Five quick ways to detox yourself

Sure, our bodies are temples and long-term health requires long-term effort.

But sometimes we all need a quick fix to clear the system and boost the body.

In a nutshell, detoxing is about getting rid of things, rather than putting things in. Processed food, pollution, chemicals in cosmetics and detergents, booze, cigarettes and the general trappings of modern life all clog the system and stop your body working as efficiently and cleanly as possible.

Detoxing is like taking a power-hose to your insides and getting every little nook and cranny cleaned out.

1. Get a colonic

If in doubt, slush it out. It may be a sobering thought, but not everything that goes in to the body comes out. Processed food, booze, stodge and fat can all lead to grotty colons and sluggish systems.

A colonic (or colonic hydrotherapy) cleans you on the inside and once you’ve gone through the embarrassment of having a tube put up your bum by a stranger, you’ll not want to waste all that by cramming your gullet with sweets and crips for a while.

2. Ditch the caffeine

Cut out all caffeine for three days (and this includes fizzy drinks like diet cola as well as the obvious tea and coffee) and make sure you get at least eight glasses of water a day.

Sip green tea to help you get over the headaches as your body readjusts to afternoons without the java-mainline and your skin, bloated belly and tired eyes will thank you.

3. Spring clean your meals

Cook all your own food and make sure you avoid all processed food, which includes white bread, pasta and shop-bought condiments.

Instead, opt for grilled lean meats and fish, steamed vegetables and brown rice. Use natural flavour enhancers such as lemon, lime and freshly chopped herbs and chillis to spice things up.

4. Exfoliate

Our skin is the body’s largest organ, and is responsible for getting rid of loads of the nasties we’re exposed to in every day life. It’s essential that you don’t neglect it, not just for your complexion, but for your waist line too.

Use a long-handled, natural body brush every morning to remove dead skin cells and freshen pores, or reach for a gentle exfoliator every time you shower.

5. Get some sleep

Sleep is the time when your body gets to repair itself and make good all the damage your late nights, takeaways and bottles of wine have done. Too little sleep can prevent this happening fully and leave your system sluggish and misfiring.

Have a warm bath and sip hot water with ginger and lemon, before settling down for a solid eight hours.