poha, upma, cheese toast, khakra ghee etc.

* Eat deep fried snacks/starters or good fats like cheese along with your drinks as it will help to form a thin lining in the stomach to digest the alcohol easily and prevent you from having a bad hangover the next day.

* Drink enough water throughout the day and between your drinks.

Wish you a happy and colourful Diwali!

Image credit: Google images