...to get you glowing and gorgeous again in time for your big day.
When I was first told that fasting on a fruit-only diet would give me more energy, or that giving up some of my favourite foods and cups of coffee would leave my skin glowing, I was sceptical. But the principals of detoxification are based on traditional ‘cures’ practised by European naturopaths for centuries. Giving up certain foods, or existing on just fruit for twenty-four hours is actually not that hard, especially when the benefits are so great.
I now give my system a regular detox boost, even if it is only over the weekend. Through changing your diet and exercising more regularly, a short detox programme will leave you feeling more energised and refreshed. It is the perfect way to revitalise your body, renew energy levels and restore glowing skin and when you have finished you will feel far fitter and healthier and probably won’t want to return to your toxic habits!
A detox can be done at any time of year and it doesn’t have to be really extreme. Just follow these 5 simple steps to help kick-start your plan. All of them are easy to incorporate into your daily routine and are guaranteed to make your body look and feel revived and rejuvenated.
1. Body brushing This is an easy and inexpensive way of stimulating your circulation and lymphatic system, helping to eliminate toxins. Once a day, preferably first thing in the morning before you take your shower or bath, sweep the brush over every surface of the body except your face or any areas of especially sensitive skin. Follow with my Energising Hip and Thigh Gel, £15.25 from Liz Earle, to tone, firm and soften your skin.
2. Cleanse Cleanse and protect your liver by taking detoxifying herbs like dandelion root, burdock and milk thistle and swap your normal morning latte for a cup of green tea. It’s high in antioxidants but much lower in caffeine so it’s far better for your skin than coffee.
3. Drink up Lemons are a wonderful detox fruit and they have a surprisingly low level of acid. Lemon is also a good diuretic so it helps to flush out your system. Try having a slice of lemon in hot water when you wake up and before you go to bed – it will help to improve your digestion and encourage the elimination of any toxins you still haven’t got rid of since the Christmas period.
4. Get moving Even if you can’t face joining a gym, there’s plenty you can do to get your body looking better. Take the stairs instead of the lift, increase your walking speed when you’re going about your daily business or even jog on the spot in your living room. It might not seem very much but you’ll be surprised at the difference to how you look and feel. Aerobic exercise is a great natural energy booster – it boosts circulation, encourages you to eliminate more toxins through sweating, and helps you ditch unwanted body fat. Start making these small changes now and you’ll look and feel a lot better in your wedding dress! 5. Follow the seasons Speed up the detoxification process by eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetable when they’re in season. Produce eaten in season contains a higher concentration of nutrients and if you can get fruit and vegetables that are grown locally to you, they’ll be a lot better for you than if they’ve been flown thousands of miles before they land on your plate. Cabbage, carrots and leeks are all in season now so make yourself a nice vegetable soup to stave off the cold! All these vegetables contain powerful antioxidants which are fantastic for your skin so you’ll not only look slim and svelte, you’ll also be glowing with health.
