IMAGE: Camarena/Image Source/Corbis
Unless you were born into a family obsessed with healthy eating, you’re likely to have experienced the jelat feeling ‒ feeling oily and greasy on the inside. At times like these, you feel guilty for having eaten so much.
Instead of languishing in guilt, try one of these four quickie detoxes; they’ll make you feel better in minutes!
TEAS
Pressed for time? Teas are a great way to clear your system and make you feel less oily. Tea leaves are power packed with antioxidants, with one estimate claiming tea has 10 times the antioxidants of fruits and vegetables.
There are numerous teas out there, but the rule of thumb is to stick with white and green teas as these give you the most antioxidants. If you’re confused about the type of tea leaves and their benefits, this guide might help.
FRUITS
It’s needless to say that fruits provide a great source of vitamins, and double up as a great detoxifier (which explains the juice cleanse fad). One thing I love about Singapore is how tropical fruits are so easily available all year round ‒ which means I can get a quick cleanse whenever I need.
The type of fruit you eat doesn’t really matter, but if you’re gunning for a quick detox pick pineapple or coconut. Pineapples contain bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down protein. Coconut water on the other hand, is thought to reduce sodium and restore the potassium levels in your system. Apart from giving your body a natural cleanse, they are pretty darn refreshing too!
DIY DETOX WATER
Forget the juice cleanse, this DIY detox water is a healthier way to clear your system. Detox water is a lighter and gentler version of your juice cleanse. Instead of squeezing a variety of fruits and vegetables into a terrible drink, you just have to fill a jug of water with power packed fruit (no squeezing required).
For obvious reasons, the type of fruit you choose will affect the effectiveness of your detox water. My weapon of choice is lemon or watermelon with mint leaves ‒ lemon helps to stimulate the digestive tract (making things move along faster) while watermelon contains the organic compound citrulline, an amino acid that helps blood circulation.
To make my detox water, I fill a big jug of water, cut the fruit into pieces, and throw in a couple of leaves ‒ viola. Detox on the way. If I feel like indulging myself a bit more, fruits from the berry families (strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries) are great as they also have strong antioxidant properties.