March 8, 2008 by Kavit Haria

How to prepare for a detox

This is part three of the detox series.

Photo from djloche

Although a great process for your health and wellness, a detox process can be extremely inspiring to yourself and the people around you, and makes you feel good about yourself. To enhance the experience for yourself and to get the best out of it, it’s important that you prepare yourself a few days prior to the detox. Here are five tips:

1. Observe your body

To me, a detox is all about observation and being able to observe how your body reacts to the progress you make as you work your way through your detox plan. 

There’s no specific guidelines as to how your body should react to your detox so endless reading of articles and journals can sometimes be frustrating when you can’t find when you’re looking for because its not there in the first place.  

The only guide is your body’s reaction and whenever you go on a detox, regardless of whether you’re doing it for the first time or the hundredth time, you’re body is different to mine so we may (or may not) have similar reactions.

If your detox involves making a dramatic change in your nutrition, this can sometimes trigger reactions within you. The simple advice here is to observe your body and the best time to start is before your detox begins so you can actually notice what happens.

2. Don’t binge before your detox

The common thinking with first-time detoxes is that “If I’m going on a detox next week, I must eat as much as possible these few days so I’m full next week!”

Unfortunately, the body doesn’t work that way and even if you binge and become full today, you’ll still be hungry next week. The point of a detox is to clean your body as it would normally be and so eating could be considered as doubling the work of your detox. As you get closer to your detox, take the time to be careful on what you eat.

3. Hydrate yourself continuously

It’s obvious that when you go on a detox you’re going to be limiting what you eat and for different types of detoxes the amount you eat can be lots to nothing so it’s likely you will feel dehydrated. Don’t wait till your thirsty to drink a glass of water.

Aim to drink a glass or two of water every hour your awake. If that’s not enough, drink more. The fact is, I don’t believe there’s a maximum amount of water you should drink. Simply drink to be hydrated and not the opposite. In fact, never let yourself get to a state of dehydration. Drinking water also makes you feel more fuller so it can help to put away your hunger or cravings. 

4. Simplify your foods before your detox

Your detox is going to be a really limited amount of foods than you’re normally accustomed to. For that reason, the best way to get ready for your detox is to simplify your food intake and the amount you eat a few days before your detox officially starts. Limit the number of ingredients you use in a meal. Limit the amount you make. Limit the amount you eat. Get ready to detox.

5. Avoid eating late at night

As humans we should have never learnt to eat late at night. It simply doesn’t aid digestion and body comfort as you go to sleep and during the night, but unfortunately we lose control of our body and let our cravings get the better of us.

The majority of time, people mistake hunger for fatigue and instead of getting some rest by going to sleep, they take out the snacks and start nibbling only to find that it goes on for way longer than they wanted it to. Then they go to sleep and are really uncomfortable.

As you prepare for your detox, avoid eating late at night. Instead, drink lots of water and get some rest. You’ll wake up feeling more refreshed, more hydrated.

6. Journal your journey

Journalling is one of the best techniques when it comes to cleansing - both your mind and your body. Get yourself a diary or notebook and daily keep track of your detox. Note down what you eat or drink and what time, how you’re waking up feeling and how you feel throughout the day. Also write down how your body is reacting and what emotions its triggering within you. It’s a great way to release emotions and feelings from your body that the detox can stir up.

 

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March 6, 2008 by Kavit Haria

How will you feel after a detox?

This is part two of the detox series.

Photo from leslieduss    

One of the biggest confusions in the natural health movement is the lack of understanding of the benefits of a nutrition or detox program and so I’d like to clear some of that confusion up by explaining here what you may feel after a body detox.

Remember, every body is different and so reacts differently to a detox but some of the things you will feel are similar and here I will explain them.

A detox is simply a cleansing program that cleans up a particular aspect of your body. A liver detox for example cleans up the toxins in the liver so that the liver can function properly and do a better job.

During the detox it is likely that you will feel tired and may exhibit other symptoms such as heightened body odor, headaches, increased urine coloration amongst other things and this will usually happen in the initial few days simply because your body is cleansing.

Remarkable things happen in your body (as well as your mind) once this initial period is over. The amazing intelligence present in every cell of the body and the wisdom of the body in its operation immediately becomes manifest.

After a detox, you will feel cleaner both physically and mentally. You may also feel more alert and energetic and you will feel better after digestion of food because the process has been better than when you’re insides were clogged. 

It’s important that you kick-start life after the detox with healthy and conscious eating. Choose your food wisely and try to adapt new simple habits to keep you healthy. For example, commit to drinking more water, eat a big salad with every meal, eat fruit at least 30 to 60 minutes before a meal and avoid fizzy drinks, snacking and junk food.

