The 3-day juice detox you should be doing

If getting healthy is your top priority this summer, then this is the 3-day juice detox you should be trying. Day in, day out, your digestive system works hard, extracting nutrients from food and flushing away waste products – and inevitably every so often it needs a break. Bad skin? Bloated tum? Foggy head? These are just some of the symptoms of a sluggish gut that’s crying out for help.

A juice diet could effectively help cleanse your body of lurking toxins and jumpstart a healthy you in just few days. Juicing your fruit and veg rather than eating it allows nutrients to be absorbed more easily since less digestive work is needed ­– and the results are pretty instant. Follow our 3-day plan for amazing results.

What you need

Follow the diet and rules below for three days for best results. For ease and to keep costs low, each day comprises the same five juices which are made up of super-nutrient rich fruits and vegetables with a couple of extras thrown in. Before embarking on the diet, you will need to invest in a juicer. We recommend a cold-pressed juicer as these tend to keep a higher proportion of nutrients in tact – but they do come with a hefty price tag. For a less expensive option, a centrifungal juicer is the way forward. These extract juice via a spinning blade and heat.

Remember, a juice diet can offer a cleansing kick-start but does not work as a long-term solution to weight loss. There is no substitute for a diet packed with lean protein, complex carbohydrates, good fats and lots of fruit and veg.

Five simple rules

1. To ease yourself into the plan, cut out processed foods, caffeine and alcohol one week leading up to the three-day plan. After finishing the diet stick to light foods such as soups, fish and vegetables to make sure you don’t overwhelm your body too soon.

2. Sip two litres of water and herbal teas (such as peppermint, fennel, nettle) daily to help boost skin health and flush away toxins.

3. As you will be consuming fewer calories than usual you should avoid intense exercise. If you don’t want to skip your workout, power walking, low-intensity yoga or Pilates are good exercise options.

4. Body-brush daily to help supercharge the detox process. Using an exfoliating brush, start from the soles of your feet work your way upwards towards your heart using slow, circular motions.

5. Remember to consult your GP if you have any medical condition or would simply like advice before starting the diet.

The diet

BREAKFAST

UPON RISING

A cup of hot water with lemon

Summer cooler

Blitz together 1 cup of coconut water, 1 handful cucumber chunks, 1 apple, 1 handful spinach, 1 handful blueberries, juice of half a lemon a few sprigs of fresh mint

MID MORNING

Power greens

Blitz together 1 cup apple juice, 1 cup spinach, 1 cup kale, 1 cup broccoli florets, 1 cup celery chunks, 1 pear

LUNCH

Super smooth smoothie

Blitz together 1 cup almond milk, 1 cup water, 1 tbsp flaxseeds, 1 handful mixed berries, 1 avocado, 1 pear

MID AFTERNOON

Vitality cleanser

Blitz together 1 cup coconut water, 1 cup carrots, 1 cup beetroot, 1 cup spinach, 1 cup mixed berries

DINNER

Mind, body, beautiful!

Blitz together 1 cup apple juice, 1 handful mango pieces, 1 handful strawberries, 1 handful lettuce, 1 handful celery and juice of half a lemon