The festive spirit for Diwali is unmatchable. Whether it’s munching traditional snacks or indulging in festive desserts, Diwali feasting is pretty common and cannot be completely avoided. But once the festive season is over, the late-night munchings and elaborate feasts can leave your body sluggish and overwhelmed, and you might even face digestive issues.
If you were on a diet before the festive season or simply want to detoxify your body, this is the right article to start with. To help you get expert insights, Slurrp interviewed Eshanka Wahi, a Dubai and Delhi-based Culinary Nutritionist and Holistic Wellness Coach and Founder of Eat Clean With Eshanka. Read on to learn more about why you should detoxify your body and how to do it right.
Detox After Diwali
How does festive eating affect our bodies?
During the festival of Diwali, indulging in rich and sugary meals is compulsory but can come with hardships in the long run. Being a holistic wellness coach and culinary nutritionist, I always place a lot of emphasis on balance and moderation. No doubt, one should always enjoy classic Diwali dishes that bring people closer, like Laddoos and Samosas. However, constant consumption of such rich food items can easily spike blood sugar levels or cause indigestion, leading to discomfort. To deal with this, you can add various nutritious and less intense dishes like roasted chickpeas, veggie kebabs, and khichdi. Mindful eating helps satisfy the taste buds without going overboard, which is a must that many people struggle with.
Why is a detox post-Dilwali important?
A post-Diwali detox is crucial to maintain general health after extravagant Diwali celebrations and rigorous feasting on decadent food items. I recommend detoxing and cleansing to help your body come back to a state of routine and equilibrium, aid in digestion, and remove unnecessary toxins. Detoxifying your body does not need fancy ingredients. It can be done using simple items like fruit juices, herbal teas, fibrous foods, lukewarm lemon water, and smoothies with greens. These can not only help detoxify but also hydrate your body and leave you feeling fresh post celebrations.
What are some effective natural ways to detoxify the body post-festive season?
After indulging in good food throughout the festive season, cleansing your body is a must to return to day-to-day life and normalcy. For starters, this can be done by consuming a lot of water for hydration, and herbal teas like ginger, chamomile, or green tea can aid in the digestion process, too.
Try eating more nutritious food like leafy greens, legumes, whole grains etc for improved consistency. Eating more foods that have ginger, garlic, and turmeric can help detoxify your body. Once the festive season winds up, try consuming less refined sugar and avoid processed foods. Working out and doing daily movements, like yoga and aerobics, help flush out toxins with sweat and are foolproof methods to feel strong again. Sleep well so that your body can recover from the festive routine.
How does hydration play a role in detox? What other types of fluids would you recommend?
Hydration is a key element in the process of detoxification, which helps discard the toxic substances in the body. Drinking plenty of water is something I strongly advise so that the kidneys perform properly and then eliminate pollutants in the body. Drinking water as it is helps, but you can also add slices of citrusy foods like orange and lemon for additional vitamins and benefits. Herbal teas like green tea and dandelion tea are also very good options. Coconut water is another ideal electrolyte that provides nutrients to the body. One amazing beverage idea that also helps with detox is blending cucumber and mint with water.
Additionally, if you add apple cider vinegar, it will govern and limit your pH levels and aid digestion. Soups and vegetable broth are great sources of nutrients, too, that also hydrate your body, leaving you feeling energised. Another amazing and easy detox drink is infusing your water with herbs and fruits by leaving them overnight, which helps with antioxidants.
Can you share a simple, balanced detox meal plan to follow after Diwali?
I believe that no matter what routine you follow, it should be simple and should work for you. Everyone’s body needs different nutrients in different quantities. However, this is a simple yet feasible meal plan that I think would work for most of the people.
For Breakfast: Make a simple green smoothie with simple ingredients like spinach, cucumber, bananas and water (or coconut water) and blend into a smooth drink. You can also add chia seeds to it if you want extra fibre. Another great option for breakfast is oatmeal topped with lots of fruits, seeds and honey. This is a very filling and cosy breakfast.
Mid-Morning Snack: If you get hungry before lunch, it is always advisable to have a hearty bowl of fruits as per your choices. You can add a squeeze of lemon to your fruits for extra flavour and a kick.
Lunch: You can have a full, well-rounded, and balanced meal for lunch or a salad like quinoa, chickpea or Caesar salad with the protein of your choice. Do not focus on eating less, but focus on eating more nutrients. Add more colours to your plate with bell peppers, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers. To make it tastier, add a dressing of olive oil, salt and pepper along with herbs of your choice.
Evening Snack: You can have a bowl full of nuts and raisins or a cup of herbal tea of your choice paired with almonds. This will relax your body and calm your mind. Another great option is freshly cut veggies with a side dip like hummus or yoghurt.
Dinner: Dinner should not be extremely heavy on your body. Good dinner ideas can include brown rice along with simple stir-fried veggies like broccoli, corn, tofu, or chicken, with a simple cucumber and tomato salad or raita, as you choose. If you do not feel like having rice, try making a simple veggie soup (add chicken if you prefer) and eat it with toasted whole-grain bread.