Post-CNY Detox Plan Just for Mums

Chap Goh Mei is here, which also means Chinese New Year celebrations have come to an end. Or at least for this year. You may have eaten, drank and celebrated a little too hard over the past 15 days. And now you may be feeling sluggish from a long stretch of continuous eating of delicious foods and sweets. Don't worry, mums. It's not just you. We feel it, too! So, perhaps it’s time for a week-long detox to clear things out. What Detox Actually Means Detox is a buzzword we hear a lot of these days, but it doesn’t mean what you think it does. With a healthy and functioning liver, your body is able to flush out any 'toxins' on its own just fine without any help for you. Modern detox tips don't actually detox your body in the scientific sense. However, they do help you replenish lost nutrients, improve digestion, energise the body and boost your health. In Traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, detox involves restoring or re-balancing your chi (life energy). Which helps balance out your yin and yang for better health and wellbeing. But more on that later. While you may not be able to completely undo the damage of decadent eating and social drinking of the previous 15 days, there is a way for you make yourself feel a little bit better. Here are some 'detox' tips to help get you up and running again. Rehydrate Water is touted as a cure-all for all of life’s many ailments. But when we talk about hydration, many people miss the mark. Have you ever downed litres of water all day only to feel absolutely no different? Or perhaps even worse? That’s because you may need some extra help (in the form of electrolytes). Electrolytes are often recommended for those suffering from extreme risk of dehydration (sweating, vomiting, diarrhoea, heat exposure). But they can also benefit regular people. Electrolytes, or more specifically isotonic drinks, not only aids you hydrate faster, but also helps you stay to stay as such longer. Some good electrolyte-rich water includes coconut water, lemon water, and good old Hundred Plus. Re-align Your Chi According to TCM principles, the food we eat contains yang and yin energy (or hot and cold). When any one of these energies accumulate in the body, it creates imbalances. Overeating (as we all tend to do during holidays like Chinese New Year), also creates stagnant Chi, resulting in bloating, lethargy, indigestion, depression and mood swings. There are plenty of restorative herbs, concoctions and practices that are meant to balance out your chi anytime it’s thrown out of balance. Acupuncture, massage, and of course, herbal teas. Goji berry for instance, nourishes both yang and yin energy in the body. A good all-purpose medicinal detox tea would include: Chinese brown sugar, red jujubes, astragalus, fresh mint, dried tangerine peels, and a piece of dried sour plum. Steep in boiling water for ten minutes and serve with goji berries. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Here are some ways to combat symptoms when your body is suffering from either too much yang or yin energy. Excess Yang Eating too much protein-rich foods or foods that have been deep-fried, roasted, grilled or barbequed, accumulates excess yang energy in the body. This causes heatiness, restlessness, headaches, anxiety, insomnia, sore throat, and even bad temper. To combat these symptoms, opt for yin-rich herbal teas like green tea, mint, chamomile, lemon balm, hibiscus, rose hip and chrysanthemum. Excess Yin Excess yin on the other hand is created by eating too many carbs, raw veggies and fruits, or foods that have been boiled or steamed. Symptoms of excess yin energy include cold hands and feet, lethargy, poor blood circulation, runny nose, aching joints and pale complexion. To combat these symptoms, opt for yang-rich herbal teas like black tea, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, jasmine, anise and rose buds. *Warning: some herbal teas are not safe for pregnant mothers. Feed Your Gut After a heavy night of eating and drinking it’s also important to eat lots or pre- and probiotics. These both feed and replenish the good bacteria in your gut. Helping you digest food better, improve cognitive function, and even boost your mood. Moreover, taking in extra probiotics may help stop any initial symptoms of food poisoning or gastric upset that you may experience. This goes hand-in-hand with replenishing your fibre intake, which are food for the good bacteria in your intestines. According to TCM, fermented foods are also good for promoting chi balance. Things like miso, kimchi, tempeh and kombucha are great probiotic foods for this purpose. Get On a Juice Cleanse We’re not talking about liquid diets here, just a few green smoothies or power juices throughout the week along with your usual diet of balanced foods. If you want to be really trendy, immunity shots are all the rage now. These typically include oranges, lemons, turmeric, ginger and black pepper (which helps your body better absorb curcumin in the turmeric). Immunity shots can greatly reduce inflammation, helping keep allergies, mood disorders, weight gain and infections at bay. Turmeric and ginger also help boost liver health, potentially facilitating the detox process from all the alcohol you may have consumed over CNY. According to TCM, turmeric and ginger are also yang-rich, chi-boosting foods, helping move any stagnant or blocked chi that may be trapped in the body. Get Some Sun TCM isn’t the only practice to promote nature therapy. Science backs this up by saying that the body benefits a lot from getting plenty of sunshine and fresh air. Not only does spending time in nature calm your mood, it can improve sleep, alleviate depression, boost immunity and even make you happier. Exercising outdoors gives you the added benefit of physical activity naturally. Just ensure to use plenty of sunscreen. If you’re a fan of traditional healing practices, you can also take up Tai Chi or Qi Gong and perform the poses and movements in the garden. According to TCM, these practices help ensure smooth flow of your chi. Ensuring better health and wellbeing throughout. Heal Your Body with These Detox Tips These detox tips focus on restorative at-home remedies that are meant to help you feel better after Chinese New Year festivities. After all, after days of heavy eating and drinking, you’re bound to feel a little worse for wear. However, even if you don’t follow any of them, or do any other elaborate detox rituals, chances are your body has already begun healing itself. But it doesn't hurt to help speed things along. Especially when you’re cooperating with your body and giving it the TLC it needs to perform at maximum capacity. As long as you maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep, your body is already well equipped for its post-CNY detox journey. Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner. For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!

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