The ‘Total Detox’ programme is a full fast, which involves abstaining from solid food for a short period of time. Depending on how accustomed your body is to fasting, substituting solid food for The Lemon Detox can be done for 5-7 days. For people embarking on a fast for the first time, this should be done for 3-5 days.

For those more experienced this can be extended up to 10 days, but should only be done so under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

During the detox, drink only the recommended liquids and avoid eating solid foods. Each day drink 7-10 glasses of the detox drink, along with at least two litres of water.

Please note, the ‘Total Detox’ is only to be done for short periods of time. There is no substitute for healthy eating and exercise when it comes to long term healthy living.

For those wishing to try a more relaxed version, over a longer period of time, you can substitute breakfast and dinner with 2-3 glasses of the detox drink.

Eat a healthy meal at lunchtime, abstaining from sweets, processed foods, red meat, fried foods, white bread, refined flour, dairy products, coffee cigarettes and alcohol.

This lengthens the time each night that the body can cleanse. This should be done over a period of two weeks. The effects are not as dramatic as the full detox but it is nevertheless an effective programme.

A set of recipes have been specially designed by Amanda Griggs, nutritionist to the stars at the Balance clinic in London. These can be dowloaded for free below:

 

Dr Michael Moseley recently made a Horizon programme for the BBC called “Eat, Fast and Live Longer”. He talks through the benefits of fasting via the 5:2 method – that’s five days eating normally and two days fasting. Huge amounts of research is being carried out across the US into the benefits of intermittent fasting, but its long term benefits seem very clear.

It is possible to use the Lemon Detox during your ‘fasting’ days (ie. two days a week), to give you your body the 500-600 calories per day that is recommended – a simple, natural alternative to processed shakes, or complicated diet plans etc.

For anyone considering using the Lemon Detox to support their two days fasting every week, we would strongly advise having a read of Michael Moseley’s book “The Fast Diet”. He lays out clearly the benefits of fasting.

If you choose to follow the 5:2 diet using the Lemon Detox, then do get in touch with us as we’d love to hear your feedback.

Click here for more info on the 5:2