New Year's holidays are not a reason to "warm" with extra pounds. We asked Tara Ostrow, the leading nutritionist of the Organic Rerligion brand: how to fit into your favorite dress after the holidays, why detox is not only a way to lose weight, but also to cleanse the body, and we also learned about the features of the winter detox program.
BH Tara, tell us how you support your body in winter? How to strengthen your immune system and avoid winter stress?
THAT Indeed, winter is a difficult time for our body, so I try to eat balanced and get enough sleep. These simple rules are useful for anyone who wants to stay vigorous and healthy even in the harshest cold weather. In addition, I recommend including in your winter diet foods rich in antioxidants (green tea, prunes, berries, nuts, cocoa, etc.) and polyunsaturated omega fatty acids (fatty sea fish, seafood, flax seeds and linseed oil, chia, etc.). Of course, do not forget about fruits and vegetables, and also drink enough fluids. I know that many people find it difficult to drink water when you are constantly freezing, but you can simply replace cold water with warm water. If you're having trouble getting yourself used to drinking plain water, I recommend trying herbal teas, preferably with ginger.
BH Is there a universal way to get warm quickly in winter?
THAT Green and herbal teas perfectly warm and strengthen the immune system. Personally, I associate Christmas with the aroma of ginger, so in winter I often drink chamomile tea with honey and ginger. You can also make hot chocolate from natural cocoa powder, milk, cinnamon or ginger and add fruits or berries.
BH Do you have a winter smoothie recipe?
THEN Of course, personally, I'm just crazy about hot smoothies: they are easy to prepare and no less healthy than cold ones. To make such a drink, you need your favorite ingredients: I prefer vitamin and antioxidant-rich kale, spinach, pumpkin and carrots, which should be mixed in a blender and added with some cold water. Then hot milk or green tea is poured into this mixture. And if you add ground ginger root and a green apple to such a smoothie, it will turn out even tastier and healthier!
By the way, I have my own recipe for a truly winter smoothie, which is good both warm and cold: mix a little pumpkin, a banana in a blender, add cinnamon to taste and cover with cashew or almond milk. If desired, you can add fruit or berries to the drink - this smoothie tastes exactly like pumpkin pie!
BH Tell me how to prepare yourself for a winter detox.
THEN In fact, there is not much difference between preparing for summer and winter detox: you need to give up red meat, fried and fatty foods, white sugar, caffeine, alcohol and smoking a couple of days before the program starts. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fish during this time. Only after such preparation should one move on to juices. I cannot say that detox without preliminary preparation is absolutely useless: there will still be a small effect, but with a sharp change in diet, the body may experience stress, which certainly will not add health, especially in winter.
BH Is the winter detox program different from the summer one?
THEN Yes, it is better to change the program itself, and not so much in its composition, but in the mode. I recommend doing a couple of detox days a week, rather than going on a juice diet for an entire week. In winter, our body experiences great stress associated with climate change, so it is better to adhere to a gentle cleansing program - not for long, but often.
For example, for me personally, the ideal detox period is five days, but in the winter I cut it down to three or four. From my own experience, I can say that in winter you should not rely solely on juices - even during the purification program, you need to eat at least porridge with pumpkin in the morning, and snack on vegetables during the day. And to make your body as comfortable as possible, add hot juices and smoothies to your detox diet: this will charge you with warmth and vitamins.
BH Can you say that cold and hot smoothies have the same effect?
THEN Both are very useful and saturate the body with vitamins, but more energy is spent on the absorption of a cold drink, so be guided by your preferences. If you are in the process of losing weight, then cold vegetable-based smoothies can be an additional aid to your weight loss. But hot drinks normalize digestion.
BH In winter, it is not easy to find fresh fruits and vegetables in Russia without a huge amount of chemicals. What should be done in this case?
THEN In fact, this problem is quite solvable: firstly, you can eat seasonal products, for example, greens, salads, which usually grow in greenhouses all year round. Do not chase exotic things: simple apples and greens make delicious and healthy smoothies, and a couple of berries will add a bright taste to the drink. Secondly, you can stock up on everything you need in advance: fruit and vegetable frosts and homemade canned food will help you out in the cold. You can buy ready-made products, but be sure to make sure that canned food contains as little sugar as possible.
BH Container, which blender do you use to make juices? What blenders can you recommend for smoothie lovers?
THEN I really like the Blendtec blender: this company produces really high-quality equipment, it is not for nothing that such famous fast food restaurants as Dunkin Donuts, Pinkberry, Starbucks, McCafe and many others cooperate with it. This is not a cheap blender, but it is so powerful that it grinds nuts with a bang, from which I can make milk right at home. But besides Blendtec, I can recommend more budgetary, but very worthy options from Vitamix and Ninja, which are convenient for home use and perfect for all lovers of smoothies and juices.
TOP 5 ingredients from Tara:
- Cale
- Spinach
- Carrot
- An Apple
- A pineapple
Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Vinegar and Dried Cranberries
You will need:
- 1-1.5 kg washed Brussels sprouts (can be cut in half)
- 1/2 cup coconut or canola oil
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup honey
- sea salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup dried cranberries
Preparation:
- Dip Brussels sprouts in coconut or canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Place the cabbage on a baking sheet covered with baking paper and place in the oven preheated to 200 degrees for 25-30 minutes (until the cabbage turns brown).
- Combine balsamic vinegar and honey in a saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce thickens.
- Drizzle balsamic sauce over the baked Brussels sprouts and sprinkle with dried cranberries.
Text: Maria Stefanova Photo: Asya Zabavskaya
