How to reduce the harm from sweets and alcohol? 7 rules for a quick detox

Dear reader, we present to you our beauty columnist Inessa Tsarkova!

Inessa is an active nutritionist, gastroenterologist, therapist, naturopath and aromatherapist, health coach, integrative medicine doctor with a holistic approach. And now he will share with us his knowledge in the field of both physical and mental health, nutrition and much more.

One day “starting from Monday” or “starting from next year” we begin to live differently: we drink water, eat the right foods, run in the morning, do daily exercises, apply techniques that will quickly reduce stress and tension. But sometimes a breakdown occurs when you suddenly want something really “harmful”. There is also our immediate circle: spouses, relatives, friends who “try to lead us astray from our chosen path”, “seduce” us with delicious treats or appeals to “sit down to company” or “raise a glass to our health”. birthday boy.” And then it is especially difficult to resist and resist. Often in such situations two harmful substances appear – sweets and alcohol. Today I will tell you how you can reduce the harm of both.

Inessa Tsarkova

The biggest discovery in health comes like this: water – It is a natural cure for many diseases.

F. Batmanghelidj, MD

Alcohol and sweets contribute to the rapid release of dopamine (the main motivation hormone) and can be addictive. It is not for nothing that people with a sweet tooth are equated with alcoholics. After all, an equally strong addiction can develop from sweets, and its effect on the body is no less harmful (read more about this in the article “Why you should not eat industrial sweets? Simple and quick recipes for healthy desserts”). Biologists from the University of California, led by Robert Lustig, were also convinced of this. Scientists have concluded that sugar affects the body no less than alcohol. This is because until recently sugar was not available in the quantities modern humans use. And a person does not have protective mechanisms that protect him from the negative consequences of excessive consumption of refined sugar, since it is not intended by nature.

Regular consumption of sugar and alcohol leads to chronic intoxication of the body and changes in the intestinal microflora. The latter also affects our desires and “preferences”, but they are determined not by our brain, but by the intestines, or rather the intestines, because 90% of serotonin is produced there. And serotonin is one of the main “joy” hormones. And it is responsible not only for a good mood and sleep quality, but also for sexual behavior and eating behavior.

How to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol and sugar on the body?

Of course, it is best to abandon them altogether. This may be possible if you find more environmentally friendly sources of dopamine (creativity, favorite things, laughter, art, music, nature, meditation). To increase dopamine levels, it is important to get enough sleep and reduce stress, move more, as well as be socially active and have positive interactions with people. To produce this important neurotransmitter and hormone, you need to fill your diet with foods that contain tyrosine (e.g., nuts, seeds, avocados, bananas, fish, an amino acid found in egg yolks) and reduce foods containing added sugar. .

All caffeinated beverages (black tea, green tea, coffee) can temporarily increase dopamine production, but then this level drops below normal, which can lead to caffeine addiction. In addition, these drinks have a diuretic effect and therefore frequent consumption causes dehydration.

If you still can’t resist, what should you do as an “ambulance” to eliminate the negative effects of sugar and alcohol? It turns out that the most effective way is to just drink water. Moreover, hot water will work fastest (38–40 degrees). I have already written about its healing effects in my article titled “How hot water helps maintain beauty and health.” After all, water can dissolve everything, reduce the concentration of harmful substances and the intensity of their effects. And with the help of water the body provides all metabolic processes. This means that if he has enough liquid, he can take everything he needs, neutralize the pest and remove the unnecessary. Dr. As Batmanghelidj writes in his famous book “Your Body Wants Water,” water is “the source of health from which all our diseases dissolve.”

It is important to control the amount of table salt in the diet to prevent water from lingering somewhere along the way and causing swelling. It is best to reduce it as much as possible in its pure form and replace it with natural sources: seaweed, fresh vegetables, garlic. Or healthy salt, such as Indian salt (made by heating Himalayan salt with herbs) or pink salt mined in the Himalayas where ancient seas dried up.

7 rules for a quick detox

My dear readers, remember the seven rules to eliminate the consequences that may occur after eating sweets or drinking alcohol.

1. hot water. Moreover, you should not wait for thirst to appear, because, as the same medical doctor Batmanghelidj writes, “waiting for thirst to begin means dying early in pain”, but it is better to plan your water intake by the hour. Set reminders for yourself. Its amount should be at least 1.5-2 liters (depending on your weight and body condition). For water to work properly, you need to drink small portions throughout the day.

2. natural essential oils. Such oils can be consumed orally, added to water and food, applied to the skin in the protrusion of organs and inhaled through the palms (in the form of so-called dry inhalation). Essential oils can support and enhance natural detoxification processes, improving the filtration functions of major organs (liver, kidneys, large intestine, lungs and skin). These are primarily the essential oils of lemon, cumin, fennel, rosemary and geranium leaves, juniper, coriander, mint, ginger and tangerine peel.

3. sorbents. For example, psyllium (psyllium husk). You need to dilute a teaspoon of sorbent in a glass of warm water and drink it on an empty stomach at night and in the morning, immediately after the “harmful” product.

4. diet transformation. There are a few points here.

– You should add more crude fiber, which will slow down the absorption of simple sugars and fill the stomach, preventing you from overeating. It is also non-digestible and helps keep blood sugar levels at lower levels.

— Freshly squeezed vegetable juices (suppliers of enzymes and vitamins) will be very helpful.

— It would be a good idea to consume lean foods for a day or two, excluding animal products and adding seeds, legumes, cruciferous vegetables and algae.

— It’s even better to take a meal break during the day. And if this is difficult for you, you can skip a meal or two. As a result, as soon as the body stops external nutrition, it goes into active cleansing mode (and, if necessary, also includes endogenous nutrition with its internal reserves).

— Use bitterness and spices (to activate bile flow and as a natural antiseptic). For example, chew cloves or eat 1/3 teaspoon of ground cloves.

— Take 1/2 teaspoon of wormwood powder or other wild herbs that activate detoxification processes.

5. Diaphragmatic breathing, self-massage and tapping, jumping or shaking, contrast shower. All of these methods are suitable for activating the lymphatic system, our natural sewage system.

6. Rising feet. Such procedures with the addition of soda, salt and natural essential oils will perfectly help in detoxification of the body.

7. Walk in the fresh air. Moreover, it is most effective to do this quickly, until sweat and healthy shortness of breath appear.

And to those friends and family who like to “seduce” you and encourage you to eat the foods you have decided to give up, be quick to tell them that you are on a diet or are currently on a health-promoting nutritional protocol and cannot eat. Or drink this.

My dear readers, only you can truly care for your body with love and care. For this reason, it is important to be aware of and always remember the saying “There are many tastes, but health is only one”.