Detox tips: What your body really needs after endless mithai and mocktails

The festive season brings joy, togetherness, and, let’s be honest, an overdose of sugar, salt, and late nights. Between the mithai, mocktails, and heavy dinners, our bodies end up feeling bloated and sluggish.

Once the celebrations wind down, what most people call a “detox” isn’t about punishing your body or going on juice cleanses. It’s more about slowing things down and giving your system a breather. Post-festive detox doesn’t need fancy juices, powders, or diets. It’s about gentle balance; drink water, eat light, move a bit, and sleep well. The idea isn’t to undo the celebrations, but to give your body a chance to find its rhythm again.Here’s what actually helps when you’re trying to bounce back after all the festive indulgence.1. Start with hydration always: After days of sweets and mocktails, your body is probably holding on to more water than usual thanks to the sugar and salt combo. The simplest fix is to start your morning with two or three glasses of warm water. Adding a few drops of lemon juice or some soaked chia seeds can make it more effective and refreshing.

Throughout the day, keep sipping water, not in huge gulps, just steadily. If plain water feels boring, try infusing it with mint, cucumber, or lemon.

It’s light, tastes good, and helps your body naturally flush out the excess without forcing it.2. Eat light, but don’t skip meals: Many people feel guilty after festive eating and immediately start skipping meals. That approach usually backfires. What your body really needs is something easy on the stomach and full of nutrients.

Stick to basics for a few days; think khichdi, curd rice, dal-chawal, or simple vegetable soups. Include more greens and slightly bitter vegetables like karela (bitter gourd), methi (fenugreek), and spinach.

They help your liver and digestion get back on track. Avoid deep-fried or packaged foods for two to three days. It’s not about restricting yourself; it’s about letting your system reset naturally. You’ll feel the difference within a couple of days when your energy starts to come back.3. Take care of your gut: If your stomach feels uneasy or heavy after the festive spread, that’s your gut asking for attention. Probiotics are the simplest way to fix that. Have a bowl of curd, a glass of chaas (buttermilk), or any fermented food you enjoy. These help restore healthy gut bacteria and improve digestion. Combine that with fiber-rich foods like papaya, apples, bananas, or oats. They keep things moving smoothly and reduce the bloating that comes after days of indulgence.

The goal isn’t to “cleanse” but to bring your gut back to balance.4. Move, just enough to feel good: You don’t have to hit the gym the next morning after Diwali. Start small, even a 20-minute walk, once or twice a day, works wonders. Movement helps digestion, balances insulin levels, and reduces bloating. If you’ve been sleeping late or sitting for long hours during get-togethers, this small effort helps you feel lighter and more energetic.

Yoga or simple stretches at home work just as well, anything that get your body moving without feeling like a chore.5. Sleep and let your liver recover: Your body can’t reset if your sleep schedule is still all over the place. After a week of parties and scrolling through festive photos till 2 AM, make it a point to get seven to eight hours of proper sleep. Avoid screens for an hour before bed and skip caffeine or alcohol for a few days; your liver will thank you for it. You’ll notice clearer skin, a better mood, and a lot more energy just from sleeping well and staying hydrated.

It’s one of the simplest ways to let your body repair itself naturally. Dr. Yash Chede, MBBS Doctor and Lifestyle and Health Creator