
After just a week of detox, you can already feel its effects on your body and mind. Here's how it should have made you feel:
• In the first few days, you may have had a slight headache, probably due to caffeine withdrawal, and possibly partly due to withdrawal of junk foods, such as sugar, additives and alcohol. By day seven this should have disappeared.
• Your digestive system should be working well, with more regular bowel movements. Citrus fruits and strawberries are very acidic and may cause 'griping' stomach pains on the detox - if so, avoid them for a while.
• Your kidneys will be working overtime, with frequent visits to the loo. If you've been prone to puffy eyes or stomach bloating, these should be considerably improved.
• You should begin to feel more energised and 'lighter', with a clearer head and more able to think on your feet.
There's no need to feel hungry while you diet and detox. The wholefood approach means your digestive system always has plenty of food to keep it working and keep hunger pangs at bay. It takes longer to completely digest a 10-calorie carrot or 100-calorie handful of nuts than it does a 300-calorie slice of sponge cake. So when you feel the urge to snack, make it a natural one and you won't do your diet any harm at all.