Detoxing made easy!

At long last the party season has come to an end! The endless stream of weddings, tea parties, barbecues and other sundry parties have finally slowed down, giving us a much-needed break. The social engagements' schedule gets rather demanding during winter in Dhaka, and keeping up with it certainly takes a toll on our minds as well as our bodies. And while feasting on scrumptious delicacies for weeks may sound like heaven, in reality it wreaks havoc on the body, both internally and externally! That nagging headache you've nursed for days is the festive season's gift for you, thank you very much, and your trusty pair of jeans refusing to button up is its goodbye kiss! Detoxification is the process of clearing out all the toxins that accumulate in one's body after weeks of unhealthy lifestyle. It may sound daunting, but is surprisingly easy to incorporate in one's daily routine and get amazing results.

The process of detoxing begins with an active change in diet. The festive season makes eating healthy incredibly hard; you go to work early in the morning without having a proper breakfast, lunch is a hurried affair of oily food from the cafeteria and then in the evening you rush home, get ready and set off to the party, where you gorge on the rich biriyani because you are famished. This cycle continues for nearly two months and at the end you are feeling groggy and tired all the time. Firstly, begin your day with a glass of warm water with the juice of a lime. It will help release toxins from your body. Next, a proper, nutritious breakfast consisting of unprocessed, organic elements is key. Whole-wheat cereals, oats, and breads are a great option, with a side of eggs and fruit, especially bananas which will provide an instant boost of energy. One of the main aspects of detoxing is the elimination of all kinds of artificial and processed elements from one's diet. Skip canned food, processed meat, artificially aerated and sweetened beverages completely. A fresh fruit smoothie is a great option as it's quick to prepare and easy to drink. Take honey instead of refined sugar that will give you sweetness minus the calories. For lunch, avoid fried food by all means. It may be very tempting but try taking homemade lunch to work instead. Brown rice with meat curry and daal and vegetables is nutritious, filling and healthy. The idea is to make detoxing easy and part of everyday life by using existing elements of our diet, just tweaking it slightly. The chicken curry can be replaced with steamed fish or meat, prepared at home using less oil. A sandwich made with whole grain bread is another option, along with a flat bread wrap filled with grilled strips of meat and vegetables. There are endless recipes on the internet that serve as inspiration. Making a simple, conscious choice goes a long way. Choose organic produce and wholegrain, complex carbohydrates that will keep you full for longer. For snacking during the day choose roasted, unsalted nuts, fruits and yoghurt that will keep hunger pangs at bay. Sip on green tea or any flavoured tea instead of your usual sugary milk tea or coffee. For dinner similar ideas from lunch can be used, along with homemade soups and salads. All of it must be accompanied by a steady intake of water throughout the day. These sensible choices will have a dramatic effect on your mood and body, making you feel energetic and active.

Next, a few more adjustments in other areas will help you detox further. Take up a simple exercise; it could be anything – brisk walking, jogging, yoga, and so on. It will boost your metabolism, give you more energy and contribute to your overall wellbeing. Another activity that helps is making time for yourself. Take a step back, cut off from everything else and just focus on your inner peace. Try meditating, read a book, listen to music or just do nothing. By shutting every other noise out, you'll have the luxury of letting your mind wander off to a relaxing state. After all, detoxing is only effective when both mind and body are cleansed!        

By Sabrina N Bhuiyan
Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed
Model: Sadia
Make-up: Harmony Spa
Shoot coordinator: Anila Tabassum Hridi