Starting the new year with a detox is a great way to hit the reset button on your health.
By Corey Lea, Living Well Farmers Market
Wow, it’s been a roller- coaster ride during the last almost two years of this COVID-19 pandemic! There’s been plenty of eating and drinking, which have us a few pounds heavier and feeling a little more sluggish and lethargic than ever. With that, it’s time to think about renewing and refreshing our bodies to get back to normal and get out of the proverbial funk we’ve been in. The only thing is, most of us don’t know where to start.
A detox or cleanse is a great way of hitting the reset button. Think of your body as a machine; what you put in is exactly what you get out. If you put regular gas in a high-performance vehicle, over a few months you will notice a subtle decline in its performance and its inability to move like it once did. By adding high-octane fuel back to the vehicle, it will slowly start to regain its ability to perform to its best ability. If you imagine your body as the vehicle and the food you eat and the things you drink as the fuel, it’s going to act pretty much in the same fashion.
But before drastically changing your diet, it’s always good to speak with your physician or other dietary professional! Consider even looking into having a food allergy panel done to see if something is “clogging your engine.” This is also wise if you are overweight or have other major health issues in order to make certain that you are making the best, safest decision for your body. Remember: what works for your co-worker or neighbors might not be the best for you.
The Daniel’s Fast
It’s important to note that during a detox or cleanse, you are flushing out the bad stuff and giving your body a “tune-up” with the right stuff. In this case it’s always good to consider what kind of food and drinks you put in. In my household, we do the Daniel’s Fast at the beginning of each year for three weeks. This might not be for everyone, but it provides us with a great cleanse of everything from the holidays. Even though this is not technically a detox it does act in the same way as we regiment our eating habits to healthy foods and drinks to reset our body. We cut out dairy, sugar, all meats, just about everything processed, and any alcohol from our diets… Like I said, it’s not for everyone. We replace those with all the berries, nuts, beans, fruits, and vegetables you can eat.
So, why is this important? It actually serves many purposes. Your body is constantly detoxing, but if you give it some help, you can feel more refreshed and balanced. Cleansing also reduces inflammation throughout your body. Yep, all those aching joint pains and sore muscles go away, skin clears and tightens, sleep is improved, and hormone levels are balanced. Most importantly it clears your mind, reducing stress and anxiety levels, and increases clarity of thought.
At Living Well Farmers Market we have great choices to help guide you through this process. Some foods and drinks to consider when you start your detox or cleanse are ginger, beets, green tea, fresh fruit, fresh greens, and many more. Our staff can help point you in the right direction or even give you a suggestion or two. Come support our local vendors and farmers to provide you with the right ammo to help you “rev up” your body for 2022!
Living Well Farmers Market is located at 400 Buford Hwy., Suite 1102, at Suwanee Town Center. For more information, visit LivingWellGa.com.
