Are you ready for a 7 day detox? If you have managed to give up alcohol and caffeine and bump up your antioxidant and fiber intake without experiencing more than mild side effects, then you are ready to try a proper detox, and a 7-day plan is a good starting point.

Before you start

Here are some general guidelines before you start your 7-day detox, which will help you to plan ahead and have a greater chance of success.

• Buy a wide range of the foods listed on the detox shopping list
• Decide which herbs and supplements you want to take and buy them either by mail order or from a good complementary chemist.
• Buy a skin brush, Epsom salts and any oils, flower essences, foot patches or other treatments you are planning to use at home
• Book appointments for any complementary therapies that you would like to aid your detox methods

Rules of the 7 Day Detox

• No caffeine or alcohol is allowed. Substitute herb teas, dandelion root coffee and fresh juices.
• No dairy foods are permitted on the 7-day detox. Milk and cheese increase mucus production and are difficult to digest. Lactose is a common food intolerance. You can replace milk with almond milk, rice milk, oat milk or soya milk. Sheep’s and goat’s products are easier to digest if you really cannot do without dairy (though I would recommend you really try to avoid them)
• No wheat or gluten-containing grains, such as rye, which have an acid effect on the digestion. This means no bread, pasta or white rice. Choose oats, brown rice, millet and quinoa instead.
• No meat or poultry, because of the antibiotics and food additives they contain. For protein, choose plant sources, organic eggs, tofu or oily fish from organic (non-farmed) sources.
• No processed or ready-made foods whatsoever. Everything should be fresh and cooked without salt, sugar or sweeteners. Use fresh herbs for seasoning.
• Eat three meals and two snacks every day, making sure that you have something to eat every three hours. Most of your food will be vegetables and fruit, whole grains and plant proteins.
• Do make sure that you get at least 20 minutes of exercise every day,
• Drink 2 liters (3 – 4 pints) of water a day and have cups of herbal (non-caffeine-containing) teas whenever you feel like them.
• Dry-brush your skin before a shower or bath at least once a day and, if you can bear it, follow your bathing routine with a cold shower.

What can you expect from a 7 Day Detox?

Headaches and fatigue are normal in the first few days of a detox. Some people even feel as though they are coming down with flu, a syndrome that complementary therapists call a ‘healing crisis’.

What is happening is that old chemicals stored in fat tissues are being released into the bloodstream: antibiotics, pesticides, food additives, heavy metals and other waste products. Some people break out in spots as their body sheds toxins through the skin; others get constipation, diarrhea or bad breath with the change in digestive routine; yet more feel giddy and nauseous.

Take it easy and keep drinking 2 liters of water throughout the day. If the symptoms don’t pass in four days, consult a doctor to rule out any underlying illness.

Although you won’t purge a lifetime’s worth of toxins during your first-ever 7 day detox, you will have made a significant difference. Next time you try a detox, the healing crisis won’t be so severe and will probably not last so long.

A 7-day detox is a step towards better health but you should find that by the end of it, your skin looks clearer and glowing, and you feel more energetic and clear-headed. Your bowels and liver should function more efficiently and you’ll have given your immune system a mini-boost.

Weight loss From a 7 Day Detox

Most people lose weight when they detox, because they are avoiding fats, sugars and all the other foods and drinks that pile on the calories. If you return to your previous eating patterns after seven days, you will soon replace any kilos you have lost. If you have more weight to lose, continue eating according to the detox rules, but reintroduce organic meats and poultry, wheat and dairy, as described below. Stay off processed and packaged foods and keep eating fresh as much as possible. You probably will not need to calorie-count or reduce your portions – few people overeat on such a healthy diet. The only danger is slipping back to old ways of eating.

Coming off your 7-day detox

Don’t wolf down a four-cheese pizza and a bottle of Pinot Grigio on day 8 or you will feel unwell. Keep eating the same kinds of food as on the detox diet but gradually introduce organic poultry, then red meat, goat’s or sheep’s cheese and wholegrain bread.

If you suspect you are intolerant to a particular food or foods, test yourself by leaving five days between reintroducing each new food and watching for a reaction. If you experience bloating, headaches, skin rashes, joint pain or unusual symptoms, you may decide to exclude the culprit from your diet for a longer period. All traces of a food will be removed from the body within two months, so reintroduce it after three months to see if you now tolerate it.

Sometimes intolerances pass, especially if you have been helping your system by unburdening some of the toxic load and stimulating healthy organ function.

Hang onto as many good habits from the 7 day detox as you can fit comfortably into your lifestyle. Opt for liver-supporting foods. If you miss coffee, reintroduce a single cup of organic coffee in the morning, but check for any symptoms of dependence developing, e.g. jitteriness and inability to concentrate without it. Most detox experts advise that you repeat your 7 day detox every three to six months.