It’s been a week since Diwali and it’s time to get back to routine. So, here’s how you should detox from all sweet and puri halwa binging and also beat the pollution. Sunday Pioneer tells you how to get back to being fit and healthy
EAT HEAlTHY, DRINK HEAlTHY
Festival season can really play havoc with our looks, what with late nights, lack of sleep, over indulgence on food, not to mention the vagaries of the weather. What do we do about those tired and puffy eyes, dehydrated skin from too much make-up, or bad hair daysIJ These signs tell us that its time to detox to feel and look good. Here are a few detox tips:
Give up coffee & drink green tea: Regularly drinking green tea is said to help in losing weight. It increases fat oxidation and eliminates excess levels of water from the body. Also, make sure to drink more water. Have the juice of a lemon with a glass of warm water first thing in the morning. This helps to flush the system. Chamomile tea is available as tea-bags. It helps to induce relaxation and calms the nerves.
Add spices to tea: Add Ginger, Cardamon, Cinnamon and pepper in your tea. Ginger boiled in water can be had as ginger tea. Ginger tea is advised after meals for digestion. It also reduces inflammation.
Warm bath: Bath salts, added to bath water, can help to remove fatigue and induce relaxation. You can add five drops of an essential oil to pure olive oil and then add it to the water along with salt. Cinnamon oil relieves fatigue and muscular tension, while lavender induces relaxation. Rose oil is said to have a calming effect on the mind. Essential oils should not be used by themselves.
Eyecare: Excess fluid around eyes can be a result of alcohol and binging during parties. Gently tapping the skin around eyes with the finger tips can sometimes help the collected fluid to drain away. Work from the inner eye and go towards the temples. Grated potatoes or potato juice, applied around the eyes also helps to reduce puffy eyes. So do tea bags. Steep them in hot water; then cool them and use them as eye pads.
Skincare: Ingredients like honey, aloe vera, cucumber and rose water help to tone the skin, moisturise it and relieve skin fatigue. These may applied on the skin and washed off with plain water after 20 minutes. For oily, combination and acne-prone skins, add 10 drops of sandalwood essential oil to 100 ml of rose water, to make a protective and refreshing skin tonic. Wipe the face with it, using cotton wool.
Intake fruits and juices: Include raw, natural foods and fresh fruit and vegetable juices. Not only do they detoxify the system by promoting the elimination of wastes, but also bring about a sense of well being and vitality. Include fresh fruits and lightly cooked vegetables, unprocessed cereals, sprouted grains, etc .
Massage: Go for a deep tissue massage. It will help to release toxins due to massage on pressure points.
(The article is written by beauty expert Shahnaz Husain)
EXHAlE!
Alarming air and pollution in Delhi has caused havoc on health of people and children are main victims of this as hazardous chemicals affect their immune system very badly.
“Alarming increase in air pollution attacks the respiratory system, and can alter the immune system. Moreover higher level of carbon monoxide directly hits the cardiovascular system, particularly among children. Immune health can help in tackling all these problems”, Dr. Avneet Kaur, Sr Consultant Neonatology Dept, Apollo Cradle Hospital says.
According to studies conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), one in five adults and one in four children in the national capital suffered from upper respiratory diseases, and that these numbers were on an upward trend. Other metro and big cities with industrial clusters are facing the similar challenge. Children’s health has become a major concern for all.
Hence, it is important to ensure that the air we breathe is pure. Air purifier companies tells you that while the industry is still in its nascent stage,, each year more and more people are becoming aware that there is need to make their homes safe.
“Though the market is still small what is important to note is that each year the quality of air is going down. Also, we spent at least 15-18 hour indoors. Having an air purifier which cleans the air five times over in 24 hours will go a long way to keep a lot of respiratory problems at bay,” Girish Bapat, Blueair director West and South Asia region opines.
He also tells you that the sales peak around October till end of January since that is the time when the smog is at peak in cities in North India. But there is still a long way to go before people realise the damage air pollution is causing. Moreso, in the wake of the present smog situation in the Capital.