Spring-cleaning the system – often referred to as ‘detox’ – not only gives you the motivation to makeover your diet, but rids the body of harmful toxins, allowing natural cleansing organs like the liver and kidneys time to recover.
By replacing system-clogging toxins with cleansing super-foods you’ll also shed the pounds and reduce cellulite, giving you a head start to that glowing bikini body.
Celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Carol Vorderman rely on a regular detox to get their bodies into shape. Read on to find out how they do it and how you can look and feel just as fab.
Carol Vorderman’s detox
After dropping two dress sizes when she first tried a detox diet, super svelte TV star Carol Vorderman swears by a deep cleanse whenever she wants to get in shape. Follow these top tips for just two weeks and see the difference for yourself:
Cut out alcohol and be sure to drink at least eight glasses of water a day. This will flush the toxins out of your system and help your kidneys and liver recover.
Eat foods as close to their natural state as possible. Fruit and vegetables lose most of their nutrients after cooking so try and eat them raw.
Apples and lemons are especially good for cleansing the digestive system, while eating carrots is great for the skin.
Stock up on blueberries. Known for their anti-aging properties, just one serving provides as many antioxidants as five servings of broccoli.
Try and buy organic options where possible as they are produced without pesticides or fertilisers that can be harmful to the body.
Wheat and dairy products provide a lot of work for your digestive system and can often cause bloating.
Try quinoa instead of pasta or rice; rich in iron, magnesium and several B vitamins, it is also a great source of fibre.
And try sesame, rice or almond milk for a low-fat alternative to cow’s milk.
Jordan’s juice diet
Super-slim Jordan, aka Katie Price admits to swapping her solids for shakes when she wants to shape up. After giving birth to son Junior, she shed two stone in three months with the help of celebrity health coach Jason Vale – also known as the juice master.
Jordan’s three month weight-loss plan involved drinking specially designed juices and smoothies, followed by one balanced evening meal each day.
Juices and smoothies are a great way to up your fruit and vegetable intake, especially if you’re not keen on eating them with meals.
Try adding celery, cucumber, spinach and avocados as well as fresh fruit such as apples, pears, pineapple and berries.
For a healthy breakfast smoothie on the go add muesli to blueberries, honey, banana, fat-free bio-live yoghurt and soya milk. This tasty treat is low in fat but still filling enough to kick-start your day and your metabolism.
Juicing is a great way to reach your 5-a-day and also boost your levels of anti-oxidants. Remember to include blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, carrots and red grapes.
For more information and recipes visit www.juicemaster.com
Jen and Courtney’s raw food diet
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Workout pals Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox are huge fans of the raw food diet. Eating uncooked food preserves vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients that are lost when heated.
It is also thought that cooking kills enzymes in the food that are important for aiding digestion.
The diet avoids heating food above 116 degrees so as not to change its molecular structure.
It also involves cutting out processed foods such as flour, dairy and white sugar that have been heated and refined in preparation.
It is suggested that you eat raw super-foods such as seeds, beans, grains, seaweed and organic fruit and vegetables, as well as purified water and young coconut milk.
Although most raw fans are vegans, some also eat raw fish and meat. You should consult a nutritionist before including raw meat in your diet.
Top detox tips
Whatever detox diet you decide to choose, there are a number of ways to aid the cleansing of the body. You can even try one of the cleansing vitamin supplements on the market. Vitabiotics have just brought out their Wellwoman Inner Cleanse supplement (£8.50 for 30), and there's lots more to choose from.
Dry skin brushing: The skin is the largest organ in the body and one of the first points at which toxins enter. Dry skin brushing can eliminate harmful toxins that reside below the surface of the skin, as well as cleansing your lymphatic system and aiding digestion.
Before you get in the shower brush the body in circular motions starting from the soles of your feet, working upwards towards your shoulders. Always brush toward your heart to stimulate circulation.
** Water with lemons:** Drinking water stimulates the body’s natural detoxing process by cleansing the kidneys, liver and digestive system. The lemon is also known to aid the liver and assist digestion.
Bath salts: Sprinkling sea salts into a warm bath draws toxins from the skin's surface.