What is the best home made detox diet to try?

Hi Lorenzo,

Be warned, the first day of this plan will be tough but if you stick with the strict fruit juice and yoghurt regime, it will kick start your detox. After that, the calorie intake for each day varies, from 800 calories on day 4, the special rice day, to 1300 calories on day 6. This carefully controlled low-fat, low-calorie diet will ensure you lose weight while the high concentration of fruit and veg will flood your system with vitamins and minerals. The result will be glowing skin and a lighter you!

The large quantity of fruit and veg needed could be expensive and some of the meals are time consuming to prepare. This diet is probably best done during a week when you’re not working as you might get a headache due to the detoxification process.

If you think you can manage this process well enough, then try to follow the details as below :

Day 1: 600 calories
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This is a fasting day. Drink loads of water and herbal teas throughout the day. Breakfast, lunch and evening meal are the same: 1 glass of unsweetened fruit or salt-free vegetable juice plus a carton of natural live yoghurt.
Try to start this diet on a non-working, quiet day and don’t worry, it does get easier!

Day 2: 1200 calories
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Breakfast:
This is the standard breakfast you’ll eat for the rest of the week. 1 portion fresh fruit (vary throughout the week between apple, pear, mango, grapes, pineapple, grapefruit), 2 slices of wholemeal toast spread with low fat cottage cheese, a carton of low-fat live yoghurt, a small glass of skimmed milk and a cup of herb or weak Indian tea without milk or sugar.

Lunch:
1 kiwi fruit, a mixed raw vegetable salad (a bed of iceberg lettuce, filled with grated carrot, celeriac and beetroot, with a squeeze of lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil) plus 150g (6oz) of any steamed vegetables, sprinkled with a chopped clove of garlic and a drizzle of olive oil. Herb or weak Indian tea.

Dinner:
50g (2 oz) blueberries and 100g (4oz) unsweetened muesli mixed with a tablespoon of orange juice and a carton of low fat live yoghurt. Herb or weak Indian tea.

Day 3: 1100 calories
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Breakfast:
As on day 2.

Lunch:
1 large mango, 150g (6 oz) mixed salad including watercress, fresh mint, spring onions, tomato, red and yellow peppers, chicory, baby spinach and beansprouts drizzled with a lemon juice and olive oil dressing.
1 large jacket potato with 50g (2oz) low-fat fromage frais whipped with chopped chives and a clove of garlic. Vegetable juice.

Dinner:
1 carton of low-fat live yoghurt mixed with blackberries, blueberries and 1tsp of honey. 1 crusty wholemeal roll with a matchbox size piece of soft cheese (brie, camembert, or similar). Herb or weak Indian tea.

Day 4: 800 calories
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This is a very special day where your main food will be rice. Start by preparing the rice for the whole day. You’ll need 225g (9oz) dry brown rice cooked according to the packet’s instructions. If you prefer, you can cook half the rice in water and the other half in vegetable stock for a more savoury flavour. Drink only water today.

Breakfast:
75g (3oz) cooked rice with 125g (5oz) stewed apple flavoured with honey, cinnamon and grated lemon rind.

Lunch:
75g (3oz) cooked rice with 175g (7oz) steamed vegetables – celery, leek, carrot, tomato, spinach, broccoli and shredded cabbage.

Dinner:
75g (3oz) cooked rice mixed with soaked dried apricots, raisins, sultanas, and the flesh of a pink grapefruit.

Day 5: 1100 calories
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Breakfast:
As on day 2.

Lunch:
1 apple, 1 pear, 150g (6oz) raw vegetable salad (cauliflower and broccoli florets, carrot, spring onion, grated red cabbage, mange tout) tossed in olive oil and cider vinegar dressing, sprinkled with a teaspoon of raisins and 3 chopped brazil nuts. Large jacket potato filled with 75g (3oz) steamed spinach chopped with 2 teaspoons of olive oil, clove of garlic and a generous grating of nutmeg. Herb or weak Indian tea.

Dinner:
75g (3oz) fromage frais mixed with 1 carton of low-fat live yoghurt, poured over a generous bowl of mixed fruit salad, including kiwi, pineapple, orange, grapes, blueberries, apple. Cup of herb tea.

Day 6: 1300 calories
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Breakfast:
As on day 2.

Lunch:
1 banana, 150g (6oz) mixed salad (shredded iceberg lettuce tomato, olives, red pepper, carrot, spring onions, cucumber, a clove of garlic, fennel and watercress) with a dressing of lemon juice, walnut oil and tarragon. 1 large jacket potato with 75g (3oz) steamed French or runner beans with a dessertspoon of sunflower oil sprinkled with finely chopped onions. Herb or weak Indian tea.

Dinner:
75g (3oz) muesli mixed with lemon juice, 1tsp honey, grated apple and 1 carton of low-fat live yoghurt. 1 slice wholemeal bread with a matchbox sized piece of brie, camembert or similar soft