The New Year is approaching and with it come the promises we are making at that time to take on a healthier life. At this time, many people are considering starting a new diet that is appropriate for this, which reflects on the market. For example, revenue from cold pressed juices in 2017 was estimated at a staggering $ 4.3 billion.
Detox diets are made for the purpose of purifying our body of various toxins, including:
- Restricting certain foods
- starvation
- Adding juices and other beverages as a source of vitamins and minerals
Although purification with the consumption of many juices is a popular form of detoxification, there are other convenient ways to achieve good health results:
Seasonal cooking!
Take for example roasted asparagus in spring, apple pie in late summer and fall, carrots and potatoes in winter. But because everything is now available year-round in stores, because of imports from around the world, many people do not understand its importance.
Seasonal eating is one of the healthiest things you can afford. Seasonal foods are more full of nutrients because they are fresh and unripe. When grown in their natural environment, they grow to their full health potential and are thus more beneficial to us.
It’s natural to ask for more fruits and vegetables when it’s warm outside, and in the winter we want heavier, warmer dinner recipes that typically contain root vegetables, cereals or animal products.
Keep in mind that off-season healthy food recipes are also a huge burden on the environment. It takes a lot of resources to grow greenhouse tomatoes in January or transport them around the world.
Therefore, off-season foods in the store may have come from the other end of the world or have been subjected to other unreasonable cultivation practices, such as genetic modification or chemical spraying for greater yield. (Note that buying produce from a local organic farm will ensure that you get the highest quality food for the season while supporting the local economy.)
Creating a list of fruits and vegetables, like this one, can also help you make a seasonal meal plan.
List of seasonal fruits
Spring
- Apricots
- Cherries
- Lime
- Mango
- Oranges
- Pineapple
- Berries
Summer
- Apricots
- Blueberries
- Black currant
- Blackberries
- Berries
- Melon
- Figs
- Grapefruit
- Nectarines
- Peaches
- Passion fruit
- Plums
- Raspberries
- Tomatoes
- Watermelon
Autumn
- Blackberries
- Cactus fruit
- Apples
- Grapes
- Passion fruit
- Pear
- Pineapple
- pomegranate
- WinterQuince
- Pumpkin
- Mandarins
- Tuyere
- Grapefruit
- Kiwi
- Oranges
- Pomelo
- Bananas
List of seasonal vegetables
Spring
- Artichoke
- Asparagus
- Green beans
- Broccoli
- Fresh onion
- Dill
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Radishes
- Mushrooms
- Pea pods
- Kiselets
- Squash
Summer
- Beetroot
- Maize
- Cucumbers
- Eggplant
- Garlic
- Lettuce
- Okra
- Peas
- Peppers
- Chilies
- Potatoes
- Radishes
- Zucchini
- Tomatoes
Autumn
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cauliflower
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Artichoke
- Alabash
- Mushrooms
- Peppers
- Eggplant
- Pumpkin
- Sweet potatoes
- Turnip
Winter
- Brussels sprouts
- Chestnuts
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Via
- Squash
- Potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Turnip
- . Ripe beans
Additionally
Eggs are “in season” during the warmer periods of the year, when the days are longest. They are still available during the winter months, though they will naturally decrease as the days shorten. However, it is common practice for farmers to use artificial light to increase egg production, but this certainly affects the natural laying and resting cycles of chickens.
In nature, cows and goats usually mate throughout the year, which makes dairy products available throughout the year. If you buy local produce, farmers’ practices will vary depending on the farming conditions, so it is best to consult with them.
What exactly is detox?
To decipher this term, it is important to first understand that detoxification is a natural, primary bodily function. Beginning in the liver, the body filters approximately 1.4 liters of blood every minute, processing and neutralizing toxic substances. , so that they can be released outside the body, reducing the danger to our health. Do you know that the liver saves us from certain death every hour. There are so many toxic substances that we come across every moment.
Toxins are everywhere and the amount that our bodies need to sift through every day is increasing. From alcohol and cigarettes to pollution of the atmosphere and pesticides, toxins have their effects. There are two main types of toxins:
- endogenous that are created as natural by-products of metabolic processes
- Exogenous, which include environmental input, such as chemicals and heavy metals
Detox works to better support the body’s natural purification process – over a period of time – by reducing the amount of toxins consumed and providing key nutrients.
Proper detox improves overall health, with various mental and physical benefits. When done effectively, detox reduces the body’s toxic load, but also provides your body with everything you need to naturally and optimally eliminate toxins.
In conclusion
Fresh is better! No scientific study is needed to tell us that eating well ripened, freshly sliced red tomatoes is radically different from the pale hard tomatoes we buy from Super in mid-December.
So, perhaps one of the biggest tangible benefits of eating during the season is that you save money on food. When you buy what is in season, you buy food that is in the midst of offering it and costs less for farmers and distribution companies to harvest and get to your grocery store. It may seem simple, but it’s one of those things that a lot of us don’t pay attention to when shopping.
This is a time when a well-planned seasonal cleansing can be very beneficial for our health. Planning a detox program around seasonal transitions allows us to remove harmful toxins from our body. Seasonal detox can also restore natural vitality by consuming whole unprocessed foods straight from Mother Nature which can help reset our digestive system rhythms, sleep patterns and more. Essentially, seasonal detoxification helps us to harmonize with the rhythms of the natural world.
However, before starting any detox, it is very important to consider the possible side effects. See below how.
Safety and side effects
A serious calorie restriction
Some detox diets recommend fasting or severe calorie restriction.
Short-term starvation and reduced calorie intake can lead to:
- fatigue
- irritability
- bad breath
Long-term starvation can lead to:
- lack of energy, vitamins and minerals
- electrolyte imbalance
- even to death
In addition, methods for colon cleansing, sometimes recommended during detoxification, can cause:
- dehydration
- cramps
- bloating
- nausea
- vomiting
Overdose
Some detox diets may present a risk of overdose with supplements, laxatives, diuretics and even water.
There is a lack of regulation and monitoring in the detox industry and many detox foods and supplements may have no scientific basis. In the worst cases, the labels of the detox ingredients may be inaccurate. This can increase the risk of overdose, which can lead to serious and even fatal consequences.
Some people should not start any regimen of detoxification or calorie restriction without first consulting a doctor. People at risk include:
- children
- adolescents
- adults suffering from anorexia
- pregnant or breastfeeding women
- People who have blood sugar problems, such as diabetes or an eating disorder