Posted Jan 5, 2014
Nation Media Group
We all overdo it during the holidays, and the nonstop merriment can leave us feeling tired, sluggish, and quite often, a few pounds heavier.
If you have a generally healthy diet and lifestyle and only overindulge once a year, then go back to eating sensibly after the holiday season–festive excesses aren’t likely to have a long-term, damaging effect on your health or weight.
However, the short-term strain that too much rich food puts on your body can still leave you feeling bloated. The average holiday dinner with all the trimmings can contain over 950 calories; some lavish spreads can even be loaded with up to 3,000 calories.
You don’t have to fast for a fortnight or hit the gym with a vengeance on the first day of January to atone for all your festive indulgences. When the gatherings are finally over, there are a few sensible steps that you can take to put the spring back in your step and help you to burn off those pounds.
Try and avoid overly processed foods and instead opt for lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
* Water: Drink lots of water. Eight glasses a day will rehydrate your body as well as flush toxins from your liver and kidneys.
* Lemon: Lemons are packed with antioxidant vitamin C, which is great for the skin and for fighting disease-forming free radicals. Furthermore, this citrus fruit has an alkaline effect on the body, helping to restore the body’s pH balance and in the process supporting the immune system. Start your day with hot water and a slice of lemon to help cleanse your system.
* Ginger: If too much fatty food has caused problems for your digestive system, it may be worthwhile to add some ginger to your diet. Ginger is also high in antioxidants and is good for the immune system. To give your digestion a helping hand, try sipping on ginger tea or adding some freshly grated ginger to fruit or vegetable juice.
* Garlic: Garlic has long been known for its benefits to the heart, and this pungent food is also good at detoxifying the body. It is not only an antiviral, antibacterial, and antibiotic, but it also helps fight against toxins.
* Artichoke: If you have recently been overindulging in fatty foods, adding some steamed artichoke leaves to your meals is a great way to help get your body back on track. Artichokes are packed with antioxidants and fiber and can also help the body digest fatty foods.
* Beetroot: Not only is beetroot great for skin and hair, it can also help support liver detoxification, making it an ultimate detox food. To enjoy its benefits, try adding raw beetroot to salads or sipping on some beetroot juice.
For more info, log onto www.eatout.co.ke.
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