An internal ‘spring clean’ does help towards optimal health by allowing your body to rest and find equilibrium – the best way to do this is by following my Detox Plan which is achievable and doesn’t mean you have to drastically change your dietary habits. The modern diet is laden with additives, salt, sugar and fats, which can be ‘heavy’ on body systems. A dietary rest such as my Detox allows your digestive system, liver, and excretion systems to balance their functions naturally.

What does it involve?
In my suggested Detox Plan, you can eat as much of the following foods as you wish: vegetables, fruits, salads, pulses (lentils, beans, chick peas), non-gluten grains (brown rice, millet, quinoa, buckwheat), raw or toasted nuts and seeds. In small quantities you can enjoy goat’s or sheep’s milk yoghurt, fish, lean chicken, eggs and oats (the only gluten grain). You should restrict fat intake to two tablespoons of cold-pressed olive, walnut, flax or canola (rapeseed) oil daily, to dress salads and vegetables. Cooking methods involve fatfree steaming, grilling or baking. Drinks include water (around 2 litres daily), herb and fruit teas, vegetable juices and diluted fruit juices.

Foods to avoid are gluten grains (wheat, rye, barley), cow’s milk products, alcohol, caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate), red meat, sugar, salt, and processed foods. A Detox is not about starving; you should never be hungry and should be able to eat until feeling satisfied. If you do get hungry between meals do eat snacks, as I have suggested in my 7-Day Detox Plan. Initially, you may experience typical Detox symptoms, including a ‘furry’ tongue, headaches, changed bowel habits, and low energy. These symptoms should last for no more than two or three days after which you should feel renewed vigour. While on my Detox Plan make sure you get some light exercise daily, such as walking or swimming but avoid strenuous exercise. You should not undertake a Detox if you are pregnant, diabetic, are under medical supervision (unless supervised by a nutritionist) or if you have an eating disorder.

Preparation, preparation, preparation
It is so important to be organised. Preparing salads to take into work and stocking up in advance is essential. Unusual food items can be found in health food shops – just take your list to them and they’ll be more than happy to help you out. Some take-away items will fit the bill, such as sushi or salads (avoiding mayonnaise). Make brown rice, and refrigerate for up to two days, in readiness for stir-frys, as a side dish, or for breakfast rice.


When making salads, make them as interesting as possible with lots of added ingredients such as seeds, grated vegetables, grilled vegetables, cooked beans, tofu, chicken or feta chunks or flaked fish.

Prepare by clearing out unsuitable foods.

Replace with the following:
• Dairy: Goat or sheep milk yoghurt or cheese, rice milk, soya milk, oat milk, nut milks
• Grains: Brown rice, oat cakes, rice cakes, rice puffs, millet flakes, quinoa, buckwheat or corn pasta
• Drinks: Herb and fruit teas, dandelion of chicory coffee
• Flavourings: Herbs and spices, lemon, balsamic vinegar, toasted sesame oil (use sparingly)

Supplements
Your diet will be much higher in vitamins, minerals and fibre than usual which will help to eliminate accumulated waste. Some herbs are effective at helping the body to rid itself of toxins and provide antioxidant protection for organs at the same time. These include Milk Thistle for liver health, Green Tea as an antioxidant, Dandelion and Celery Seed as diuretics and Burdock and Beet as blood purifiers. Supporting bowel function is helpful – Psyllium Husks are excellent bulking agents, while Acidophilus and Bifidus help to restore healthy bowel bacteria. Beet and Carrot juices boost cleansing. All these are commonly found in Detox-aiding supplements which can help ensure you get the daily requirements of each.

Day 1 – Monday
Breakfast = Muesli: Millet flakes, chopped nuts, chopped dried fruit, grated fresh apple, desiccated coconut, soaked in soya milk
Lunch = Avocado with peeled prawns & lemon served with salad
Dinner = Buckwheat pasta with pesto, with grilled Mediterranean vegetables strips (peppers, courgettes, onions), olives
Dessert = Baked banana with cinnamon, served with yoghurt
Snack = Fruit – make up plates of attractively arranged fruit segments for maximum enjoyment. As fruit juice is quite sugary dilute with water. When buying dried fruit select 'unsulphured' fruit

Day 2 – Tuesday
Breakfast = Smoothie: Rice milk, 1 tablespoon ground almonds, banana, mango & strawberries
Lunch = Three-bean salad mixed with corn pasta, diced tomato, cucumber and onion
Dinner = Baked sweet potato stuffed with diced cooked chicken and pine nuts, serve with salad
Dessert = Exotic fruit salad (kiwi, mango, papaya, pineapple)
Snack = Vegetable sticks - radishes, celery, carrot, peppers are good to dip into hummus, avocado dip, salsa or tahini. Also vegetable juices, or a cup of hot vegetable soup such as tomato or lentil.

Day 3 – Wednesday
Breakfast = Puffed rice with sliced banana and oat milk
Lunch = Fish sushi (shop bought) with ginger pickle, cucumber and radish cruditées
Dinner = Stir-fry: carrot, spring onions, peppers, aubergine, bean sprouts, tofu, ginger with sesame oil
Dessert = Baked apple stuffed with raisins, served with yoghurt
Snack = Raw unsalted nuts and seeds in moderation. Combine with dried apricots or apple rings. Pre-made roasted seed mixtures: pumpkin, sunflower and sesame.

Day 4 – Thursday
Breakfast = Apple purée toped with oat flakes, sunflower and pumpkin seeds and yoghurt
Lunch = Chunky leek and potato soup with large salad
Dinner = Vegetable and lentil curry with quinoa
Dessert = Fresh apricot or peach flesh blended with silken tofu – poor into glasses, top with mint leaves
Snack = Soya yoghurt and an oatcake

Day 5 – Friday
Breakfast = Boiled or poached egg with grilled tomatoes and rice cakes
Lunch = Fish cakes, grilled, with rocket salad
Dinner = Steamed lemon salmon with baby potatoes and spinach with garlic
Dessert = Citrus medley: pink grapefruit, tangerine and orange segments, grated ginger
Snack = Air-popped popcorn

Day 6 – Saturday
Breakfast = Breakfast rice: cooked brown rice with tahini, cinnamon, seeds, nuts and dried fruit
Lunch = Salad Niçoise: Lettuce, tuna, olives, hard boiled egg, new potatoes, sliced peppers, tomatoes, vinaigrette
Dinner = Risotto: brown rice, onions, garlic, oriental mushrooms and leek
Dessert = Watermelon slices
Snack = Raw unsalted nuts and seeds in moderation. Combine with dried apricots or apple rings. Pre-made roasted seed mixtures: pumpkin, sunflower and sesame.

Day 7 – Sunday
Breakfast= Oatcakes with nut butter and sliced banana
Lunch = Bean dip with rice cakes and vegetable sticks
Dinner = Vegetable kidney bean chilli with baked potato and salad
Dessert = Dried fruit compote: pre-soak dried prunes and apricots in hot fruit tea. Serve with yoghurt
Snack = Soya yoghurt and an oatcake