Detox is a hot trend, but does it deliver on claims of better health? There are so many things about detox you hear these days, positives and negatives, so we decided to put it to the test and find out for ourselves!

It is said that cleansing the body with a detox cure is beneficial for our digestive health. When done correctly – that is to say, in a healthy, safe and controlled environment – the process of “cleaning” your body can result in a wide range of positive effects; increased energy, mental & emotional clarity, weight loss, improved immune system function, to name just a few…

So let´s find out!

HOW TO START?

Don’t know where to start? Let us help you with a 3 day turbo detox getaway in the comfort of your own home! It includes great-tasting, nutritionally balanced juices and a quick to prepare soup. Getting started isn´t too difficult. All you need is a juicer, blender, lots of fresh food and an appetite for healthy living! We did it, so can you!

Why Detox? Why Juices?
The idea is that by putting only juices into your body you are going to give an opportunity for your liver, kidney, pancreas and other organs to rest and cleanse. According to this idea your eyes, skin and mind should all feel clearer within days and you will start to ‘feel’ and respond to your body’s nutritional needs.

Many people have a diet that is high in calories but low in nutrition. If you feed your body calorie-rich food, like chocolate it still wants more. So if you eat 2,500 calories of chocolate in a day you will be hungry again within a few hours. But if you feed the body healthy fruit and vegetables you won’t because it has all the vital elements it needs. This short detox diet ensures that you are getting all the nutrition, vitamins and enzymes, without all those extra calories.

Who Is It Suitable For?
The detox is suitable for anyone looking to cleanse body and mind with some weight loss as an additional bonus 😉

The Rules
You cannot have: Coffee, Tea, Fizzy drinks, Extra food, Dairy produce
You can have: Herbal tea, Water – we recommend two liters a day to avoid dehydration

What You Will Need
A juicer / blender, fruit, vegetables and some store cupboard basics (pulses, seasoning, stock)

How Will I Feel?
After the three days you will have cleansed, your body may notice some important changes. You need to be careful about how and when you re-introduce certain foods as your tastes could be different. You may find things taste a lot sweeter than they did, or you may find that actually you don’t like certain foods anymore.

Your liver and kidneys will be cleaner than they have been in years but this means they will also be more sensitive to certain food and drink, including alcohol, caffeine and spiced dishes.

If you do intend to drink coffee after the detox, be aware that your first cup may give you the shakes or even an upset tummy. Similarly, if you want to have an alcoholic drink, take it easy – it may affect you more than you think.

Can I Still Workout?
As with all detox plans, it is advisable to keep exercise to a minimum for the duration of the diet.  A light walk is okay, and along with lots of water, keeps the lymphatic system working well, helping cleanse the body of toxins. More strenuous exercise is not a good idea so leave your new start at the gym until you have completed your three days.

What Next?
If you want to continue losing weight after the detox, we would suggest having juice for breakfast and lunch, followed by a light, plant-based (vegan/vegetarian) meal in the evening. A really simple dish is curried chick peas, or potato with tomato and basil – quick and easy food.  Avoid going back to processed foods; the more you can cook yourself the more you will keep the ‘feel good’ factor you experienced during the detox.

AND NOW IT¨S YOUR TURN

We will follow the detox plan composed by our friends at Real Life Healthy Living Retreat. Let’s see how it goes!:

DAY 1

Breakfast: Morning Bliss

• 2 apples
• 1 celery stick
• ½ cucumber
• ½ lemon
• 1 pear
• 1 large handful spinach
• ½ avocado

Preparing: Juice all ingredients except for the avocado. Then blend with avocado until smooth and creamy

Snack: glass of 100% natural juice of choice

Lunch: P-Arrot

• 3 carrots
• ½ cucumber
• 1 small chunk of ginger
• ½ lemon
• 1 large orange (peeled)
• 2 pears
• 1 small handful of fresh parsley

Preparing: Juice all ingredients

Snack: Cup of D-toxd vegetable soup

You only have to make this soup once, the quantity is enough to last the three days of your detox

