It’s swimsuit time, and New Year’s Eve is right around the corner. Aren’t we all thinking about the weight we put on during winter? There is a lot of talk about detox, paleo and low-carb diets lately, but before you take on the latest fad diet, consider a healthy and easy way to detox and lose weight without starving yourself. Fasting.

I myself have been looking for the ideal method to shed a few kilos, take a break from the toxins in meat and give my body a rest. Being Greek helps. The Mediterranean diet, and especially Greek cuisine, is considered to be one of the best ways to lead a healthy life. Fasting before Christmas helps to detox your system as well, and help the body break down toxins.

Fasting gives our body’s enzyme system the chance to work on food digestion, consuming far less energy than usual. Giving up a favourite food for a few days or not eating meat, milk, eggs, cheese, yoghurt and butter out of respect for a religious holiday is not as difficult as it may seem. I found that it is possible to get used to it, if you look at the long-term benefits.

Nistia (aka fasting) has been practised for thousands of years for several purposes. It works for curing illnesses, cleansing and strengthening the body and of course the soul. There is a good reason why our bodies refuse to eat large amounts of food when we are sick. The energy is aimed at healing the system, therefore the body avoids consuming food to lessen the amount of work digestion demands.

Certain types of fasting can actually help deal with some medical conditions such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, psoriasis, asthma, arthritis, heart disease, acne, and several auto-immune disorders. The balanced traditional Greek cuisine does not support a more rigorous fast, but rather a nurturing and gentle detoxification, accomplished by abstention from eating animal products. Moreover, when fasting, one has to pay attention to their body’s reactions. It is all about letting it decide how long fasting should last, as well as how intense it can be. One should note that quick fluid loss is not substantial weight loss. What comes off easily is most likely to come back quickly, as soon as you start eating normally again. Intense fasting might slow your metabolic rate down so your diet from before the fast can be even more fattening afterwards. With a modest fasting, you can supply your body with enough nutrients and energy. Greek foods are ideal and can be easily digested.

We must not forget that the newest researches have proven that carbohydrates actually help the body lose weight, as does pure uncooked olive oil. A Greek diet, even a fast, contains both. Carbs have been criticised and might have a bad reputation, only because we all mistook heavily processed foods containing high amounts of sugar for carbohydrates. The human body needs carbohydrates to control the levels of the hormones, to burn fat. Olive oil, too, is touted as healthy – but now it is considered to be a superfood, since it aids weight loss and prevents the growth of cancerous cells.

While your body starts releasing the build-up toxins (that only happens on the second week of fasting), take into consideration that you might experience headaches, tiredness, muscle and joint pain, flu-like symptoms, stomach cramps – you might even notice changes in your complexion. But after a while you will realise that your stamina and metabolism have in fact increased. Your skin will look a lot better and your nails and hair will be stronger.

You can also start the day with a glass of freshly squeezed lemon juice in lukewarm water, to enhance digestion and liver detoxification. Start coffee withdrawal by opting for a small cup of black Greek coffee a day, in combination with natural mountain tea, to provide the body with antioxidants to help neutralise toxins. Also add fresh herbs to meals, the likes of coriander, rosemary, mint, basil and oregano. They are uniquely detoxifying.

*Extra tip: Remember to chew each mouthful of food 10 to 12 times to help your stomach digest more easily, and your mind to convey a sense of fullness to the rest of your body.