A Comprehensive Pre-bridal Detox To Cleanse Your System

If you're planning to get hitched anytime soon, you may wonder about the foods you must avoid as well as consume, prior to your big day. On further thought, it wouldn't be such a bad idea to cleanse the body with a detox maybe? Flush out those unhealthy toxins and promote holistic health with clearer skin, lustrous hair and overall physical well-being. In order to avail the benefits of this process, we spoke to Dr Geetika Chopra, Health consultant and Nutritionist, Magic Dietitian and Dr Shikha Nehru Sharma, Nutri-Health Systems Pvt. Ltd, who impart their expertise on what to include in your pre-bridal detox plate:

ALOE VERA

Anciently known as 'The Plant Of Immortality', aloe vera can greatly support digestion, detoxification and renewal. You could add aloe vera concentrate to a glass of water in the morning or to your berry smoothies or juices. Propelling the digestive system and ensuring healthy bowel movements, it makes sure to ridden the body of the unwanted toxins. The vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants present in this succulent, aid the liver, kidneys and detox organs to function optimally.

AMLA JUICE

Amla, the Indian gooseberry, is undeniably a powerhouse of nutrients. The alkaline nature of amla helps in clearing and strengthening the digestive system, supporting liver functions and consequently flushing toxins out from the body.

GREEN TEA (OR HERBAL TEA)

Apart from clearing up blemishes, enhancing immune function and increasing fat burning; adding daily servings of green tea to ones diet is a simple yet effective way to flush out harmful toxins, by increasing fluid intake.

CRUCIFEROUS AND LEAFY VEGGIES

Roughage, fibre and other essentials nutrients present in vegetables, aid digestion and overall well-being. Constituted of phytochemical, they contain the potential to regulate hormones, stimulate the immune system, and prevent damage to our body's cells. Cruciferous veggies such as sprouts, broccoli and cabbage have sulforaphane and glutathione, making them ultimate detox foods.

FRUITS

Citrus fruits such as orange, lime, lemon and grapefruit consist of a variety of vitamins and minerals, all of which provide the body with the much needed anti-oxidants to detox. Lemon has an alkaline affect on the body and helps regulate the body's pH balance. Fruits such as beets, apples and carrots also satisfy similar purposes and are advisable for daily consumption in specific portions. Beetroot, recently hailed as a superfood, has high amounts of magnesium, iron, and vitamin C, and propels liver detoxification.Carrots are high in plant-flavonoids and beta-carotene, which stimulate and support liver functioning. Apples contain high levels of pectin, a chemical that helps the body cleanse and release toxins from the digestive tract. With fewer toxins in the digestive tract, the liver can better manage its toxin load, being able to better cleanse the rest of the body.

AVOCADO

Rich in Vitamin A, B-6, B-12, D, E and K, calcium, potassium, zinc, and the likes, avocados naturally care for the liver, improve digestion, promote general health, and avoid a probable toxic buildup in the body.

TURMERIC

Preparing a turmeric detox drink for the morning is highly beneficial in cleansing the system. Besides popularly being known for its antiseptic benefits, turmeric water aids weight loss and digestion, alongside being healthy for the liver. Turmeric is an anti-oxidant and has anti-inflammatory benefits as well.

GARLIC

An antiviral, antibacterial and antibiotic, garlic also fulfils detoxifying benefits with the help of a chemical called selenium. Moreover, the presence of a chemical called allicin, promotes the production of white blood cells which helps fight toxins. The excessive amounts of Vitamin C helps fight the free radicals in the bloodstream, and shields the liver too.

GINGER

Give your digestion a helping hand and boost your immune system by adding ginger to your diet. Due to the presence of a gamut of anti-oxidants, ginger is particularly handy when consumed post excessive alcohol consumption or fatty foods.

WALNUTS

High in the amino acid arginine, walnuts assist the liver in detoxifying ammonia. They’re high in glutathione and omega-3 fatty acids, which all provide support to natural liver cleansing.

For those of you looking to give your system a break with a natural cleanse, you need not look any further.