7-day detox

Here are some general guidelines before you start your 7-day detox, which will help you to plan ahead and have a greater chance of success.

- Buy a wide range of the foods listed on our [Detox Shopping List].

- Decided which herbs and supplements you want to take and buy them from the net to receive fantastic deals and promotions or from a good complementary chemist. [Detox Aids]

- Buy a skin brush, Epsom salts and any oils, flower essences, foot patches or other treatments you are planning to use at home. [Daily Bathing Routine]

- Book appointments for any complementary therapies that you would like to aid your detox methods.

- No caffeine or alcohol allowed. Substitute herbal teas, dandelion root coffee and fresh juices.

- No dairy foods are permitted on the 7-day detox. Milk and cheese increase mucus production and are difficult to digest. Lactose is a common food intolerance. You can replace milk with almond milk, rice milk, oat milk or soya milk. Sheep's and goat's products are easier to digest if you really cannot do without dairy.

- No wheat or gluten-containing grains, such as rye, which have an acid effect on the digestion. This means no bread, pasta or white rice. Choose oats, brown rice, millet and quinoa instead.

- No meat or poultry, because of the antibiotics and food additives they contain. For protein, choose plant sources, organic eggs, tofu or oily fish from organic (non-farmed) sources.

- No processed or ready-made foods whatsoever. Everything should be fresh and cooked without salt, sugar or sweeteners. Use fresh herbs for seasoning.

- Eat three meals and two snacks every day, making sure that you have something to eat every three hours. Most of your food will be vegetables and fruit, whole grains and plant proteins. Within the [What To Eat And Drink] category there are sample menu choices for a 7-day detox.

- Do make sure you get at least 20 minutes of exercise every day.

- Drink 2 litres (3 ½ pints) of water a day and have cups of herbal (non-caffeine-containing) teas whenever you feel like them.

- Dry-brush your skin before a shower or bath at least once a day and, if you can bear it, follow your bathing routine with a cold shower.

Choose a period to detox when you don't have any stressful commitments in your life.

Headaches and fatigue are normal in the first few days of detox. Some people even feel as though they are coming down with the flu, a syndrome that complementary therapists call a 'healing crisis'.

What is happening is that old chemicals stored in fat tissues are being released into the bloodstream: antibiotics, pesticides, food additives, heavy metals and other waste products. Some people break out in spots or pimples as their body sheds toxins through the skin; others get constipation, diarrhea or bad breath with the change in digestive routine; yet more feel giddy and nauseous. Take it easy and keep drinking 2 litres (3 ½ pints) of water throughout the day.

If symptoms don't pass in four days, consult a doctor to rule out any underlying illness.

Although you won't purge a lifetime's worth of toxins during your first-ever detox, you will have made a significant difference. Next time you try a detox, the healing crisis won't be so severe and will probably not last so long. A 7-day detox is a step towards better health but you should find that by the end of it, your skin looks clearer and glowing, and you feel more energetic and clear-headed. Your bowels and liver should function more efficiently and you'll have given your immune system a mini-boost.

Weight Loss

Don't wolf down a cheese pizza and a beer on day 8 or you will feel unwell. Keep eating the same kinds of food as on the detox but gradually introducing organic poultry, then red meat, goat's or sheep's cheese and wholegrain bread.

If you suspect you are intolerant to a particular food or foods, test yourself by leaving five days between reintroducing each new food and watching for a reaction. If you experience bloating, headaches, skin rashes, joint pain or unusual symptoms, you may decide to exclude the culprit from your diet for a longer period. All traces of a food will be removed from the body within two months, so reintroduce it after three months to see if you now tolerate it.

Sometimes intolerances pass, especially if you have been helping your system by unburdening some of the toxic load and stimulating healthy organ function.

Hang onto as many good habits from the detox as you can fit comfortably into your lifestyle. Opt for liver-supporting foods. If you miss coffee, reintroduce a single cup of organic coffee in the morning, but check for any symptoms of dependence developing, eg: jitteriness and inability to concentrate without it. Most detox experts advise that you repeat your detox every six months.