January Isn't The Best Time To Detox

We all know the feeling of making it to January 1st feeling a bit worse for all the indulgences we've been partaking in for the last few months. It is very seductive to follow all the marketing we're given as the new year begins to make massive changes to everything - "New Year, New You!" The gyms are packed in early January and by February they've thinned back out to the people who already had a gym habit. You do a detox just to go back into the old habits you had before, or perhaps don't even finish the detox.

If you live in the Northeast, or somewhere it actually gets cold, then it is going against nature to eliminate large groups of food, eat far fewer calories, or even worse a raw food diet. Winter is a time for resting, for conserving the energy you do have to make it to spring. It is a time to eat cooked foods and heartier meals. The best time to do a detox is spring, when the weather is warming up, the foods that are in season are naturally detoxifying, and your body is ready to eliminate excess and burst outside into the nicer weather.

That doesn't mean you should overindulge all winter, however. Eating, drinking, and indulging does get a bit out of hand in the holiday season. The winter season is a time for building up the system with nourishing foods such as bone broth based soups, bean and/or meat stews, warm grains such as oatmeal and quinoa, and roasted vegetables.

In Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medical tradition, one way to deeply nourish the body and bring it back from overindulging is by consuming kitchari. Kitchari is a bean and rice based dish rich in warming spices and vegetables. The use of ginger, coriander, and other spices makes it easy on the digestion, while the addition of ghee or coconut oil supports satiety. Traditionally kitchari is the only food eaten for about 3 days, and it is not a "detox" as we think of it in the western world, nor is it meant to be calorie restrictive. It is a nourishing reset. This may be appealing to some, as you can make one dish and eat it all day, removing the ever-present decision of "what to eat?" But, if it is not appealing to you to eat the same thing all day you can still include it as a nourishing meal once a day.

All you need to make kitchari is:

1/2 cup basmati rice

1 cup split mung beans (yellow or green)

6 cups of water

1 inch ginger root, peeled and grated

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp ghee or coconut oil

1/2 tsp whole cumin seeds

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1/2 tsp coriander

1/2 tsp turmeric

1.5 cups vegetables such as sweet potato, spinach, peas, asparagus, etc. (Traditionally garlic and onion is avoided)

Handful of fresh cilantro (if desired)

Put the rice and mung beans in a pot with the water and cook until it becomes soft, about 20 minutes. Then add any vegetables you are using and cook until they become soft. Sweet potatoes will take longer, spinach will take only a couple minutes. In a cast iron skillet warm the ghee or coconut oil and add the ginger, whole cumin and mustard seeds, cooking until they pop, about 2 minutes. Then add the ground coriander and turmeric, cooking about 30 seconds to warm the spices. Combine the two together and enjoy!

Whether you choose to make kitchari or choose to nourish you body with other warming foods, the restriction of sugary foods and alcohol to once a week will help you feel immensely better without a strict diet! Save the detox for spring.