Perfect time for a detox

Jan 15 2010 By Katharine Capocci, Taste

STAY on track with healthy eating resolutions and enjoy hearty soups and zingy smoothies. KATHARINE CAPOCCI chats to nutritionist Rumana Zahn.

BY MID-January it’s fair to say most new year resolutions for overhauling diets are falling by the wayside.

Many of us are still Hoovering up choccies and biscuits left over from the festivities when, in reality, our bodies are crying out for hearty soups, cleansing juices and nutritious smoothies.

And there’s probably never been a better time to give the over-worked liver a break too.

Nutritionist and naturopath Rumana Zahn says detox days, or ‘light days’ as she calls them, can work wonders – helping you re-energise and feel a lot brighter.

Rumana is a naturopath and medical herbalist who runs clinics in health centres in Newcastle and Yarm. She is a leader within the field of natural medicine and writes and speaks extensively on the subject.

"The best medicine is the food in your kitchen," says Rumana, who lives in Newcastle.

"Call them light days, detox, diet or rest days, they function to give you balance from having eaten too much.

"You may naturally want to do this after the winter feast and aim to support your body with light, nutrient-rich foods. Soups and juices are great on the digestion.

"You may also want to consider eating foods that are in season, such as root vegetables, not just because they’re available, but because nature provides us with the nutrition in these foods."

Rumana adds: "The end of the year and the beginning of the next is a natural punctuation mark in our lives, a time to reflect on what’s passed and what we want to create for ourselves in the coming year.

"The new year is a good time to detoxify and cleanse and re-balance the body after the excesses of Christmas.

"The food you eat affects you in so many ways – the choices you make can raise or lower your energy, give you digestive problems or keep you healthy for days to come.

"I call it conscious eating and being aware of foods that create health and those that don’t, and eating accordingly. The fresher the food and higher the quality, all the better."

Rumana says the body’s delicate balance can be toppled over Christmas by eating too many sweets and chocolates and drinking too much alcohol. This gives rise to uncomfortable symptoms such as bloatedness, wind, indigestion, thrush, weight gain and more.

The good thing is though you can change the balance again.

"This doesn’t mean going on a boring diet and eating bland, tasteless foods" says Rumana. "As a nutritionist and someone who really enjoys eating, food has to delight the palate."

Rumana says the benefits of having ‘light days’ include a clearer mind and sharper concentration.

"Light days are great to add any time in your week. It’s a break from heavy foods and makes an excellent rest or detox day. Try, for example, a refreshing smoothie for breakfast, a light, warm vegetable salad for lunch and a light noodle broth for dinner."

Rumana does add that if you a have a particular health condition then make sure you consult a doctor or a health practitioner before embarking on any cleansing programmes and do not attempt them if you are pregnant or breast feeding.

Rumana is running a number of workshops and retreats during 2010. For more information visit www.rumanahealth.com