Mira Kapoor, 31, recently shared her experience of undergoing a gut health ‘detox’ programme, adding that it has left her feeling incredibly rested and even helped her lose some weight. “Even though this was not the primary goal, I have already lost 1.5 kilos. I can feel lighter. When I look at myself in the mirror, I am leaner, the puffiness has gone, the pink of my cheeks is back. I feel extremely rested. Sleep is underrated, and we ignore it all the time,” Kapoor noted in a video post on her Instagram Stories.
Revealing more about the detox programme, she said, “I did abhayanga, which is the ABC of any detox, and today I did a potli massage. Yesterday, it was shirodhara, which works neck up, while potli massage works on the torso to reduce inflammation in the muscles around the spine and throughout the entire torso. The herbs in the potli help detoxify the muscles and tissues. I followed it up with a sound healing session. I felt like there was a lot of emotion purging, and so many feelings I had pushed down and needed to address. The sound healing session was just fantastic.”
Taking a cue from her candid admission, let’s understand how giving the body a break helps it in the long term.
Consultant dietitian Garima Goyal said Mira’s experience reinforces a key message — true wellness is not about chasing numbers on the scale. It is about creating conditions where the body feels safe, rested and supported. What stands out more is how she describes feeling lighter, less puffy, more rested, and visibly refreshed. “These are common outcomes when the body is given a break from constant stimulation, poor sleep and everyday stress rather than a result of aggressive calorie restriction,” said Goyal.
From a nutrition and lifestyle perspective, structured detox retreats or reset programs often work not because they “flush toxins” magically, but because they correct habits that overload the system, noted Goyal. “Improved sleep, reduced digital and mental noise, regular meal timing, hydration, gentle movement and parasympathetic activation all contribute to lowering inflammation and water retention. This can lead to visible changes such as reduced facial puffiness, better skin tone and a feeling of lightness in the body,” said Goyal.
The therapies Mira mentioned, such as abhyanga, shirodhara, potli massage, and sound healing, primarily work on the nervous system, according to Goyal. “When the body shifts out of constant fight or flight mode, cortisol levels reduce, digestion improves, and tissue recovery becomes more efficient. Muscle inflammation eases, sleep deepens, and emotional processing becomes easier. This explains why she describes not just physical changes, but emotional release and mental restfulness as well.”
Mira Kapoor speaks about her recent experience (Photo: Mira Kapoor/Instagram Stories)
At the same time, it is essential to note that such detox experiences are best viewed as a reset rather than a permanent solution.
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“The real benefit lies in translating these insights into daily life. Better sleep hygiene, mindful eating, reduced stress, and consistent routines have a far greater long-term impact than any short-term retreat. Weight loss, if it happens, is often a byproduct of improved metabolic balance rather than the goal itself,” said Goyal.
DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.