Hip and Healthy is always on the search for diets that are sustainable, healthy and above all, enjoyable. Healthy eating can be easy for some people; eating a little of what they fancy every now and again and sticking to the school of though of eating well 80% of the time. But I have found that there are many women out there (myself included) that like to be told what to eat, to have guidelines and to be educated as to what is good for them and what is not. That is why we have published this 7 Day Detox Diet – created by the experts and nutritionists at healthy supplement brand, My Protein, we were impressed by the way the diet keeps you full (no more rumbling stomachs only to be met with for four pm carrot allowance) and in its ability to help rid you of toxins at the same time. It has become a diet I turn to whenever I feel I have veered off course for a few weeks. You don’t have to buy all the supplements that the diet recommends but we suggest you do as it really will help you to stay full and will only assist with the detoxing programme. Print it out and keep it with you so you can reference it before you buy your lunch or make your breakfast. Get ready to feel great with very little effort…

7 Day Detox Diet Plan 

Our bodies are assaulted by toxins every day. These are poisonous substances that are produced by living cells or organisms and are capable of causing disease when introduced into the body tissues. They enter our bodies through the food we eat, the air we breathe and even the water we drink and if they are not ‘flushed out’ by our bodies effectively, they can build up and make you more susceptible to disease, cause skin problems such as cellulite, trigger hormonal imbalances or, more commonly, make you feel weak and lethargic. Fortunately there is a solution and it comes in the form of this ‘7 Day Detox Diet Plan’ from Myprotein.com, purposefully designed to target the 4 key areas that need to be cleansed regularly; liver, kidneys, skin and colon, this diet will leave you feeling refreshed, with more energy, better skin and help ward off any illnesses.

Day 1: 

8:00am: Gluten-free bread with nut or seed butter and sugar-free jam

Detox Tip: Whilst most people traditionally start the day with cereal with a pint of milk poured over them, this isn’t great when looking to detox since dairy products and cereals (that contain gluten) are some of the more common causes of food intolerances. Therefore starting your day with the above breakfast option is so much better since it contains no gluten and obviously no milk.

10:30am: Nuts and fruit and a cup of Rosehip tea

Detox Tip: Caffeine is really bad for your colon and digestive tract whilst it has also been shown to strip the body of vitamins and minerals and contribute to addiction, stress, and depression. That’s why in this detox plan you substitute your usual coffee for a range of herbal teas proven to rid the body of toxins. The first is Rosehip tea, high in vitamin C and antioxidants it’s known to be a natural healing cleanser, and is great herb to boost the immune system, so try substituting your morning coffee for a cup of this.

1:00pm: Organic roasted chicken breast with brown basmati rice and steamed broccoli, cabbage and seaweed

3:30pm: Strawberries and blueberries

Detox Tip: Both strawberries and blueberries are a great source of vitamin C, which helps the body produce glutathione, a liver compound that drives away toxins.

6:30pm: Grilled fish and quinoa salad with onions, olive oil, avocado, chickpeas and lentils

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Day 2: 

8:00am: Fruit smoothie made with Spirulina (500g of Organic Spirulina is £28.99 from Myprotein.com) and Soya Milk!

Detox Tip: One thing to consider during a detox is the PH of the body itself since a lot of refined foods are acidic in nature and cause the body’s PH to drop below 7 (foods such as sugars, white flour and soft drinks.) This then allows bacteria to thrive and can cause you to become ill. However if you consume more alkaline foods, you ensure your body’s PH remains in balance and therefore bacteria can’t thrive and cause your body problems. Spirulina is one of the most alkaline foods on the planet, so including this in your diet has massive health benefits and greatly aids rid the body of toxins.

10:30am: Gluten-free crackers with almond butter

1:00pm: Grilled wild salmon with chickpeas, kidney beans and white beans

Detox Tip: Red meat should equally be avoided in the diet when detoxing. It’s difficult for the body to break down, digest, and pass through the system and has been shown to sit inside the colon where it rots and leads to allergies and even colon cancer.

3:30pm: Fruit and nuts

6:30pm: Soy-cured tuna, made with soy sauce, coriander and lime marinade with broccoli and green vegetables

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Day 3:

8:00am: Museli with almonds and cinnamon and soya milk

Detox Tip: Whilst both the museli and almonds provide the body with fibre necessary for good colon health, cinnamon is also  full of antioxidants and has been shown to help people control blood sugar levels.

