Thanksgiving Detox

Oh sadness, the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday has come to a close and now we are left with only memories and muffin tops.  The snug fitting jeans and the extra rolls make for an uncomfortable Monday as we get back to our regular weekly routine. It is time for a little detox to cleanse our systems and get ready for another holiday hit coming down the road. Together we can de-puff our bodies, clear our food-fogged minds and reclaim the fit of our denim!  Here are ten easy-to-follow tips that make detoxing easy to incorporate into your diet, starting right now!


1)  Focus on eating raw, fresh foods.  By this I mean mostly fruits and vegetables.  Fruits and veggies have a high water content and are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber.  Most importantly, fruits and veggies do not have chemicals, preservatives (go organic!!) or fat-- all substances our bodies need a break from after such heavy eating.


2)  Drink water!  Aim to drink room temperature water as it is easier for our bodies to assimilate.  Cold ice water can shock the system.  Add a slice of lemon to your glass, which has an alkalizing effect in the body.  As for the amount of H2O you should be drinking, divide your body weight in half and that number in ounces is the amount you should be consuming.


3)  Hit the gym.  Not only will this help burn some of the extra calories consumed this holiday, but you will sweat out nasty toxins and speed up digestion for a faster removal of, um, the waste that is sitting inside our bodies.  Gross, I know...sorry!  

4)  Consider a shot of wheatgrass.  Wheatgrass is a superfood that is EXTREMELY nutrient dense and cleanse-worthy.  Just one shot glass is the equivalent of eating 2-3 lbs of vegetables!!  How is that for healthy?   Wheatgrass also oxygenates and purifies the blood and by doing so it removes any stagnant toxins sitting around.   In addition to cleansing and feeding the body, wheatgrass has an energizing effect and reduces cravings!  Check out your local juice bar or health food store and give it a whirl. 

5)  Avoid extreme foods.  By this I mean, foods with a lot of sugar, salt, dairy, fat and caffiene.  This is all in the name of giving your body a rest from the heavy eating that took place over the course of Thanksgiving and the leftover days that followed. Focus on incorporating low-fat and natural versions of the foods you normally eat.  Aim to get the fiber you need, which is about 26 grams a day for women and 30 grams a day for men. 

6)  Drink green tea.  Green tea is loaded with polyphenols and antioxidants, which will help boost your immunity and neutralize free radicals inside your body.  Not to mention green tea is a known metabolism booster.

7)  Don't eat foods late at night.  Choose a cut-off time that works for you, but it should be 2-3 hours before you hit the hay.  This is the amount of time it takes for food to go through the initial digestion process.  Also, night time/sleepy time is when our bodies repair and recover after a long day of work, so having an empty stomach allows your body one less chore and makes over-night recovery a lot easier. 

8)  If you can, go vegetarian for a week.  Give your body time to recover from the turkey and tryptophan coma.  Meat is a heavy, protein-dense food and it requires more time and energy for your body to digest.  Treat your body and digestive tract to a rest.

9)  Floss.  I hope you floss on a daily basis, but if you don't please, please, please make sure you floss this week.  You do not want the food to settle and embed itself into your gums.  It is here, through the gums that bacteria can seep into the body.  Not to mention, unflossed gums contribute to gum disease and halitosis -- permanent bad breath!

10)  Eat garlic! Incorporate garlic into your diet as a seasoning (or if you wish, eat it raw).   Garlic helps your liver produce enzymes that detoxify the bacteria in your digestive tract. 

So there you have it -- tips and foods for you to consider as you aim to cleanse your body and rid that inescapable feeling of Thanksgiving fullness.  Now that one holiday has come to an end there are more just around the corner.  So use this week to de-puff and de-fog in prep of the holiday eating that lies ahead.   Cheers!

2 comments:

Synaura said...

Not all food supplement have the same level of quality, some are just synthetic, artifical fillers. Be cautious especially if the price is cheap for it may compromise your health.

Christine said...

Thanks so much! I actually have been reading about GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certified supplements and I am now on a mission to find them...I read about your Synaura product! Sounds interesting :)

About Me

Christine
New York City
Welcome! My name is Christine and I have landed here to share my love of healthy living and eating. I live in NYC where I am currently enrolled in the School of Integrative Nutrition. I am already certified as a holistic health coach and I have started seeing clients to help them reach their wellness goals. I started hot mama health to share the idea that it is fun to be healthy! Health is an adventure with endless foods to taste, exercises to explore, and challenges to meet! If you do not already feel this way, I hope that I can bring you into the light or at least stir a little inspiration here and there.
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