The modern detox.

Many of us turn to a detox as aquick way to shift excess pounds. But detoxing offers far more than weight loss. The health benefits can be considerable- from increased energy levels, glowing skin, improved immunity and a greater sense of well-being.

According to Nutritionist Yvonne Wake, clients that take on the detox diet not only experience healthy weight loss but more importantly ‘they are able to concentrate for longer periods of time, make it through the day with sustainable energy and don't experience huge fluctuations in energy, mood and appetite.’

The history of detox is deeply embedded in medicinal roots, many historians link it back to Ayurveda, the practice of natural medicine that originated in India at around 3500 BC. It was believed that those that practised Ayurveda lived for longer and were less likely to catch a disease. The way we detox has come a long way in 5000 years but the principles are still the same, we detox for a short period of time in order to rid the body of excess fat, stop alcohol and sugar cravings and to stock up on nutrient dense food.

Detoxing is even more important today because we live in a world that is becoming ever more polluted, the food we eat is more and more processed and is manufactured to be within an inch of recognition, the air we breath is full of harmful gases and pollutants and the stresses of modern life are playing havoc with our health. Yvonne Wake helps many of her clients through detoxing, she says “we live in a polluted world and there are high levels of unsavoury chemicals all around us. We consume them, we breathe them, we put them on our skin, we sleep in them. We are never far away from chemicals. And it’s these chemicals that are harmful and that contribute to chronic disease and excruciating debilitating illness.”

Our bodies will naturally try to get rid of these toxins. Our liver and kidneys play a very important role in our body’s natural detoxification process, Wake describes them as ‘the machinery that will process and eliminate chemicals. Our organs are working overtime to process these chemicals but sometimes they need a little help.

So it makes sense that the more we can do to reduce the amount of toxins that enter our body the better. Detoxing is not about deprivation, it is simply about removing foods that have a negative impact on our health and creating a diet that is rich in nutritionally dense food.

At the Detox kitchen we have taken all the positive elements of detoxing, of which there are lots, taken out all of the confusing fasting elements and created a program that is about celebrating all the good, wholesome, seasonal food that we put into our bodies.

To help you make some positive changes in your diet, follow these three very simple steps:

1. Avoid any processed food. If you cook from scratch it is much easier to avoid processed foods as you will be using the raw ingredients to create your meals. Processed foods are generally in pre-made meals, so if you avoid them you'll be on the right track.

2. Try to reduce or eliminate alcohol, caffenine and sugar. They all affect our blood sugar levels and it has been proven that when are blood sugar levels are more stable we are less likely to crave high sugar, caffenated foods. And we are more likely to maintain a healthy weight.

3. Eat between 5-10 portions of different coloured fruit and vegetables a day. We have all heard this before but it is so important that you are getting all the nutrients you need to ensure optimum health.

If you can stick to these very simple three rules, your body will thank you.