This 10-day 10-step spring clean is cheap, easy and so good for you, you may stick at it!
- Start by drinking 2 litres of water a day. Get your first 1/2 litre in before breakfast and the rest becomes easy. If plain water isn’t to your taste, add a little sugar free, organic juice flavouring. Fill a 2 litre bottle in the morning and sip throughout the day.
- Replace your morning coffee with tea, preferably a green tea. You can still get your caffeine hit but in a much lesser dose but ingest all the benefits of anti-oxidants. Green tea comes in many varieties so it’s no longer tart or bitter.
- Look in the mirror and tell yourself you are a beautiful healthy being. By taking control of your mind and negative self beliefs, you will direct your body’s own healing energy into repair and renew mode.
- Flush out your intestines and colon - you will crap a lot, but it’ll be worth it. Try replacing white rice, pasta and bread with whole grain brown rice. You don’t have to cook for an hour or chew on it for ages anymore - Uncle Bens do a 10 minute boil in the bag wholegrain rice that is soft, has a nutty taste and is good for your digestion. Mix it up in a cold tuna salad or serve hot with a curry. Eat a portion every day for 10 days to shift colonic waste. Do it for a month and it’s happy days.
- Leave out alcohol. To avoid feeling cheated replace your wine or beer with something equally tasty. Ginger beer delivers a similar thirst quenching kick as a cold lager while a wine glass of cranberry juice helps the mind overcome the feeling of lack. Your kidneys will be eternally grateful and your skin will shine. It’s only 10 days!
- Do a little exercise if you’re a lazy person or spice up your regular routine if you’re an active bunny. It doesn’t have to be hectic, just something to get your blood going - walk up a hill, cycle instead of drive short distances, stretch morning and afternoon, or my favourite, stick on some tunes and dance around your living room.
- Replace your sugary fatty snacks with something healthy - organic dried apricots make a good swap for sweets, get your chocolate fix from a Nakd coca loca bar, and substitute crisps with brazil nuts or almonds. Brazils contain so much vitamin E your skin and hair can’t help but get glossy.
- Eat fish instead of meat - particularly oily fish like mackeral or salmon. It’s easier on your digestion and the increased Omega intake will boost your brain and memory.
- Getting your 5 a day is essential anyway, but for 10 days, try and eat as much raw food as possible - think smoothies and salads - but if cooking lightly steam your veggies and eliminate fried fatty foods and pastries.
- Wash your hair and body in something special, use a dry skin brush to clear away dead cells then moisturise. Remember to have a massage - Indian head is fantastic or a full body aromatherapy - but if funds are low, use quality extra virgin olive oil and give your own body a good slow rub.