The real excitement and test of your body begins after your detox and after the cleanse is complete. But a simple detox doesn’t completely cleanse the body, it’s how you eat after that defines your body’s new path. 

Put simply, when the quality of the food coming into the body is of higher quality than the tissues which the body is made of, the body begins to discard the lower grade materials and tissues to make room for the superior materials which it uses to make new and healthier tissue.

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March 4, 2008 by Kavit Haria

The basics of a detox

This is part one of the detox series

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Photo from bethanyking   

Detoxification is the process of taking yourself on a program designed to purge the body of intoxicating or addictive substances and used as a first step in overcoming physiology or psychological addiction.

The human body is magical in its abilities to detoxify itself. When you stop taking a particular type of substance whether it’s smoking, alcohol or just junk or processed foods, your body will naturally get rid of it so long as the damage is not lethal.

There’s no doubt that detoxification can cause some side effects in the preliminary stages for some people. These may include things like becoming really sleepy or groggy, needing to excrete more than often, starting to get a fever or rash, etc. 

More often than not, these develop because the body is working to get rid of all the toxic in the body and need a way to get rid of them. The side effects usually last a very short period of time and once over, as long as you observe what you take in your body thereafter, will be likely to not happen again. 

We live in a society that is susceptible daily to hundreds of man made chemicals and processed foods and for this reason it is very easy for our body to get intoxicated with such substances which if not cleaned up within ourselves can produce symptoms within us that lead to illness. 

The bottom line is that a natural detox is great for boosting one’s well-being and you will be surprised at how in touch you are with your body and how you feel. 

Popular detoxification processes usually last from 3 days to 30 days. Anything under 3 days although helpful is not sufficient to help detoxify the body. To find the right time length of your detox, it is important to follow a detox plan that is already created or work to create your own with a health care professional. 

Your detox should fit into your daily routine without affecting your work and lifestyle, so plan it in advance and pick a period of ti me when you don’t have any social commitments or distractions that will interfere with your regimen. Starting on a weekend can be beneficial as you will have two days alone to plan your recipes and stock up on the right food for the week ahead.

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March 2, 2008 by Kavit Haria

New Series: Detox 101

 

Photo from Sauri   

Why do many people go on a detox?

Is there some underlying threat of becoming unhealthy?

Or do they do it because it’s a feel-good trend?

This is the introduction for a 6 part series on detoxification and cleansing.

Each person goes on a detox program for their own motivations and reasons. Some do it just to “clear the clutter” and start a new chapter. Others do it because they’re feeling unhealthy and looking for another option.

One of the underlying motivations for many (if not most) people going on a detox is that they want change in their body and their health. The forthcoming series on detox will look at the following things:

• The basics of a detox
• How will you feel after a detox?
• How to prepare for a detox
• Five types of natural detoxes you can do
• The popular liver cleanse
• How to do a three-day juice fast
• My experiences on a three-day juice fast
• How to break a fast and what to do after a detox

Keep an eye out on the next few posts, read them and participate in the comments section by sharing your thoughts. Feel free to stumble the posts and digg or delicious them too. 

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February 26, 2008 by Kavit Haria

Five Foods That Will Rejuvenate Your Body

Photo from threelayercake

You are what you eat is a common saying and it is very true. Eating unhealthy food will lead to low energy, lack of good health and illness. People get into unhealthy habits and then turn to fad diets that will lead to more despair in their lives. They don’t stick to their plan because they don’t see instant results and they return to unhealthy habits.

What you need is a plan that will keep you eating and drinking healthy. You need to follow that plan. You can still eat foods you like, but you need to begin to mix it up with what I like to call “rejuvenating foods” that will keep you at top health, keep your cells energised and prevent cell death.

Here are five foods that will rejuvenate your body:

- Avocados. These delicious fruits contain oleic acid which has shown to help in lowering cholesterol. Avocados are also a good source of potassium which is a mineral that helps regulate blood pressure.

- Ginger. Known to relieve digestive symptoms, ginger is great to take either as supplements or in your daily juice. I take a healthy portion of ginger in my daily apple, carrot and ginger juice.

- Berries. Berries are rich in vitamin C and anti-oxidants amongst other things. Vitamin C is used in blood circulation and anti-oxidants are important in neutralizing harmful free radicals in the body.

- Melons. I specifically like water melons and eat at least two bowls a day when they’re in season. Water melons, as well as obviously being water-rich, give us a lot of fluids that our cells need to perform.

- Garlic. Garlic has long been considered a herbal “wonder drug”, with a reputation in folklore for preventing everything from the common cold and flu to the plague!

