Every year during Diwali a defiance of the Delhi government’s blanket firecracker ban deteriorates the air quality in the capital.

A thick layer of toxic smog cloaked India's capital on Friday as smoke from firecrackers used to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, pushed air pollution to hazardous levels.

Prolonged exposure to “very poor” air can cause discomfort and respiratory problems. It can also provoke skin and eye irritation, and contribute to serious health conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, emphysema, and cancer.

New Delhi topped global pollution charts on Friday, partly due to revellers defying a ban on firecrackers to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.

Delhi’s air quality has severely deteriorated after Diwali celebrations. To combat the effects of pollution, we need to add detox foods into our diet to keep health problems at bay. Hence, we have listed foods and some beverages including detox drinks to help cleanse the body and boost immunity.

Forecasts by the Centre’s Early Warning System show that Delhi’s air quality is likely to be in the very poor category from Sunday till Tuesday