Time to detox after festive season

Festival season can really play havoc with our looks, what with late nights, lack of sleep and over indulgence on food. In fact, during Diwali, air pollution also becomes a problem. As it is the pollution in the air and in the water is making our world increasingly hostile to our good health and well-being. Our lifestyle can compound the problem further. During festivals, we tend to eat rich, sugary and spicy foods. We have late nights and go without enough sleep. Many lead sedentary and stressful lives too, without any exercise. What do we do about those tired and puffy eyes, dehydrated skin from too much makeup or bad hair days? These signs tell us that it’s high time we decide to detoxify our bodies and get rid of toxins and wastes. Actually, the best thing is to go nature’s way and detox the system to feel and look good.

Give up coffee and drink green tea daily. It has great benefits. For example, regularly drinking green tea is said to help in losing weight. It increases fat oxidation and eliminates excess levels of water from the body. Also, make sure to drink more water. Have the juice of a lemon with a glass of warm water first thing in the morning. This helps to flush the system.

You can add spices like ginger (adrak), cardamon (elaichi), cinnamon (dalchini) and pepper to the tea. Ginger is known as “a universal remedy” because it has so many benefits. Ginger boiled in water can be had as ginger tea and consumer after meals for digestion. It also reduces inflammation. Chamomile tea is available as tea bags. It helps induce relaxation and calms nerves.

There is nothing better than a warm bath to make you feel better. Bath salts, added to bath water, can help remove fatigue and induce relaxation. You can add five drops of an essential oil to pure olive oil and then add it to the water along with the salt. Cinnamon oil relieves fatigue and muscular tension while lavender induces relaxation. Rose oil is said to have a calming effect on the mind. Essential oils should not be used by themselves.

Excess fluid around eyes can be a result of alcohol and binging during parties. According to skin specialists, gently tapping the skin around eyes with the finger tips can sometimes help the collected fluid to drain away. Work from the inner eye and go towards the temples. Grated potatoes or potato juice, applied around the eyes also helps to reduce puffy eyes. So do tea bags. Steep them in hot water; then cool them and use them as eye pads.

Natural ingredients like honey, aloe vera, cucumber and rose water help to tone the skin, moisturise it and relieve skin fatigue. These may applied on the skin and washed off with plain water after 20 minutes.

For oily, combination and acne-prone skins, add 10 drops of sandalwood essential oil to 100 ml of rose water, to make a protective and refreshing skin tonic. Wipe the face with it, using cotton wool.

Include raw, natural foods and fresh fruit and vegetable juices. Natural foods are those that can be eaten raw, those that are naturally derived and those that are unrefined and unprocessed.  Not only do they detoxify the system by promoting the elimination of wastes, but also bring about a sense of well-being and vitality.  Include fresh fruits and lightly cooked vegetables, unprocessed cereals, sprouted grains, nuts, seeds and yogurt.

Take up yoga. The exercises or asanas are particularly beneficial for strengthening the body, making it flexible, supple and youthful. They are combined with breathing exercises, thus improving oxygenation, purifying the organ systems and inducing relaxation of both body and mind. It also helps to reduce stress. Bring about lifestyle changes – giving up smoking, alcohol, binging on heavy and fried foods.

And last, but not the least, you can go for a deep tissue massage. It will not only be most relaxing, but will also help to release toxins due to massage on pressure points.