10:30am: Rice cakes with cashew butter and Milk Thistle tea (90 caps of Milk Thistle is £5.59 from www.myprotein.com

Detox Tip: Used for thousands of years as an effective way to treat poor liver function, the flavanoids in the silymarin complex of milk thistle (namely silibin, silidianin and silychristin) have been shown to have powerful antioxidant properties that help protect the liver from toxins.

1:00pm: Baby greens with chicken and spring vegetables

3:30pm: Carrot and ginger soup

Detox Tip: Ginger has been shown to affect the body in a number of ways, it improves digestion, circulation and helps expel gas whilst it’s also been shown to relieve spasms in the digestive tract, stomach cramps and nausea

6:30pm: Grilled fish and quinoa salad with onions, olive oil, avocado, chickpeas and lentils

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Day 4: 

8:00am: Fruit Fibre Smoothie with Psyllium husks (250g of Psyllium husks is £4.49 from Myprotein.com)

Detox Tip: Fibre is needed in almost all detox diets since it helps the removal of toxin build up within the colon and encourages the growth of healthy bacteria in the digestive system. Therefore try adding Psyllium husks into your morning fruit smoothie as a way to give it an added boost of fibre.

10:30am: Watercress, potato and ginger soup

1:00pm: Grilled wild salmon with chickpeas, kidney beans and white beans

3:30pm: Strawberries and blueberries

6:30pm: Grilled fish and quinoa salad with onions, olive oil, avocado, chickpeas and lentils

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Day 5: 

8:00am: Protein enhanced smoothie made with Strawberries, blueberries and 25g of Soya Protein (1kg of Soy Protein Isolate is £9.49 from www.myprotein.com) and soya milk

Detox Tip: Studies show that the liver needs sufficient protein to help it function properly, therefore having a protein enhanced smoothie in the morning is a great way to ensure it can work properly to detox the body. Specifically soya protein contains an amino acid called cysteine, which your body uses to make glutathione, a powerful natural antioxidant which works in the liver to protect your body from free radicals harmful oxidation and toxins.

10:30am: Beetroot and pomegranate soup

1:00pm: Cod skewers with mushrooms, onions and half a roasted squash and quinoa

3:30pm: Apple and peanut butter

Detox Tip: Sugar should be avoided in any detox diet, since it causes a spike in your blood sugar levels which in turn causes the body to release insulin, and strains the liver and kidneys. Therefore an apple and peanut butter makes the perfect low-sugar snack alternative.

6:30pm: Homemade veggie or turkey chili with steamed carrots, broccoli and cauliflower

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Day 6: 

8:00am: Peanut butter on toast made with Gluten-free bread and a cup of green tea

Detox Tip: Green tea contains high levels of catechins, which help keep your liver healthy while also speeding up your body’s production of detoxifying enzymes.

10:30am: Fruit Fibre Smoothie with Psyllium husks (250g of Psyllium husks is £4.49 from www.myprotein.com) and Soya Milk!

1:00pm: Madras chicken soup with asparagus

Detox Tip: Asparagus contains both prebiotics and probiotics, which are both important for keeping your digestive tract healthy and working properly. Plus, asparagus is full of debloating fiber to help flatten your belly.

3:30pm: All-natural spelt ginger snaps with almond butter

6:30pm: Baked sweet potato fries with vegetables and chopped chicken

Detox Tip: 1 peeled, baked sweet potato contains 28 mg of vitamin C. Vitamin C is an essential water-soluble vitamin that has been shown to support of immunity, wound healing, healthy skin and bones, collagen formation and tissue growth and repair as well as act as a powerful antioxidant which helps detoxify or cleanse the body from harmful substances. (100g of Vitamin C is £4.59 from www.myprotein.com.)

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Day 7: 

8:00am: Granola with water melon

10:30am: Protein enhanced smoothie made with Strawberries, blueberries and 25g of Soya Protein (1kg of Soy Protein Isolate is £9.49 from www.myprotein.com) and soya milk

1:00pm: Steamed snapper with ginger and garlic, with steamed asparagus and wild rice with walnuts

3:30pm: Nuts and seeds

6:30pm: Skipjack tuna salad with olive oil, celery and onions, with green salad or chopped radishes, carrots and celery in olive oil and rice wine vinegar

Image: Miranda Kerr by Terry Richardson for Hapers Bazar