1-day detox or weekend detox

Needless to say, you won't find many GPs or mainstream medical specialists who approve of this drastic kind of measure, and you certainly should not undertake a fast unless you are in an extremely good state of health to start with. Don't choose fasting as your first-ever type of detox. Wait until you have tried a few 7, 14 or 28-30-day detoxes and are no longer experiencing side effects from them. Build up gradually to a fast, as the body can go into panic mode if you suddenly make a huge change in your eating habits. If your system thinks you are starving, it will retain all the fat (and toxins) it can, rather than releasing fat cells for elimination.

Pomegranate juice is the new super-juice, with more antioxidants per glass than any other fruit juice.

The Rules Of Fasting

- Start preparing for your fast several weeks in advance, cutting out caffeine, alcohol, wheat, meat and dairy. Get used to eating mainly plant foods.

- Don't ever fast if you have any kind of chronic illness or have recently recovered from a viral or bacterial infection.

- The first time you fast, only do it for a day. Stay at home if possible because you may feel very faint and weak. You certainly shouldn't drive or operate heavy machinery.

- Drink 2-3 litres (3 ½ - 5 pints) of water on your fast day, and a selection of juices made from organic fruits and vegetables. Fruits are good for cleansing, while vegetables help repair the cells.

- Don't do a water fast for longer than a day except under the supervision of a qualified practitioner, and don't do a juice fast for longer than three days. You are not getting the nutrients you need to stay healthy and your detox will soon become counterproductive, because the liver needs protein in order to carry out its detoxification processes.

- Wean yourself gradually back onto solids after the fast has finished, starting with soups, oat porridge and easy-to-digest dishes (any of our detox recipes are suitable).