Eating healthy and using these rejuvenating foods in your daily diet is also a great way to look younger than your age. 

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February 21, 2008 by Kavit Haria

Five ways to reduce lower back pain

Photo from I Are Rowell

Without doing a survey, I’d be happy to place a bet on lower back pain being one of the top 3 body problems the majority of people worldwide face. Even I have lower back pains from time to time. Just last week, I struggled with back pain for a few days and although there are many causes for it, there are also many ways to reduce your pain (and in some cases, totally get rid of it) without medication. 

Here are some common causes of back pain when I have been affected:

• Incorrect posture
• Not having your laptop or computer at an appropriate height
• Working long hours sitting at a table without exercise
• Not wrapped up properly when out in the cold

Of course, there are many more. Please share in the comments what you feel causes your lower back pain. In response, here are some ways to reduce (or get rid of) your lower back pain:

• Apply heat to your back. I like to sit or sleep with a hot water bottle when I have back pain.

• Immediately stop any strenuous activity you may be performing. If you’re working strenuously at a job, notify your manager as well so he/she is aware.

• Relieve the pressure on the sciatic nerve with correct postures. 

• Use proper back supports. 

• Lower back exercises should be performed daily. 

 

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February 18, 2008 by Kavit Haria

How to define your reachable health and wellness goal

Photo from dominikgolenia

Our health is something that can be measured when we’re striving to go from where we are to where we want to be. To first go through the process of achieving your goal, it’s important to define exactly what it is so you can be clear.

Firstly, what exactly is a goal? A goal is defined as a result to which you direct your energy for a period of time until the result is achieved. Goals can be either short term, intermediate term or long term and the timescale for your goal will be determined by how much change you want to make in your life. For example, a goal to become a body builder may be short or intermediate depending on where you currently are however a goal to have played 1,000 tennis games may take a few years and is a long term goal.

Setting a goal gives you direction, clarity and a result to look forward to. Think of it as dangling a carrot in front of you - and for that reason, goals are extremely important for any plan you set and any health change or improvement you wish to make.  In learning to define a health goal, I want to focus on ensuring the goal is clear, reachable, focused and exciting. If it meets these four things, I believe you will be able to move towards your goal successfully. Let’s look at these individually:

- Your health goal must be clear. State your goal clearly. If your goal is to lose weight, in which part of your body do you want to lose weight and how many pounds/stones do you want to lose? Clarity prods you on your path to create a strategy.

- Your goal must be reachable. Our goals also have to feel and be reachable for us because if we don’t meet up, we run the risk of tripping up and beating ourselves up. And we lose momentum, could end up as couch potatoes and run far from the goal.

- Your goal has to be focused. Be clearly focused on the goal you want to achieve. Lack of focus or too many choices leads to indecision and poor results.

- Your goal must be exciting. If the goal doesn’t motivate you to get up, energise you to get into action and get into momentum, then I don’t think it will take you a long way. Make sure your goal is exciting. 

Now you know this, go out and set your goal. Write it down. Stick it on your wall, put it on your computer. Be reminded of your goal and most importantly, take action on the strategy to achieve your goal.

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February 10, 2008 by Kavit Haria

10 reasons you should drink wheatgrass juice

Many health mavens swear by wheatgrass as a super food. A few months ago, I searched for real scientific proof to see whether it works and although there is little study, wheatgrass itself has proven itself with many health benefits.

Wheatgrass has antibiotic properties and is packed with chlorophyll as it is a plant. Chlorophyll in wheatgrass is about 70%, and will bring toxins stored in the cells into the bloodstream so they can be washed out of your system. Chlorophyll will arrest the growth and proliferation of the unfriendly bacteria. It produce an unfavorable environment for bacterial growth.

Here are ten reasons why you should drink wheatgrass juice.

1. Wheat grass only contains around 10-15 calories per teaspoon. It has no fat or cholesterol.

2. Wheatgrass is a highly nutritious whole food containing trace elements of every vitamin, mineral and amino acid for human nutrition.

3. Drinking Wheatgrass juice is a great way for you to increase your intake of leafy green vegetables.

4. The chlorophyll in wheatgrass also helps to purify the liver.

5. Wheatgrass is useful in treating constipation and keeping the bowels open.

6. Wheatgrass helps in rebuilding the blood stream so it can handle toxins going out of the body.

7. Wheatgrass is high in oxygen like all green plants that contain chlorophyll. The brain & all body tissues function at an optimal level in a highly oxygenated environment.

