You don’t have to follow a die hard course of only juice to detox your body. Never underestimate those detox diets. You need to make free time to do them (eating out and Friday evening drinks are not included) and you can sometimes feel a bit lifeless.

I try to do a detox like that twice per year. I prepare for it. Empty my agenda, no food dates. I prefer to continue with work though. It provides me with the necessary distraction. Cleansing your body gives a wonderful feeling. Your skin glows, you get extra energy and your body feels firmer. It’s also good to eat extremely pure foods for a few days. Your body gets a kick start from it. Now to kick my cigarette habit.

Here are seven foods that have a cleansing effect on your body. Eat these for three days in a row. Combine with salads, smoothies or eat as a snack and you’ll see results almost immediately.

Asparagus

I love them steamed or on the grill. You can eat them raw. That lessens the bloated feeling in your body. Green asparagus detoxifies your liver (very good after a night out with lots of wine).

Avocado

I eat at least one per day. Delicious in a salad or smoothie. Avocados contain good fats and are very satisfying. They lower high blood pressure, stabilise blood sugar levels (great in combo with fruit, which often contain loads of sugar) and give your immune system a boost.

Raw nuts

I prefer making my own nut mix. Most pre-packed shop bought nuts have added sugars or are roasted or smoked. Mix hazelnuts, almonds and walnuts with goji berries, cranberries, mulberries and hennep seeds. You can buy them all in the natural supermarket and make sure they are all untreated (check the package but if you buy in an eco-store you’re probably fine). All of them are a source of good unsaturated fats and vitamins and minerals like calcium, potassium, phosphorus and vitamins E and B. Above all, these super foods have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body.

Sprouts

You only pay a few euros for a box of sprouts (enough for about three days). Alfalfa sprouts, radish sprouts or taugé are delicious on a rice-cracker with avocado or a nut-paste. There are loads of antioxidants in sprouts, which strengthen your immune system and are good for digestion. Seriously, sprouts are it.

Apples

Preferably Granny Smith apples, they have the lowest sugar content. You also control your appetite by eating them and they have a detoxifying effect.

Green tea

Choose for the biological variant, from the natural supermarket. Loads of antioxidants and has a detoxifying effect on the liver.

Wheatgrass

A shot of this is an absolute blast for your body. Most juice bars serve it. You can even order them frozen online for at home, but I prefer mine fresh. It is chock-a-block full of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antioxidants. A perfect detox for the body. One shot of wheatgrass is equal to a kilo of fresh green vegetables. So. One way to get them in you quickly.

Oh yeah, drink litres of water and take a sauna every now and then or do an activity that makes you sweat. This helps impurities to leave the body easily.