The secret to a detox diet

(17/02/2010)

A detox helps to rejuvenate the body and mind. It improves energy and mood, aids weight loss, clears the skin and improves digestion. With all those benefits, who wouldn't want to give it a go?

With this in mind, Food Secret founder Sergio Mottola has challenged nutritional expert Kate Cook to discover and share the secret to a detox diet.

Experience the benefits of increased health, energy and vitality by following these top ten tips for a minimum of 7 days:

1. Start the day with a cleansing mug of hot water with 1/4 squeezed lemon, a slice of root ginger and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
2. Eat a fruit-based breakfast, such as stewed or fresh fruit salad with natural yoghurt, or a freshly made smoothie.
3. Stay well hydrated, so drink at least 2 litres of water daily. Fresh juices, such as carrot, beetroot, apple and cucumber are also fantastically nourishing and cleansing so aim to drink one fresh juice daily - ideally on an empty stomach for maximum benefit. Herbal teas are good too. In January when it is cold, a warming drink is uplifting and helps you steer away from the caffeine!
4. Eat mainly fresh food in its natural unprocessed state and cook by steaming, lightly boiling or poaching rather than frying.
5. Choose freshly prepared food. A diet full of vibrant fruit, healthy whole grains and vegetables will help your body detoxify.
6. Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables per day, aiming for more if you can. For lunch and dinner, ensure at least 60% of your plate is vegetables and eat as much variety of colours as possible, aiming to cover the whole spectrum of the rainbow.
7. Try to eat a wide variety of different foods and try to limit sugar and refined carbohydrates.
8. Eat a great breakfast with plenty of protein - it will help you feel energetic throughout the day.
9. Ensure you are consuming a varied diet of lentils, chickpeas, eggs, fish, beans, tempeh (fermented tofu), quinoa, seeds and nuts, which are all good sources of protein.
10. Incorporate lifestyle factors into your regime to support the process: get a good night’s sleep, take a yoga class and treat yourself to a massage or sauna.

Food Secret is the new Soho eatery that provides a wide range of quick and tasty menu options. Although its versatile offering is available throughout the year, the post festive season offers the perfect opportunity to explore.

Banish impurities - and keep out the chills - with FoodSecret’s unique Detox Soup, packed with such key purifying ingredients as shitake mushrooms, roasted broccoli, grated ginger and roast garlic purée.

Prefer to tuck into a sandwich at lunchtime? Then try a Leaping Salmon, a cleansing combo of ruby chard, spring onion and beet blushed salmon. Toxin-busting salads meanwhile feature the likes of Regeneration X, a mix of watercress, spinach, toasted mixed seeds and roast garlic vinaigrette.

Food Secret is also set to brighten moods and boost energy levels with two delicious detox drinks: Saintly Ginger and Lemon Barley Water and Green Tea & Mint Zinger. As with everything at Food Secret, recipes can also be adapted to make each Detox Menu completely bespoke.

Created by Food Secret consultant Chris Barber, former personal chef to HRH The Prince of Wales, these great dishes are part of Food Secret founder Sergio Mottola’s pledge to constantly provide added value. Food Secret’s aim is to help its customers to eat well throughout the year.

Related categories:  Diets 

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