Monday, 25 September 2006

The A-list detox diet

Holistic expert Dr Nish Joshi is loved by the stars

Stars visit his central London health clinic to get advice on everything from weight loss to low energy and lethargy. Now you too can achieve the A-lister glow by simply following Dr Joshi's own detox programme and follow-up maintenance plan.

His diet isn't about cutting back on portion sizes, but asks you to follow a 21-day detox during which you avoid certain items, such as processed acidic foods, followed by a new eating regime aimed at maintaining a well-balanced acidity level in the body.

Eliminating acidic foods from your diet in the detox phase will help your body flush out the toxins that can lead to weight gain, bloating and loss of energy. You're also asked to cut out all sugars that encourage the body to break down fat stores and release the trapped toxins.

East meets West

Dr Joshi has family roots in India, but was bought up in London and this mixture of Eastern and Western influences are at the centre of his healthy eating philosophy. Many principles of the diet are based on Ayurvedic medicine.

This ancient Indian philosophy classifies people according to three metabolic types or 'doshas'; your body shape is affected by which type of dosha you have and this dictates the kind of food you should eat.

'If you noticed how quickly Kate Moss, Cate Blanchett and Gwyneth Paltrow, all patients of mine, regained their figures after giving birth, you'll have seen how well my holistic detox works,' says Dr Joshi.

Of course, you don't have to be a celebrity to benefit from his eating plan. 'My programmes designed around the concept of thoroughly cleansing the body's insides and keeping them clean,' he says. This, he promises, will bring a healthier, fitter body and energy levels that we can normally only dream of.

The acid effect

A good detox is all about returning the body to its natural alkaline state and cutting down on acid-forming foods that are bad for inner health – these include red meat, alcohol and dairy produce. Acid forming foods are thought to be inflammatory in the body and research suggests that this is the cause of many serious illnesses.

'The average Western diet is tipped far too heavily in favour of acidic foods that contain chemicals which give rise to a lot of miserable conditions,' says Dr Joshi.

Once the 21-day detox is complete, following a healthy new way of eating should help maintain a well-balanced pH level in the blood.

'The idea is to not only alter the pH balance of the body from acid to alkaline, thus expelling acid toxins from the system, but also to focus on eating healthy, fresh foods, restoring energy levels and losing weight,' he says.

While some healthy foods may seem acidic, like oranges and lemons for example, they're actually alkaline-forming when inside the body. This refers to what happens after these foods have been combined with digestive juices inside us that break down what we eat. And, according to Dr Joshi, it's the alkaline-forming foods that are most relevant to changing the body's pH to its slightly alkaline 'neutral.'

Although fruit is alkaline-forming, it's also high in natural sugar, which is why Dr Joshi recommends that you cut it out during the detox, with the exception of bananas. However, you can reintroduce it after three weeks and most salads and vegetables are fine to eat.

After the initial 21-day detox you move over to the maintenance plan. This long-term way of eating healthily gradually re-introduces certain foods that were banned during the detox and even allows some treats.

Dr Joshi's detox menu

Here's what Dr Joshi prescribes you eat and drink on a typical day on his detox-plan…
Wake up
• A cup of filtered water with a slice of lemon. Followed by a breakfast bowl of gluten-free/wheat-free muesli with either soya or rice milk. Add a chopped banana in place of sugar.
Mid-morning snack
• Three large organic carrots peeled and chopped into sticks, sliced raw pak choi, cauliflower florets and mange tout.
Lunch
• Chicken salad sandwich.
Tea
• Hummus and rice crackers.
Supper
• Marinated sea bass with coriander.
Bedtime
• Peppermint tea.

Five top detox tips

1 Start the day with a glass of warm water with a little fresh lemon juice squeezed in it to flush the kidneys.
2 Eat slowly and chew your food at least 8-12 times.
3 Sip water during meals and about ½ hour after eating.
4 Eat several smaller meals a day rather than a few large ones.
5 Drink about 1-2ltr of water or herbal teas a day.

Warning For the first few days you may experience headaches, increased tiredness and nausea. This is the start of the detox process. If you're concerned, stop the detox and seek advice from your GP. Take herbal teas with honey every two to three hours until the symptoms subside.

The detox programme: Your at-a-glance food chart

Foods to avoid
• Fruit drinks such as orange, grapefruit and orange juice.
• Alcohol, especially wine, champagne and beer.
• All fruit (especially citrus) except ripe bananas.
• Processed, fried and spicy foods, baked beans and pizza.
• Low-and reduced-fat foods – these are usually loaded with sugar, carbs and chemicals.
• Bread, pasta and other wheat and gluten products.
• Dairy foods such as cheese, milk and butter.
• Fizzy drinks, tonic water and carbonated flavoured water.
• Nuts, except pine nuts and seeds.
• Potatoes, aubergines, mushrooms, cucumbers, courgettes, tomatoes, peppers and avocados.
• Red meat – lamb, beef, pork, ham, sausages.
• Shellfish – prawns, mussels, crab, lobster and shrimps.
• Sugar, sweets, chocolate, cakes, biscuits, croissants and muffins.
• Tea and coffee, except green tea and herbal teas such as camomile, rosehip and peppermint.
• Tomato ketchup, vinegar, mustard, sauces and chutneys.
• Yeast and yeast products (check the labels on food products such as soy sauce and pickles).

Foods to increase
• Brown rice.
• Buffalo mozzarella (occasionally as a cheese alternative).
• Dark green vegetables (except avocados which are acidic).
• Eggs (no more than three or four times a week).
• Fish (especially oily fish such as sardines, but not shellfish, tuna or swordfish).
• Freshly made vegetable juice.
• Freshly made vegetable soup.
• Gluten-free oatmeal made with rice milk or water.
• Gluten-free and wheat-free bread and cereal.
• Goats cheese, ricotta cheese, cottage cheese.
• Honey.
• Live yogurt.
• Olive oil.
• Pulses, lentils and chickpeas.
• Salad (excluding tomatoes and peppers) and steamed vegetables.
• Soya and tofu products.
• Soya milk, rice milk and goat's milk.
• White meat-chicken and turkey.
• Salt and pepper allowed in moderation.

What the stars say about Dr Joshi

• Gwyneth Paltrow: 'Joshi is truly special. I love him.'
• Sadie Frost: 'Joshi has such a nurturing quality that you completely trust yourself with him – he's an amazing man.'
• Patsy Kensit: 'Joshi's a miracle worker.'
• Toyah Willcox: 'You feel fabulous, fresh and energised for a long, long time.'
• Ralph Fiennes: 'I listen to his advice on diet. He'd be the first person I'd turn to for medical advice.'
• Princess Diana was one of his regular clients: 'You are a star, Nish, and you bring so much light into other people's lives.'
• Other celeb followers include Kate Moss, Juliette Binoche, Cate Blanchett and Javine Hylton.