Detox diet to start your year

Although the human body is perfectly capable of detoxifying itself, sometimes we throw so much at it, especially during the festive season; that we need to change our routine for a while to help it get back to normal.

This article is not about the kind of detox that models and extreme weight watchers do. This is about helping your body get back to normal (aka to stop feeling bloated all the time and general laziness) after the awesome festive season where we took a break and ate all the mbuzis in the village.

Healthy detox is real simple; the body eliminates waste and toxins through the kidneys, the liver, the skin and lungs. To help your body get back to normal after two weeks of holiday food, you just have to eat foods with nutrients that are helpful to the above organs.

Up your water intake

Your urinary system is one of the ways the body gets rid of all the toxins in your body and water is the carrier. Enough water for a normal adult will range from about 1200Ml to 1500Ml of water a day. The easiest way to make sure your intake is up to this level is to get a container with a capacity you know and drink from it throughout the day. Another thing to remember when you are trying to drink enough water is to drink even when you are not thirsty.

Move your body

This might sound like am making stuff up just to make your life hard but believe it or not, when you feel so tired you just want to lie down is the time you need to exercise ASAP.  Regular exercise enhances circulation and leaves you feeling re-energized. 

Fruits and vegetables

These provide you with the fiber that your body needs to take care of sluggish digestion. They also provide the vitamins and minerals needed to rejuvenate your body. Cucumbers are good at reducing swelling especially around the eyes. Foods rich in potassium like bananas, avocados, oranges and kiwis help with water retention and salt induced bloating by regulating sodium levels in your body.

Natural Enzymes

The enzyme contained in pawpaw (papain) is very good at helping break down the protein in your digestive system making digestion easier and faster which in turn makes you feel lighter. Pineapples also have the same effect on your digestive system. You don’t have to go on a juice fast for your body to feel cleansed. Eat foods that ease digestion and encourage digestive tract health and you will be good. Other foods that are good for your digestive system include; yogurt, asparagus, ginger and chamomile tea.

Whole grains and foods

Whole grains like wheat, sorghum, millet, rice, maize and oats give you vitamins including Vitamin B which helps convert food into energy which in turn helps you feel more alive and energetic.

Time to get rid of all the junk food

Junk food makes you bloated and tired all the time. It is also not the best food for the brain meaning that if you eat junk food all the time, your brain might feel slow. Most junk food is high in salt which makes you retain water hence the bloating. Junk food that is not salty is very high in refined sugar which causes you to feel so tired and hungry after the sugar is cleared from your blood.  Swap all the junk food/ snacks with healthy ones and watch your body feel better in no time.

Exfoliate

The skin is one of the organs that get rid of all the waste products/toxins. The health of our skin depends on the kind of food that we eat. All the holiday foods (foods high in salt, sugar and fat) make your skin look sad. While you are eating healthy foods and getting your body back in shape, help it show on your face by giving it a good scrub.

Resolution to be healthier in 2016 made easy

A new year is like a blank book. You get a new start and a chance to be a different person. It all sounds good and achievable but we forget that we cannot change who we are in a day just because it’s a new year. We all want quick results but change takes time and lots of work. To be healthier is one of the most made resolution year in year out. This goes to show that it is not easy but difficult does not mean impossible. Most of us vow to be healthier and we mostly fail because healthy is very broad. If being healthy was one of your resolutions, this might help.

Do not overwhelm yourself. Sometimes we make more resolutions than there are days in a year and when we feel overwhelmed we give up. Make attainable goals and when you hit a bump readjust and keep going.

Make a clear plan to get to a healthy weight. “Exercise more” and “stay fit and healthy” is something that over a third of the population wishes to achieve. To achieve this, you must have a clear plan.

      If you want to exercise more, enroll into a gym. If you can’t afford a gym or you do not have the time to go to the gym, make a clear plan to work out at home. This means setting apart half an hour to an hour daily. It helps when the work out time is the same everyday because it helps create a routine.

      Plan the exercises in advance. This saves the time it takes to decide what to do for the training session. I recommend making a two week plan with rest days in between the workout days. Planning in advance also helps you plan which parts of the body and muscle groups you will be exercising.

      Invest in workout clothes and equipment. This doesn’t have to break your bank account. All you need is a good workout bra if you are a woman, comfortable shoes and tights. It helps to have weights and other home equipment but if you do not have the money all at once, you can fill bottles with water and use them as weights. Fitness is a lifestyle and not an event. Buy equipment slowly and with time you will have all the equipment you need to stay healthy. Your house does not have to look like a commercial gym for you to be fit. All you need is; a yoga mat, some weights, a rope, resistance bands and good music to keep you going.

Eat healthier foods and in the right proportions. If you are having a hard time figuring out what healthy foods means try this; avoid processed foods (this means ready to eat microwavable meals, ready to eat meat products and high sugar cereals), avoid all junk food, eat whole foods like brown breads, lentils, beans, green grams and high fiber cereal.

Get regular checkups. The African culture is simple… if the body is not in pain; don’t let the doctors poke around looking for problems because you might just find some. Thing is, we forget that we are no longer dealing with malaria and typhoid where you don’t need a doctor to tell you that there is a problem. We are dealing with diseases that show symptoms when its already too late and early detection is critical.

Get more sleep. It’s ok to go to bed before checking your Facebook notifications; they will still be there when you wake up in the morning. Quality sleep is the first step to good health and the best thing is that it is the easiest part.

Drink more water. Water really is life. To make this easy, get a water bottle and keep it close throughout the day. A water bottle helps you keep track of the amount of water you drink and adjust accordingly.

Move more. Do more non exercise physical activity like walking more, taking the stairs and walking around when you are on a long phone call.

Stress less. Don’t wait for perfect conditions for you to be happy. Play more, spend more time in nature, enjoy the little things, meet new people, be kinder to yourself and laugh out loud.

All you need is a Monday. Ever made a resolution only to break it on the 3^rd of January? The feeling sucks! Sometimes we give up and go like “well, I will do better next year”. You do not need a new year; all you need is a Monday. Mondays are universally loathed but they are great ways to start a fresh… so don’t fret the five missed workouts; a Monday is always around the corner.

Take advantage of all the motivation around you.  Join Facebook pages and follow people on Instagram who are also trying to keep fit.

Give it time. Rome was not built in a day and all the change you want will not be seen in a day. Keep going even when you feel like it is taking forever.