3 Day Ayurvedic Kitchari/Cleanse – Perfect Detox

Back in the good old days when people lived in joint families, cooking was a major thing every day. They cooked every meal from scratch. They didn’t have many other alternatives.

Not only food but also many medicines were getting prepared from the pantry staples. But not a lot are living in that set up anymore.

Nowadays, there are so many food options outside the house, women are getting financially independent, so many great things are happening. But awareness about the food that’s consumed still needs to catch up. You should consciously select every bite that you take.

Food that you consume should be having high nutritional value, zero non-useful contents, and lastly, it should be made with love and made for your body type!!

We have asked our Guest Author Ashwini, the owner of Live Life on Full Swing to share everything about this Ayurvedic cleansing diet.

This article will share an amazing and safe cleansing technique to help your body undergo detoxification.

What is Detoxification/Cleansing the body?

According to Ayurveda, the world is composed of five basic elements (panchaboothas) – Vayu (air), Prithvi (earth), Teja (fire), Aakash (space), and Jala (water). The human body is no exception. It is also composed of panchaboothas.

Different combinations of each element are believed to form three doshas. The three doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each influences your well-being.

You need to maintain a balance between the three doshas to ensure good health. Otherwise, it can cause physical and emotional distress.

Everybody is different and unique when it comes to their dominant dosha. Some may even have a mixture between two or three. An Ayurvedic practitioner can help you determine your dominant dosha and route you towards appropriate treatment options.

An imbalance of waste products – Feces (purisha), Urine (mutra), Sweat (sveda), etc. is also believed to cause illnesses, such as Asthma, Arthritis, Burning Sensations, Constipation, Diarrhea, Skin Problems, Urinary Tract Infections, etc.

So detoxing regimes are meant to be done routinely to restore the balance.

Some Ayurvedic sources recommend detoxing at the start of each season to eliminate toxins from the body that may have accumulated from food, psychological conditions, and other factors during the previous season.

For a more elaborated detox, Panchakarma is the answer.

Why Khichdi/Kitchari for Detoxification?

Khichdi is a popular dish in India and also in Ayurveda. It is comfort food that, over-time, brings wellness to your body.

Khichdi means mixture, usually consists of mung beans (moong dal) or lentils, cooked with rice (or buckwheat), vegetables, and spices. It has many variations across the country.

Khichdi cleansing is a mono-diet, so it involves eating khichdi for all meals of the day for a set period.

It is tridoshic. Skillful use of the ingredients can produce balancing effects for the three bodily doshas. It is excellent for the de-aging of the cells.

It provides plenty of nutrition for healing. It generally does not create any abdominal discomfort. The fact that it’s easy to prepare makes it a prominent dish for almost every lifestyle.

6 Benefits of Khichdi Cleanse

Khichdi is popularly used in Ayurveda for detoxification treatment because it is prepared in such a way that it doesn’t cause trouble to your digestive system. So the digestion happens smoothly, improving the metabolism and, in turn, the overall health.

The idea behind this cleansing technique is simple. Periodically, you get into this regime to give your body some space and time to naturally cleanse and heal itself by shedding out unhealthy stuff from your body.

Following this detox routine for at least three days (A 3-day detox regime) at a stretch can help

• To improve digestion
• To improve metabolism
• To improve skin health
• When your body doesn’t have to deal with unhealthy substances, automatically, you will have more energy for your other activities.
• Supports a balanced sleep cycle
• Your body gets rejuvenated, and it impacts your overall health positively.

The Dos and Don’ts of this Detox Regime

Don’t

• Avoid tobacco products and recreational drugs
• Avoid alcohol
• Avoid caffeine
• Avoid carbonated drinks
• Avoid drinking cold water
• Avoid eating fast foods, junk foods, processed foods, meat, refined sugars, and sweets.
• Avoid eating too spicy and salty foods
• Avoid snacking in between the meals

Note

• It is helpful if you follow these instructions (above list) even on days leading to the actual cleansing period. If you find it hard to do, then try performing gradually.
• If you are taking prescribed medicines, you can continue taking them.

