insideKENT Magazine Issue 29 - August 2014 | Page 84

HEALTH+WELLNESS

summer detox
If the recent sunshine has put you in a spin about wearing less and baring all, then a summer
detox could be just what you need. This can be a simple way to get you on the road to
looking and feeling fabulous for all that the summer season has to offer. BY LUCY OSBORNE

Summer is the perfect time to ‘eat clean’ and
give your body the care and attention it deserves.
A detox isn’t about starving yourself, it is about
using fresh and vital foods to cleanse and support
your body. There are plenty of these foods
seasonally available at this time of year, which
simply adds to the ease of a summer detox.
The main aim of a detox is to cleanse and support
our overworked livers. This can stimulate weight
loss, reduce bloating, improve the quality of our
skin, improve hormonal balance, assist digestion
and improve bowel function, as well as increase
energy and improve mood and concentration.
This can all be achieved by merely thinking about
the food we eat.

overall energy levels and can also interfere with
the body’s ability to burn fat.
Refined sugar (sweets, cakes, biscuits, dessert,
fizzy drinks)
Too much refined sugar not only makes you fat,
it also leaches vital nutrients from the body making
you tired and weakening the immune system.
Alcohol
An intestinal irritant, alcohol is laden with sugar
and as a result makes you fat around the middle.
Alcohol has to be processed by the liver and
during this time the liver stops doing the important
job of fat burning, making it a double whammy
for our tummies.

I urge you not to embark on these dietary changes
lightly – it is important to plan your detox period
carefully, try to choose a time with few social
engagements. If your diet is usually high in sugar
then expect to feel tired initially as your body
adjusts to the changes; remember you will feel
much more energised by the end. If you regularly
drink caffeine then suddenly stopping may give
you a headache, so cut down slowly over a few
days before the detox. A detox can last from 7
to 30 days, but I advise you start with 10 days;
this is easily achievable for most people and
should produce noticeable results.

Fresh fruits and vegetables (all and any, except
white potatoes) – Aim to eat a serving of raw
vegetables daily

Foods to Avoid

Whole grains (excluding wheat) – Oats, rye,
brown rice and quinoa

Processed foods and bad fats
The more processed a food the less goodness
it contains. Have you noticed how white bread
is fortified with vitamins? Many processed foods
contain undesirable trans fats that should be
avoided.

Foods to Enjoy

Wheat (bread, pasta, cakes, biscuits, wheatbased cereals, cous cous)
Wheat contains gluten which is a common
allergen and can cause constipation, bloating,
fatigue and anaemia, as well as coeliac disease.

Fish (fresh or canned in water / olive oil) – Aim
for at least 4 servings in the 10 days

Milk and