Your queries about natural health answered

Your queries about natural health answered by Jacquie Lane for the College of Naturopathic Medicine

Can I do a detox without starving myself?

There’s no need to restrict quantity when undertaking a detox, simply address the content of what you consume! It’s the perfect time of year to do one, for a body spring clean.

A good way of preparing for a detox is to omit all alcohol, tobacco, gluten, dairy and caffeine for 1 week as a lead up to a stricter 2 week session. For the 2 week detox, further omit all animal products, including fish and eggs. The 2 weeks should consist of each day having 7 portions of vegetables and 3 fruits (apples, pears, berries, pineapple, papaya). The grains allowed are buckwheat, quinoa, wild rice, brown rice and millet. You can get flakes as well as the whole grain, so you are able to make porridge, as well as a side serving with your meals. Your protein sources can be nuts, seeds, beans and lentils. Dairy alternatives can be from almond milk, coconut milk, hazelnut milk or hemp milk, all unsweetened. Remember that fresh herbs and spices can really pep up a meal. A day’s menu plan could look like this:

• Breakfast: Buckwheat porridge with almond milk, berries and ground flax seed.
• Snack: Almonds and an apple
• Lunch: Baked sweet potato with home-made hummus, a large mixed salad with lemon and olive oil dressing
• Snack: Home-made guacamole with carrot, cucumber and celery sticks.
• Dinner: Italian style rice with leeks, garlic, peas and mushrooms, served with kale or spinach.

If you already have a vegan lifestyle you’ll benefit from cutting out gluten and soya for a few weeks and replacing them with healthier grains and vegetable protein sources, such as lentils, beans and quinoa.

To drink, apart from pure water, opt for herbal teas. Try peppermint, Redbush (try the Earl Grey version) camomile, dandelion leaf and root teas. If you find you are missing your daily caffeine habit try green tea which has just enough caffeine to stave off withdrawal headaches.

There are some very useful supplements to aid the liver whilst detoxing, so see a nutritional therapist who can set a personalised plan for you.

See your health professional for advice.

Free open evening
2nd April, 6.30pm–8.30pm
Free Brighton Open Evening: find out about CNM training to become a nutritional therapist.

9th April, 6.30pm–8.30pm
Free Health Talk by Jacquie Lane: Boost Your Fertility through Juicing.

Jacquie Lane is both a lecturer and the Director of Studies at CNM, (College of Naturopathic Medicine) in Brighton. Jacquie also runs her own nutrition clinic and manages a biological testing lab specialising in digestive issues. Email Jacquie at: sunshinenutrition@hotmail.co.uk