From fried to spicy dishes, festivals are about relishing your favourite delicacies with friends and loved ones. Our restrictive diet or balanced meals go for a toss during festivities when everyone gathers, but it can lead to toxin buildup in the body and kidneys. Therefore, a post-festive season diet should include food items that can help you detoxify your kidneys and flush out toxins so that you can lead a healthy life.
Therefore, we spoke to Ramya B, executive nutritionist, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Chennai, to bring a list of foods that must be a part of your diet after the Diwali celebration is over.
The expert added, “While adopting a healthy lifestyle, staying hydrated, and consuming a balanced diet can support kidney health, extreme or restrictive detox practices should be approached with caution and preferably under the guidance of healthcare professionals.”
Water is essential to promote flushing of toxins from the body via urine. Apart from that, here are 14 food items that you should eat:
1. Berries Protect Kidneys From Oxidative Stress
Berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are rich sources of antioxidants. They can protect the body from free radicals and kidneys from oxidative stress.
2. Lemon Prevents Kidney Stone
The expert said that lemons contain citric acid, which is associated with preventing kidney stones. Adding lemon to dishes or drinking lemonade can be beneficial for your health, especially with depleting air quality.
3. Beets Cleanse Kidney
Beets contain betaine, a compound found to be associated with cleansing kidneys. It is a must-add to your diet after a week of chaat, spicy dishes, and oily delicacies.
4. Ginger Has Anti-inflammatory Properties
According to the nutritionist, ginger has many medicinal properties. Its anti-inflammatory effect can alleviate lead toxicity, which we are more vulnerable to suffering from with the kind of food we eat today.
5. Cranberries Prevent Urinary Tract Infections
Oily and spicy food can often lead to Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) among many people. Eating cranberries or drinking the juice can help to prevent this and help you flush out toxins from the body. It will improve overall urinary health.
6. Garlic Reduces Inflammation
Adding garlic (Garlic Dishes And Their Recipes) to your diet has many benefits. However, if you add it to your post-festival meals, it can reduce inflammation in the kidneys and promote detoxification.
7. Watermelon Hydrates The Body
If you are not drinking enough water, you should eat fruits and juices. Watermelon has a high amount of water content, which can help you keep the body hydrated for a long time. It also contains compounds like lycopene that can cleanse the kidney.
8. Turmeric Protects Kidney Damage
Turmeric has an anti-inflammatory effect and can protect the kidneys from damage. You can consume it with dishes or add to milk to extract its most benefits.
9. Cabbage Support Kidney Function
Adding cabbage to your diet means adding phytochemicals. It is a cruciferous vegetable that supports the function of kidneys. You can also drink its juice to reduce lead toxicity.
10. Leafy Greens Add Potassium To The Body
The nutritionist added that leafy greens like spinach and kale are good sources of potassium. They are also loaded with other minerals and vitamins that improve the functions of the kidney.
11. Cucumbers Flush Toxins
Cucumbers are also rich in water content. Therefore, adding them to your salads or vegetable juices is a good way to keep the body hydrated and flush out toxins.
12. Celery Flushes Out Toxic Fluids
The expert said that celery has diuretic properties. Therefore, it can help you secret excess fluids. Your body can remove toxins if you drink celery juice or add it to your diet.
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13. Aloe Vera Juice Promotes Detoxification
Aloe vera juice promotes detoxification by supporting the health of the kidneys. You have to be cautious of picking aloe vera products that are considered healthy for internal consumption.
14. Pineapple Benefits Kidney Health
Pineapple or its juice contains bromelain, an enzyme that has anti-inflammatory properties. It possesses many benefits for your kidneys.
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It is crucial to be cautious of your diet post-festive season. With degrading air quality and many people suffering from respiratory issues, you want to protect your kidneys. If you are allergic to any of the aforementioned foods, you should speak to your healthcare expert about your diet.