Detox

For many people Christmas and New Year can be a toxic time both physically and emotionally. Not only do we have to cope with the build up to the festivities and some of the stresses that come with family gatherings but we also load our systems with quantities of toxic food and alcohol and perhaps sleep less than we should. Little wonder come early January many people feel they need a detox.

 

The idea of detox or removing toxic substances from our bodies is nothing new, indeed many of the religious fasts served this purpose well, and many dog owners realise the benefits of giving their animals one day a week with only water. But for many city dwellers who are exposed to pollution and unhealthy dietary habits detox becomes more important and can be viewed as a way of resetting the body and its defense mechanisms.

 

Of course a huge health industry has grown up around the concept of detox and Ukraine is not alone in offering some very expensive resort spa’s in which to offload both your toxins and your wallet. Luckily this country also offers other marvelous ways to detox which will not leave you penniless. Firstly get out of the city and into the wonderful mountain air, the Carpathians are ever more accessible both by train and air and we always try and go even for a few days after the New Year. Excercising in crisp mountain air both stimulates our lungs and clears them of pollutants, our muscles and our hearts, and for those that don’t want to ski or snowboard there are plenty of guides from most hotels that will take you along spectacular frozen river beds and into the hills.

 

Its important to wash toxins from our bowel and kidneys and nothing serves better than at least 3 litres of clear mountain water each day. Because our livers breakdown many toxic materials it is good to try and rest them after the festive break so only a minimal amount of alcohol - or perferably none is recommended - as is the avoidance of all foods with additives. Perhaps this is where some small village hotels are brilliant as most of their food is locally sourced and free from additives. Local banush - a kind of cross between polenta and porridge again helps to absorb and remove bowel toxins. Herbal teas from the mountains and compotes are good but try to completely avoid sugar during your detox - if not for the rest of life.. Its part time avoidance will help to re-sensitise your pancreas and make it work more efficiently preventing diabetes.

 

Diet should be light and contain fresh juices which not only absorb toxins but also contain important trace elements. Home made yoghurts and kefir help to place beneficial bacteria in our bowel and are always recommended after antibiotics and indeed as a regular part of our diet. Having a day without food stimulates our liver to break down stored fat to supply energy and maintains its healthy function. Its best to try and avoid protein overload during a detox and thus heavy meat consumption should be minimalised to that one special outdoor forest shashlik in the freezing mountain air!

 

Many people correctly place great faith in the detox effects of saunas, and I think this is true as it helps the body and skin eliminate many toxins through sweating, it also helps strained muscles. However for those with cardiac problems saunas are in general best avoided.The habit of plunging into cold water - or even rolling in fresh snow - afterwards seems to be without health risk and is said to stimulate the circulation. Equally jacuzzi’s are good for stained muscles and even better if outdoors with falling snow!

 

It would be easy to view detox as a punishment and that would be to entirely miss the point. Detox should be enjoyable and that enjoyment is very important in recharging the emotional drain of the festivities and its perhaps in offering some novel diet and lots of fresh air and beauty, and family time that the non-spa detox really wins.

Sleep is of course a great restorative and regenerates our neurochemicals and lets us relax, also try and sleep in a colder room letting in some mountain air before sleep which will help combat the effects of many overheated city apartments. In detox a minimum of eight hours sleep each night is recommended so that natural dream cycles can be completed. Whilst most Slavs grew up sleeping on trains many of us find it less easy so if you are going to detox far away in Ukraine perhaps think about how you will get there and although I like the train and its sense of adventure I find the Embraer jet a little more relaxing!

 

The good news about detox is that sex is absolutely recommended! The last few years have produced some interesting research showing that a regular sex life will make you appear some ten years younger at the age of fifty. It is now understood that both male and female orgasm releases a complex but very beneficial cocktail of specific hormones into our systems that have particular benefits on our metabolism, skin and psychology.

 

I haven’t written much about that famous institution the sanatorium. My only experience is being nearly killed by a masseuse in Kharkiv, drinking some of the foulest water ever in Truskavets and being covered in mud in Crimea - which I did find quite beneficial. I don’t know much about the medicine behind it but its very much ingrained in the Ukrainian healthcare system. Whilst all sanatoria will help you detox many are for specific problems. Life is regulated with doctors assessments, procedures, set meal times and not a little paperwork! If you don’t feel better after a week you will at least have had a huge sociological experience!

 

So in summary detox should be fun, full of new experiences, perhaps a way to see more of  Ukraine and to bring home some lifestyle ideas for 2011.

Thursday, 20 January 2011

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