8. Wheatgrass helps with skin problems such as eczema or psoriasis.

9. Wheatgrass is an energiser for body and mind.

10. Wheatgrass is great for constipation and keeping the bowels open.

The fact is: A lot of people use wheatgrass and have improved body results. Whether it’s proven or not, I believe that it can do no harm and I am yet to come across any fatalities from wheatgrass side effects. So for now, it’s a winner!

 

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February 8, 2008 by Kavit Haria

5 reasons to go RAW!

Photo from yoshimov

There is a global consciousness around raw food and health that has been growing over the last 5 years in the West. It is something that has already been there in the East. For example, a lot of raw food is made in India, although the use of ground spices are used to add more flavour.

Even if you look in your own networks - you may know of at least one person who is on a raw food and health plan.  Here are five reasons why you may want to consider going raw:

1. Water-rich content is the best component in any diet. Water makes up a large part of our world, and so to in our body. Therefore it naturally makes sense that we should take in as much water as we can, and one of the best ways to do so is to eat a lot of fruit and vegetables. It’

s also good because it is much more better than processed and highly cooked foods.

2. Eat much more than you would of processed foods. The benefits of raw foods far outweigh that of processed foods and what you get out of it (which is very little). Raw food is pretty much all good for you so you won’t have to worry of loading your body with junk.

3. Eating raw has been shown to slow down the aging process. You’

ll feel better, have more energy and need less sleep. Bad breath and body odor go away. Eyes become brighter, voices more clear.

4. Spiritual.Eating raw helps one better tune in to the universal plan, and experience lots of synchronicity. Living food promotes clarity and higher consciousness.

5. Save time. Eating raw food and the creativity it brings out in you will over time lessen the amount of time you spend in the kitchen.

There you have five awesome reasons to consider going raw. If you’

re already eating raw foods, what are you learning? What made you go raw? Please share your thoughts…

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February 6, 2008 by Kavit Haria

Make February 14th A Healthy Valentines Day

Photo from wtlphotos 

I propose that together we make February 14th, 2008 our healthiest Valentines day yet.Let’s get rid of the excuses. Let’s forget the junk and begin to enjoy the quality time and nourishment with our friends, partners and loved ones by keeping our body in shape, more fitter, healthier and looking younger than ever before.

It’s a time to be original and work alone or with your partner to cook up a lovely dinner (or go out for a lovely dinner) that’s going to be very healthy, low carb and absolutely delicious. The overall effect: elegant, simplicity and elevated vitality.

What can you do if you’re staying at home? Plan out your meal in advance. If you’re cooking for the special him or her, work out in advance what you’ll make and how you’ll combine your foods. How will you keep it healthy, what will you have for appetizers and for dessert? Here are some interesting ideas for things you could prepare.

The best starter or appetizers is a big bowl of fresh salad ready to be prepared to your delight. Perhaps you could create your own mini-salad bar with lots of different varieties ready for your partner to put together the salad they want with the dressing they prefer. I also like to serve a selection of nuts including almonds, pistachios and cashews with my starters and appetizers. These are either lightly roasted or naturally raw. I avoid making them salty or sweet and prefer the raw taste. If you want to avoid the mini-salad bar idea, consider a simple and elegant Spinach and Strawberry salad. I absolutely love this. And finally remember that salad always has to be fresh - prepare it on the same day.

There are tons of ideas for healthy main meals. Just Google “healthy Valentines recipes” and you’ll find something to your taste. One of my favorite ideas is a Spanish-style beans. Although you could eat it with rice, I prefer not to mix my protein and carbohydrates so I prefer eating it with Quinoa. If you don’t know what Quinoa is, check it out because you’ll be glad you did. In simple, it is just like rice but extremely high in protein value.

So whatever you choose for your main course, choose healthily and enjoy the preparation. You don’t have to be great at it, you just have to get going with trying to prepare something you will all enjoy.Then, of course, it’s onto the desserts. Valentines is a great time for chocolates, ice-cream and other sweet delights, so what can you do that’s more healthy and will replace the cravings?

The best healthy dessert you could treat yourselves to is a bowl or two of mixed fruit salad - the beauty of this is that just like the mini-salad bar, you could create a mini-fruit bar. Get a selection of your favorite tropical or “romantic” fruits such as mangoes, papayas, variety of melons, plums, kiwis, etc and mix them as you wish and enjoy. If you really want something else in terms of dessert, why not have a spoon of ice-cream with your fruit?

You deserve to celebrate your love - that’s what Valentines day is all about. But remember, you don’t need to overeat, over-indulge and get unhealthy whilst doing so because that’s not celebrating your body’s love. Health is the most important gift one can give.

If you’re going to dine out instead of at home this Valentines day, here’s how to dine out healthily. 

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