HEALTH MATTERS: The effects of a deep cleansing with juices are numerous. Photo by Layla al-Dorani INSET: RAW BENEFITS: Layla al-Dorani is the Founder and CEO of Raw ME, fitness enthusiast, yoga teacher and freelance nutritionist.
Plant-based detox not only clears unwanted junk from our system but
also enhances our metabolism and energy levels. By Aney Mathew
The summer break has concluded and as most of us get back to the humdrum of everyday life, a prominent memento of the vacation seems to be the augmented waistlines – thanks to the increased indulgences during the holidays.
There are times you can feel so bloated you think you’ll give Obelix (of Asterix cartoon fame) a run for his money. At times like this, it looks like a detox session may be in order.
A seasonal detox is not just a way to clear our bodies of toxins but also a way of speeding up our metabolism and enhancing our overall health. So how can we follow a detox plan for best results?
To find the answer to this question, Community decided to consult Layla al-Dorani, a fitness enthusiast, who owns her own boutique, plant-based food and beverage company — Raw ME. Layla, a Qatari-American, is also a certified yoga teacher and freelance nutritionist.
On a quest to get people on the health track and to improve the dietary habits of people in Qatar, Layla conducts awareness programmes for adults and schoolchildren. She has won several awards for her health-food business plans.
According to her, Raw ME is Qatar’ principal health-food brand, supporting the country’s vision for a brighter future, by providing convenient and healthy food alternatives.
“We are a plant-based, health food and beverage company, offering Qatar’s first premium, cold pressed juices as well as ‘nutritional and cleansing’ detoxifying products, from both - fruits and vegetables. We use everything from beets, parsley, lettuce and spinach.
“When using the cold-press method to extract juice, since there is little-to-no-heat produced in the manufacturing process, it results in a juice that’s not only superior in flavour but also very high in nutritional value. It contains up to five times the amount of vitamins, minerals and enzymes as against a typical centrifugally-produced juice.
“It is very depressing to see such large numbers of children suffering from obesity and obesity-related diseases in Qatar. The good news though is that now people are becoming more aware of the importance of health and are making a conscious decision to choose a healthier lifestyle. They are proactively learning about nutrition and are deciding to eat more unprocessed, wholesome foods as an important step to living a longer, healthier life and to feeling great,” says Layla.
Talking on the importance of detoxifying, she points out, “As we live, eat, and breathe, we accumulate toxins in the body. Our bodies put up with the many poor choices we make every day. When we go through a juice detox or cleansing, it gives our bodies a much-needed rest. Detoxifying helps to not only release these toxins by giving our bodies the break it deserves, but also keeps us energised and nutritionally full. On an average, it takes approximately 18 hours to digest one meal. People will be surprised to know that we actually spend such an enormous amount of energy on the 24-hour process of digesting.”
“Keeping all this in mind, it is vital that we take an occasional break from solid foods and give our body time to rest and rejuvenate. While it is a good idea to cleanse after particularly stressful times, post-holiday season or when you start to feel a bit sluggish, the fact remains that ‘any time’ is a great time to cleanse. Your body will thank you — whether you cleanse one day a week, once each month, seasonally or annually.”
Explaining further, Layla says, “A juice detox is simply a liquid fast in which you abstain from solid foods for the duration of your choosing. You replace your regular food with fresh, cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juice. This gives your digestive system, liver, kidneys and gall bladder a break from processing toxins, fats and other components of your diet that take a lot of work to sort out; thus leaving you with simply good, clean energy to work with.”
“The effects of a deep cleansing with juices are numerous. While results vary, after a juice detox, most people feel energised, balanced and clear-headed. You may notice you sleep better, have superb digestion and experience either reduced cravings or prefer healthier foods. People even experience weight loss, mental clarity, clearer skin and find they have a healthy glow added to their complexion.”
Referring to the success that many of her clientele have experienced as a result of detoxifying, Layla says, “Most of our clients are excited about detoxifying. The general preference is a one-day or a one-week cleanse. It may come as a surprise to many to know that we have a client who tried a one-month-cleanse and loved the experience.”
So how do we go about with the detoxifying plan?
“The first step is to pick a detox diet that is right for you. At Raw ME we have several combinations available for our clients depending on whether you are a novice or an old-hand at deep cleansing.”
“Besides following the basic detox plan, it is necessary to follow some steps before and after you detox. As a prerequisite to the actual detoxifying, it is important to wean yourself off meat, dairy and flour products 48 hours before your cleanse. And once you are into the detoxifying programme, be sure to stay hydrated, by drinking plenty of water; also remember to get plenty of rest and be kind to yourself.
“Just like you prepare yourself for the cleanse, remember to come off the cleanse properly; it is just as important as the detoxifyng itself. The procedure followed for next few days is known as ‘breaking the cleanse’. Now that you have given your system a chance to rest and detoxify, you can begin to slowly and gently reincorporate solid food into your diet. The cleaner and simpler you keep your system, the better you’ll feel. The best way to break your cleanse is to eat sensible foods like you did, as you prepared for it.
“Focus on consuming raw fruits and raw/steamed veggies, avoid dairy, meat and gluten products. Include additional juices and low sodium vegetable broth. After a few days you can start to reintroduce meat and dairy products. Remember — just take it slow,” advices Layla.
With so many juicy facts to keep us on the fitness track, there’s no excuse but to dive right in.
Facts on Raw ME
Facts on Raw ME
Having launched her business just two years ago, Layla’s young company has already made its presence felt. In 2012, it was placed second in the Al Fikra Business Plan Competition and was named a finalist in the SILA angel investment network live demonstration, where entrepreneurs from around the Middle East presented their business plans to a group of angel investors in Doha.
Raw ME was the semi-finalist at this year’s MIT Mena award and has had the distinction of being the only Qatari company represented from the Mena region. Raw ME was also a finalist in the Reyada Award, which honours Qatari entrepreneurs.
Talking about the genesis of her company Layla explains, “I wanted to do something that would raise awareness and get people to be more health conscious about their diet, so they can in turn teach their children healthy habits at an early stage. The reason I came up with the idea of Raw ME, was that I found a gap in the market for healthy food products. Often today people don’t have time to sit down for a healthy meal. With our juice, it is a ‘grab and go’.
“About 3 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables are required to produce 500ml of our juice. Moreover, it is loaded with vitamins, enzymes and minerals. So you get a lot more in your drink than you would normally get from a plate of salad.”
“It is heartening to me that 50% of our clients at Raw ME are Qatari nationals while expats make up the other 50%; it proves that slowly everyone is moving towards a more balanced diet,” she concludes.
