Here to detox after the meaty Eid

While many of us have indulged in our favourite foods, it's high-time to learn how to rejuvenate our bodies

KARACHI: Eidul Azha is the time for many of us to indulge in our favourite foods. While all those mutton chops, beef boti and nihari may have been finger-licking good, it's normal to wake up feeling lethargic and bloated after the three day festivities are over. This means it's high time to detoxify our digestive systems. Feel rejuvenated by kicking off a healthy body cleansing regime and start the week off right!

As compiled by Health Line, there are many tips and tricks to detox your system in easier ways than what you might believe. But before we delve in, it's important to break some common misconceptions about detoxing. The term 'toxin' in the context of detox diets is loosely defined and typically includes pollutants, synthetic chemicals heavy metals and processed foods. All of this negatively affects health.

However, popular detox diets rarely identify what they aim to remove. No evidence supports the use of these diets for toxin elimination and suitable weight loss. While our bodies have sophisticated ways of eliminating toxins in our liver, kidneys, digestive system, skin and lungs, we can still optimise our bodies natural detoxification system especially after indulgent festivities.

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Focusing on sleep is an important aspect of rejuvenating our systems. In this day and age, getting a good night's sleep is often looked over and this can affect our bodies and minds drastically. A quality sleep allows the brain to reorganise and recharge itself, as well as remove toxic waste byproducts that may have accumulated throughout the day. Sticking to a sleep schedule and limiting blue light from our phones and computer screens is essential.

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Drinking more water also does more than just quenching your thirst. It regulates body temperature, lubricates joints, aids digestion and detoxifies our bodies by removing waste products. Water transports this waste, efficiently removing them through urination, breathing or sweating. So staying properly hydrated is important for detoxification. Men and women should aim to drink at least four litres and three litres, respectively.

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It may seem like a no-brainer but it's important to reduce intake of sugar and processed foods when detoxing after Eid. High consumption of these kinds of indulgences can be linked to chronic illnesses, which hinders your body's natural ability to detoxify itself. Limit junk food by leaving it on the store shelf and replacing it with healthier choices like fruits and vegetables.

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Eating antioxidant rich foods can also assist in this. Antioxidants protect your cells against damage caused by molecules called free radicals. While our bodies naturally produce these molecules for cellular processes, a poor diet can produce excessive free radicals. Focus on getting antioxidants from foods rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. This includes berries, fruits, nuts, cocoa, vegetables and spices. Good news for coffee lovers is that tea and black coffee have some of  the highest amounts of antioxidants.

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