Monday, November 26, 2012

Holiday Detox

A much needed detox...after I eat these leftover mashed potatoes and finish this wine. I don't know about you, but after a weekend of reckless eating and drinking, I'm in need of some serious recuperation before the next wave of holiday celebrations. There are a lot of different ways to detoxify your body, here are my top ten favorites.

Image Courtesy of BeautyBuzz411

Avoid Caffeine, Alcohol, Refined Sugars & Saturated Fats
But let's not get crazy and go cold turkey on the coffee. If you're legally addicted to caffeine like I am, just bump it down a few notches and cut your intake in half. 


Drink Water
I like the 24oz Thermos Intak Water Bottle (sold at Target) because it has a dial to let you keep track of how much water you drink.


Image courtesy of Tesco Real Food

Consider a Vegetarian-inspired Diet
Focus your meals on fresh vegetables and beans that are high in fiber. Some of my favorites are raspberries, pears, apples, bananas, oranges, barley, lentils, almonds, quinoa, chickpeas (garbanzo beans) and any other type bean, broccoli, green peas, edamame, eggplant and fennel. If you must eat meat, stick to lean protein like fish or chicken. Trader Joe's offers a lot of vegetarian meal ideas.


Eliminate Starchy Carbohydrates
Breads, pastas and rice are full of starches that will turn into fat if left unused in your body. I went starch-carb-free for a while and I felt less sluggish, more energized, and healthier overall. By replacing starches with vegetables, you're gaining more minerals and vitamins. Try this easy cauliflower pizza dough. It tastes just like bread!


Work Out
Guys, I'm not kidding anyone. It is so incredibly difficult to drag your butt to the gym after allowing yourself to eat a buffet of fatty foods and baked goods for five days straight. But the good thing is, it gets easier after the first day, and you have loads more smorgasbords in your future. Sweat out your toxins, get your blood flowing, repair some of the damage you've done, and work towards your next fat kid night. Check out my 'No Excuses Gym Motivation' post for more motivational tips.

Image courtesy of MindBodyGreen.com

Green Tea
Green Tea's detoxifying properties have links to weight reduction and fat burning, and they can fight bacteria, liver disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease(1). The antioxidants found in green tea, called catechins, scavenge for free radicals that can damage DNA and contribute to many diseases.



Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential water-soluble vitamin. Vitamin C has many functions in the body including the support of immunity, wound healing, healthy skin and bones, collagen formation and tissue growth and repair. Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant which helps detoxify or cleanse the body from harmful substances(2). Kale is an excellent source of vitamin C and can be baked as Kale Chips and used as a side dish or french fry substitute.


Positive Thinking
Not only will you be a pleasant person to hang around, but positive thinking can reduce stress and do away with coping habits such as drinking, smoking and over eating.


Clean Up
Replace your margarita with a SkinnyGirl Detox Face Mask. This product contains bentonite which helps to remove toxins from skin.



Sleep
Studies have shown that getting 7-8 hours of sufficient sleep improves our alertness, mood, and performance. Read 11 surprising health benefits of sleep.



Resources

No comments:

Post a Comment

Trending Right Now