Do

• Wake up early, be in a pleasant state of mind, brush teeth and scrape Tongue, do your fitness regime, and take a bath.
• Stay hydrated
• Drink healthy juices made from fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, etc.
• Drink organic herbal/detox tea if you like.
• Freshly cooked homemade food works best for this detox. So get cooking every day!!
• Eating early dinners and eating food at the same time each day is recommended leaving a minimum of 3 hours gap in between the meals. Breakfast 7-8 am, lunch 12-1 pm, dinner 5-6 pm (try not to eat after 7 pm to give your body enough time to digest the food before sleep).
• You can add healthy salads, stream cooked veggies, chutneys to the main meal to maintain a balanced diet. If you must snack on, then go for healthy options like vegetables, dry fruits, and nuts.
• Take your doctor’s advice before trying this detox.

Note: Ayurveda says lunch should be your largest meal. Even during lunch, don’t overload your tummy. Eat until you are two-thirds full.

When To Avoid This Process?

• During pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• If it doesn’t suit (allergic) to your body type.
• If your body shows some bad reactions while performing this regime.
• If your body/mind is weak to undergo this process.
• When your doctor advises against it.

Tridoshic Khichdi/Kitchari Cleanse Recipe

Ayurvedic Kitchari/Khichdi Cleanse Recipe

Khichdi is popularly used in Ayurveda for detoxification treatment because it is prepared in such a way that it doesn't cause trouble to your digestive system. So the digestion happens smoothly, improving the metabolism and, in turn, the overall health.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 mins

Cuisine Indian

Servings 4

Equipment

• PressureCooker

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup Basmati Rice
• 3/4 cup Moong Dal
• 5-6 Curry Leaves
• 1/4 Cup Cashews
• 1/2 tsp Black Pepper Powder
• 3/4 tsp Cumin Seeds/Jeera
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric
• 1/4 cup Fresh grated coconut
• 3 tbsp Clarified Butter(Ghee) Preferred or any vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup Peas
• 50 gms Beans
• 1 Carrot
• 1 Capsicum
• Pinch Asafoetida
• Pinch Fenugreek Seeds/Methi Powder
• Salt to taste

Instructions

 

• Wash all the vegetables,curry leaves, rice, and moong dal thoroughly.
• In a medium-sized cookingpot/pressure cooker, warm the oil over medium heat. Add black mustard seeds toit. Once they start to pop, add cumin seeds, asafoetida, fenugreek powder,turmeric powder, cashews, grated coconut, grated ginger, black pepper powder,curry leaves, peas, then stir until the added ingredients combine. Now addremaining vegetables, rice, and moong dal.
  
• Then add 6 cups of water intothe same pot and mix everything thoroughly.
• If you are using a pot,continue to cook on medium to high heat. Once half cooked, add salt and stiruntil it gets distributed uniformly.

  You may have to add morewater(hot) as per the requirement and need to stir occasionally. Once rice anddal are soft, you can turn off the heat supply.
• If you use a pressure cooker,pressure cook he mixture of the ingredients obtained in the 3rd step on mediumto to high heat for three whistles. Once done, turn off the heat supply. Open thelid only when it's safe to open and add salt, mix well.

   
• Serve Hot

Notes

Tip: Add some ghee on top of the khichdi and serve to make it extra yummy!! As ghee is not vegan-friendly, I haven’t included it in the recipe. Even for cooking, you can use ghee instead of oil.

• Suitable for vegetarians and vegans

Keyword detox, khichdi

Conclusion

After this 3-days detox routine, make sure to make a smooth transition into your normal routine. But don’t give a chance for the health benefits you have gained through this to fade away by leading an unhealthy lifestyle.

You can follow this cleansing routine for 3 days, 7 days, 15 days, or even 21 days if you like. The more days you do, the greater the impact will be.

You can even adapt to the Sattvic Diet permanently by understanding it in depth if you are impressed by the results.

Leading a healthy lifestyle by avoiding toxins exposure to our body is essential for a healthier and brighter future. Happy detoxing!!