By Paola Bassanese, www.energya.co.uk

A warm croissant. A frothy cappuccino. A chilled glass of wine. As tasty and delicious as they may be, these foods and drinks are all responsible for weight gain, diabetes, heart disease. Ultimately they all work against you when you are trying to lose weight and stay healthy.

Dairy products, wheat, gluten, sugar, caffeine, saturated fats and alcool are not your ally if you want to keep in good health.

Our bodies have been programmed to process food for energy and if the fuel is contaminated with toxins it will put the whole body under strain, particularly the liver where fats are broken down and the intestine which is responsible for absorption of nutrients. When alcohol and saturated fat reach the liver, they put the organ under strain and therefore robs the body of energy. If you ever suffer from the afternoon slump after lunch you will find it difficult to concentrate at work. A diet high in sugar, caffeine and fats tends to make people lethargic. A diet rich in sugar and refined carbohydrates (pasta, bread and white rice) will slow the peristaltic movement in the interstine and elimination will be slow and uncomfortable with production of fermentation in the gut.

Starting a detox diet for a short while can re-boot the system just like a computer so you can start afresh. It is best to start slowly by making your diet healthier for a month and gradually eliminating things like fats and sugars. One should be healthy and in a non stressful situation so a holiday break is possibly the best time to change your eating habits as periods of prolonged stress coupled with a restrictive diet would put the body under additional stress. If you can’t go on holiday choose a weekend in the autumn or spring to start a detoxification process. January is possibly the wrong month to commence a punishing calories-restrictive diet as during winter the body will need extra nourishment and the liver is already overworked from the Christmas party season. However, January is the month for new year’s resolutions so it would be useful to at least cut down the amount of sugar, caffeine and alcohol at that time.

There are many ways to do a detox diet, some being more punishing than others. You should be able to feel energised and not run down from a detox otherwise it means you are being too strict or maybe it is simply not the best time to start a new regime.

For the first two or three days when cutting out caffeine people tend to suffer from withdrawal headaches. If you can bear with the initial discomfort, the benefits are plenty: more energy, clearer skin and a flatter stomach are good enough incentives to stick to the programme.

There’s no hard and fast rule to detox but be careful with punishing regimes without seeking medical advice (juicing is probably the toughest detox to follow, you will need plenty of rest and professional support so it is best recommended in a spa environment under supervision).

The most convenient way to detox is to gradually make your diet healthier first and then have a 2 week or 4 week detox afterwards. By preparing your body gradually you will experience less unpleasant symptoms like headaches, bloating, bad breath etc.

For a 2 week detox, the suggestion is to have very simple foods possibly following a vegetarian eating regime.

You can find more information and advice at www.energya.co.uk

Here’s a sample menu:

BREAKFAST

Porridge with berries and rice milk OR rye bread with almond butter and an apple

LUNCH

Tofu and vegetables stir fry OR chilli beans wrap with salad

DINNER

Soup with barley, lentils and mixed vegetables OR grilled salmon with green beans

SNACKS

A handful of almonds and a piece of fruit OR an avocado OR oatcakes with hummus

DRINKS

Water and herbal teas only. Avoid sugary fruit juices, alcohol, coffee, tea, caffeinated soft drinks.

If you decide to detox for two weeks, reintroduce meat and pasta gradually into the diet and only limit sugary or fatty foods to once a week. You will notice that your sense of taste will be heightened and you will feel that ready meals  are overseasoned and and cakes too sugary. This by itself should be a good motivator to keep you focused on a long term healthy eating regime.