The balancing act

The human body is a brilliantly resilient collection of cells, but even the healthiest people in town can put their systems to the very limit during the Mardi Gras weekend.

So amid all the planning for this weekend’s parties, with the rituals of last-minute workouts, what to wear, where to meet and what to partake in, partygoers might also want to consider a few ways to help their systems cope in the days before and after the big weekend.

Ask any naturopath, herbalist or nutritionist, and they will tell you that what goes up must also come down, but there are ways to help balance out that experience to make the ride a little less bumpy.

And there are two words that they all agree on -“ alkalinise and hydration.

Herbalist Peter de Ruyter says a weekend of intense partying floods the body with all kinds of acids, so it is essential to neutralise that process, as well as to keep the body hydrated.

When people are dancing, drinking and partying, their acids levels go through the roof and is it hard for the kidneys to cope, so we need to do whatever we can to help balance that, de Ruyter says. The liver also gets whacked and that also needs to be taken care of.

One of the best things to do is to start off with a tiny pinch of salt and a large squeeze of a lemon in a large bottle of water. Lemon juice will alkalinise the body, while the salt helps to hydrate again. Starting this in the days before the party and then through the week afterwards will help enormously.

Apple cider vinegar from the health food shop is also very good. A teaspoon of that in a glass of warm water has a real cleansing effect, and is good with the alkalinising. The wheat grass shots you get from juice bars are also excellent, and one a day through the weekend will help out.

Other herbs and vitamins which de Ruyter suggests are glow artichoke, St Mary’s thistle, milk thistle and dandelion. He also recommends rhodiola and Korean ginseng as mood balancers.

But while de Ruyter says the body needs all the help it can get to counter-balance the effects of party time, he also stresses any herbs and vitamins should be taken strictly as instructed on the labels. If they result in any nausea, lower the dose immediately.

Don’t do too much as too much liver cleansing can make people feel worse and very irritable, but taking them in the days before and after the party in the recommended doses can help the liver pick up and also help lose the blues and blahs.

Nutritionist Alison Riley adds there are certain foods which also assist in the alkalinising process, namely fresh fruit and vegetables.

Liver support foods are all the dark leafy and bitter greens, like watercress, parsley and rocket, she says. That stuff and fresh juices with ginger in them are great revivers.

The red, purple and yellow foods have antioxidants. Ginger, garlic and nuts are important, while fish will help the brain feel so much better. Antioxidants are so important, not just for cleansing out the body, but also for supporting the adrenal glands and just general immunity, which everybody needs after a full weekend of partying.

Alison Riley’s top party juices are:

-¢ watermelon, grapefruit, lime and mint -“ great adrenal support and detoxifier;

-¢ carrot and cucumber -“ helps cool the system down;

-¢ carrot, celery and ginger -“ supports the body and cleanses.

For more information, contact Peter de Ruyter (9314 7454) or Alison Riley (0404 692 729).