Photographed by Tom Schemacher for Vogue Arabia
Looking to kickstart a healthier lifestyle and achieve a calmer mind? It might be time to start a detox. By taking these simple steps in your day with cleansing rituals to help you on your journey, you have no excuse not to aspire to your highest self.
Word of mouth
A Tongue Cleaner Change My Life. Photo: Courtesy
Embrace the world of Ayurveda with a simple instrument primed to combat the bacteria that hide out in your mouth. Monique Foy, founder of A Tongue Cleaner Changed My Life, explains, “Gently removing this layer of bacteria with a tongue cleaner first thing in the morning is a basic step in assisting your body’s natural processes. The benefits include fresh breath, improved oral hygiene, and a balanced oral microbiota, which in turn has positive effects on your immunity and digestion.”
Go green
It’s time to incorporate fresh green juice into your diet. “Green leafy vegetables such as broccoli and lettuce are both rich in antioxidants that help promote a healthy immune system,” says Michele Mingozzi, executive chef at Six Senses Zighy Bay. His Mint Condition smoothie champions these ingredients. Blend together one broccoli root, two-thirds of a cup of romaine lettuce, half an avocado, the pulp from three passionfruits, a quarter cup mint leaves, half a piece of peeled ginger, the juice from half a lime, three-quarters of a cup water, and a pinch of salt. These ingredients may help control inflammation, aid the body in increasing its red blood cell production, and help cells carry more oxygen around the body.
Face value
Face yoga expert and founder of Fit Face, Isidora Peric, explains why you should work out your face, just like you exercise your body:
1. Stimulation of the lymphatic system through face massage helps to reduce facial puffiness.
2. Gentle acupressure stimulation helps calm the mind by working on the nervous system and increasing overall wellbeing.
3. Waste material is also purportedly released when facial muscles are exercised, which proponents claim results in a more sculpted face and healthier body.
Ditch the diet
Fad diets and teas billed as being “detoxing” are ineffective. “What people don’t know is that these types of diets usually cause weight gain once you stop them,” says Nadine Aoun, clinical dietician at Medcare Women and Children Hospital in Dubai. While some cleanses can be beneficial for short periods of time, like a juice cleanse offering the body extra nutrients to boost overall health, Aoun explains, “While cleansing, people commonly experience side effects such as headaches, fatigue, difficulty thinking, moodiness, stomach pain, and hunger pangs. You should only do it for a short period and they are not recommended for a long time.” Instead, make real lifestyle changes by creating a healthy relationship with food.
Brush up
Dry brushing is an ancient practice that involves massaging the body with a dry, stiff-bristled brush. Starting from the feet, move upwards towards the heart with long strokes. It helps enhance blood circulation and might stimulate the lymphatic system, while exfoliating the skin.
Hair raising
The key steps to deep-cleaning your scalp and hair.
Mask: Once a week, apply a mask on your hair, combing it through before shampooing.
Scrub: Look to salt scrubs that exfoliate the scalp and remove impurities.
Cool down: Hot hair tools strip hair of its natural oils and proteins. Take a break every few weeks and experiment with styles that embrace your natural hair texture.
Dry off: Hygral fatigue is when your hair cuticles become damaged due to excessive moisture. Invest in an absorbent hair towel to cut down drying time and frizz.
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Originally published in the September 2020 issue of Vogue Arabia
