Getting ready for summer never really happened this year. Most of June and July seemed to be a wash out. Particularly one wet, windy weekend we went hill walking. After several days of steep ascents and descents, suppers felt distinctly wintery inside cosy pubs… Where were the al fresco suppers of fresh, summer salads watching the evening’s sun bathe the hillsides?

Since there was no external sunshine I decided to give myself some internal sunshine – a juice cleanse seemed to be the perfect answer.

I signed myself up for 3 day Level 3 Plenish Cleanse – ‘designed for maximum results and a serious alkaline balancing act’. The prep days got off to a great start. Amazingly the sun began to shine and the temperatures soared to a rare 26 degrees – so the diet of light salads, no dairy, caffeine or alcohol and lots of water that they recommend felt easy. The juices arrived well packaged with insulation to keep them chilled and a cleanse user manual as well as a signature glass straw. Perfect for consuming future juices and smoothies!

For the next three days I had six different juices a day, (four of them green), all of them 100% organic (certified by The Soil Association), and lots of water in between.

The 4pm ‘Kick’ juice, which contains lemon, chili, lime and coconut nectar, certainly punches above its weight and is a boost at a time of day when energy levels can dip. Going to bed topped up with with cashew based ‘Build’ kept any possible hunger pangs firmly at bay.

I felt fully supported throughout the process and it felt much less hard work than I originally thought it would be. The ‘Boost’ juice was previously a favourite as I had already acquainted myself with that one at Wholefoods – I find it is the perfect antidote to a busy weekend of socializing, helping to ease me into another working week. Packed full of spinach, kale, parsley, romaine lettuce, cucumber, ginger, lime, pear and lemon – it tastes deliciously green and is so nutrient dense you can almost feel your skin glowing with happiness. After the cleanse finished, I really felt my digestive system had been given a new lease of life and was thankful for a much needed rest.

Want to try out a Plenish Cleanse? Click here!

words by Susie Armitage