You may be all too aware of that feeling after a weekend, week, or maybe a whole season of full-on gluttony, when you want to do anything possible to cleanse your body of every unhealthy thing you put it through. So you look for the perfect cleanse or detox, to get back on track, but frankly, some of them look insane! Drink nothing but juice for seven days?! Cut out everything with a taste for a month?!
If your discipline was made for these extreme detoxes, then, by all means, go forth and reap the healthy rewards. But, if your discipline is lacking and you still want to live a normal life, there are other options that can help you slowly erase a dark period of bad food and unhealthy habits. Keep reading for some simple ways that you can turn back the clock (almost) on bad eating.
Take ACV Shots
The scientific jury may still be out on the real benefits of drinking apple cider vinegar or ACV, but everyone and their mothers have long shared their stories about all the wonders ACV has done for their bodies. Some of the benefits of drinking ACV with water once a day include, reducing inflammation and pain in the joints, improving the bacteria in the stomach to improve digestion and ease stomach problems, and reducing cholesterol.
And for weight loss, people who drink ACV with water notice reduced appetites which helped them to keep weight off when they made ACV a part of their daily routines. In part, this is due to claims that ACV can help to stabilize blood sugar levels so people don’t experience extreme cravings throughout the day.
To reap the most benefits out of apple cider vinegar, you can either use it regularly as a topping for your salads, or vegetables. You can also dilute 1 tablespoon of ACV in a large glass of water once a day. You should be careful not to consume ACV alone, as it is highly acidic and can harm your esophagus and the lining of your stomach.
Add Some Alkaline Water to Your Day
Alkaline water and anything high in alkaline has long been touted as a natural way to detox the body and improve health. Celebrities and herbal doctors like Dr. Sebi have shared their experiences with eating a diet high in alkaline, which is said to reduce the risk for diseases, and improve cell hydration.
Why do you need alkaline in the first place you ask? Well, according to the firm believers (although scientific studies have been slow to back up any claims) like Dr. Sebi, alkaline helps to reduce the acidity of the blood. You take in acid through the things we eat, like vinegar (yes, ACV too), coffee, and…
…even from air pollution and chemicals). So, drinking alkaline water is said to bring the pH of blood closer to that of alkaline, making your body less likely to support cancer cells, and other chronic diseases.
For your simple detox, drinking plenty of alkaline water throughout the day over time can help to increase the flow of oxygen in your bloodstream, helping you feel more energized, boost your metabolism, and in turn, help you keep off excess pounds. This simple detox is not one that you’ll notice immediately, but the benefits can be long-lasting, and will definitely help to undue any unhealthy activities you’ve put your body through.
Break Your Fast Later
When you’ve fallen off the wagon with your diet, you’ve likely raised your blood sugar levels to a new high, which can send you down a vicious cycle of overeating and craving more carbs and sweets. One simple way to reset your blood sugar levels is toseem eat your first meal of the day later than usual. This is part of the trick behind Intermittent Fasting (or IT Fasting), where you only eat during a small window (usually during 8-10 hours) each day. But if you’re not ready to go full on into IT Fasting mode, you can get short-term benefits by eating breakfast later— about 12 hours since your last meal should do the trick.
The point of the delayed meal is to help your blood sugar levels return to normal so the same will be true of your appetite and cravings. If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor about IT Fasting before giving this option a try. Faster Beware: you may get a little “hangry” from this quick detox, but just remember why you started!
Infuse your Water with Citrus
Besides alkaline water, you can also use your everyday water to help you combat that bloated feeling after a period of eating and drinking everything the light touches. Adding fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges to your water can help you flush out some excess water that your body may be holding onto thanks to carbs and alcohol. The reason this works to debloat your belly is because citrus fruits contain an antioxidant called limonene, which helps your liver flush out toxins from your body.
A bad night or weekend of gluttony doesn’t have to be the end of your health and fitness dreams. Simply get back on the good foot with the very next meal, and use some of the tricks above for an extra push back in the right direction.
Sharita Jennings is a fitness and travel enthusiast and creator of Get Fit Like That, LLC. She is a health policy attorney and ACE certified group fitness instructor and fitness nutrition specialist. She provides online fitness plans and leads group fitness classes in Washington DC. Check out her fitness tips and workouts at GetFitLikeThat.com.