• 1 leek, halved and finely sliced
• 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 1 large handful of fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 1 potato, peeled and diced
• 1 sweet potato, peeled and diced
• 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced into ½ slices
• 1 tin of chopped tomatoes
• ½ head of cauliflower , roughly chopped
• ½ head of broccoli, roughly chopped
• 1 tin of cooked lentils, drained and rinsed
• Juice of 1 large lemon
• 1 small handful of fresh spinach for garnich
• 1 tbsp sunflower or pumpkin seeds for garnish
• 1 vegetable stock cube
• 1 tbsp of dried mixed herbs
• 1 tsp of smoked paprika
• 174 tsp of dried chilli flakes
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 liter of water

Preparing:

In a large saucepan, lightly steam-fry (using a small amount of water) the stock cube, mixed herbs, paprika, chili flakes, leek, garlic and parsley until the stock cube is dissolved and the leeks are soft.

Throw in the potatoes and carrots and stir until well coated with leek texture.

Pour in the tinned tomatoes and mix well

Add the water and bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about ten to fifteen minutes (or until vegetables are cooked). You want the vegetables to be al dente.

Add the cauliflower and cook slightly

Throw in the broccoli and let simmer gently for three or four minutes.

Add the lentils and lemon juice and simmer for a few minutes so that the lentils are warmed through.

Season to taste

Tricks & tips:

Add the broccoli towards the end

For a thick creamy soup, remover from heat before adding the lentils and blend with a hand blender (you can also not blend and leave it nice and chunky)

To garnish, sprinkle finely chopped fresh spinach on top along with toasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds for added crunch

• 

Dinner: Ginger Bam Plus Juice

• 2 apples
• ½ beetroot
• 2 carrots
• ½ courgette
• 1 large chunk of ginger
• ½ lemon
• 1 small handful of fresh parsley
• 2 large handfuls of spinach
• ½ avocado

Preparing: Juice all ingredients except for the avocado, then blend with avocado until smooth and creamy.

DAY 2:

Breakfast: Red Robot Juice

• 1 apple
• 1 beetroot
• 2 large carrots
• 1 small chunk of ginger
• ½ lemon
• ½ avocado
• 1 handful of strawberries

Preparing: Juice all ingredients except the avocado and strawberries. The blend with avocado and strawberries until smooth and creamy.

Snack: Glass of 100% natural juice of your choice

Lunch: D-toxd Alkalise Juice

• 1 apple
• 3 celery sticks
• 1 courgette
• ½ cucumber
• 1 small chunk of ginger
• 1 lime (peeled)
• 3 handfuls of spinach
• 1 teaspoon of spirulina (optional)

Preparing: Juice all ingredients then blend with spirulina or stir well

Snack: Cup of D-toxd vegetable soup (see day 1)

Dinner: Berry Kiss Juice

• 1 apple
• 2 carrots
• 1 courgette
• ½ lemon
• 1 pear
• 1 handful of strawberries
• ½ avocado

Preparing: Juice all ingredients except the avocado and strawberries. Then blend with avocado and strawberries until smooth and creamy

DAY 3:

Breakfast: Amber Agent juice

• 1 apple
• 3 carrots
• 2 celery sticks
• 1 courgette
• ½ cucumber
• 1 small chunk of ginger
• 1/ lemon
• ½ avocado

Preparing: Juice all ingredients except the avocado. Then blend with avocado until smooth and creamy

Snack: Glass of 100% natural juice of your choice

Lunch: Popey´s Detox Juice

• 2 apples
• 2 celery sticks
• 1 courgette
• 1 small chunk of ginger
• ½ lemon
• 1 small handful of fresh parsley
• 4 large handfuls of spinach
• ½ avocado

Preparing: Juice all ingredients except the avocado. Then blend with avocado until smooth and creamy

Snack: Cup of D-toxd vegetable soup (see day 1)

Dinner: D-toxd Tonic Juice

• 1 apple
• 1 beetroot
• 1 brocolli stem
• 1 large carrot
• 2 celery sticks
• ½ cucumber
• 1 small chunk of ginger
• ½ lemon
• 1 small handful of fresh parsley

Preparing: Juice all ingredients

Good luck! And remember you will feel great afterwards!! 😉 Do you want to know how we experienced it and what it did for us? Read our BLOG here

If you fear it is too difficult to do it by yourself, then a detox holiday could well be your answer! Check out our favourite detox programs which will help you take your health to the next level for Spring:

Check our Detox holidays here >>