Let’s Talk Detox

Detoxification or ‘Detox’ for short – has been a buzzword for the longest of times and rarely goes out of fashion. People often talk about it often in different ways but there is a good reason behind it because detox is extremely essential to our human body.

Why detox? For body and mind

Our body is a self-healing machinery; whenever we get cuts, wounds, fractures or even suffer from certain diseases & illnesses, the cells in our body work tirelessly to repair and heal the damaged tissues. Similarly, our body detoxifies itself and throws the toxins out of the body. The process of detoxification cleanses each and every organ of the body.  

 In today’s modern-day urban living, which is exposed to extreme pollution, the need for detoxification has increased significantly. If our physical body is clean from inside, our brain functions better than usual, hence our mind power also increases. In ancient times, fasting was a great ritual and the main reason behind it was to detoxify the body. It was known all around the world that detoxification was all about resting, cleansing and nourishing the body. Multiple researches suggest that any detox process should be carried out every 11 days to have a notable effect on our bodies.

If we binge eat, the human body gets busy with digesting that food and has no time to heal itself and the toxins are accumulated over different organs in the form of cholesterol, fatty liver, skin diseases, colitis etc. During the process of detoxification, our body eliminates toxins through the kidneys, intestine, lungs, lymph nodes and skin.

The process of detox also helps us discontinue and interrupt out unhealthy habits, provides mental clarity and helps in enhancement of our mood – similar to what a session of exercise can do. Detox also tends to improve the flora of our intestines which in turn impacts our mood. Hence gut health and mind health are very closely interconnected, and a good gut health has even been found to reduce depression.

How to detox?

To start the detoxification process some of the most eminent methods are fasting, intermittent fast, raw juice therapy and enema. Out of these fasting and intermittent fasting are two of the most popular and effective detox techniques.

In fasting our body may release a lot of accumulated toxins and we tend to feel a little feverish and weak, but this is positive as it’s a sign that these harmful toxins are leaving our body. It is important to remember that fasting is carried out only when one is resting, and no heavy exercises and activities are planned for the day.

Intermittent fasting means not consuming any food for 14-18 hours. In doing so, the weak cells of the body die, and new, healthy and rejuvenated cells are developed which can help cure many diseases. This not only boosts our metabolism and immunity, but it also makes our body a smoothly functioning detox machine.

It is a known fact that juices are extracted from plants and fruits and they possess some definitive healing and medicinal properties which are important in detox. Besides these properties raw fruits and vegetable juices have an extraordinary revitalising and rejuvenating effect on all the organs, glands and functions of the body. In raw juice therapy, according to the individual person’s medical need, different raw juices are suggested which are to be consumed every two hours. This therapy also helps in weight loss. After the raw juice therapy, the return to normal balanced diet should be gradual, and in stages.

Detox drinks are a rage now and they are available in a wide variety – right from detox teas, detox water to detox juice blends. Some of the more popular ones are, cucumber mint infused water, chia seeds and lemon water, ginger and lemon water, jeera (cumin) water and many other juices. These are mainly a mix of alkaline and citrus fruits and vegetables.

My recommendation is the ‘Apple Beetroot and Carrot Juice’ or popularly known as the ‘ABC Juice’. It is also known as ‘The Miracle Drink’ and for good reason since it is a mine of goodness and health. Here are just few of its advantages –

It boosts the brain and sharpens the memory: It does so by enhancing nerve connections for faster response, improving a person’s attention span, memory and concentration levels.

• It delays the aging process.

• It improves vision and strengthens eye muscles due to ample amount of vitamin A content in this juice which is extremely beneficial for strengthening of ciliary muscles.

• It fights common diseases: For fighting diseases, you need very good immunity and for good immunity, one needs a good count of white blood cells and a boost in our haemoglobin. This juice helps in doing exactly just that.

I am sharing my recipe for the ABC juice which I recommend having first thing in the morning after waking up. Hope it helps you kick-start your detox journey.

* ABC Detox Shot image copyright with Jolly Vin

ABC Detox Shot or The Miracle Drink

by Jolly Vin

Serves One

Ingredients

• 1 apple (core removed)

• 1 medium-sized beetroot (peeled)

• 1 carrot (peeled)

For taste:

• ½ tsp black salt

• ½ tsp black pepper

• Small piece of ginger

Method Use any slow juicer or mixer to retrieve the juices from apple, beetroot and carrot. To enhance taste, add black salt, pepper and ginger.