Some Great Tips On How To Do A One Day Detox To Feel Fantastic And Lose Weight

Yes, we have all over-indulged at some time, either on holiday, going to too many parties (is that possible?) or just by eating a poor diet because of our busy lives. Our harshly treated bodies struggle along trying to deal with all the toxins we put into it - so sometimes it is good to give it a rest and do a one day detox ... come on, we can all manage one day. Actually, there is a little more to it than that, but it's not too difficult.

How To Prepare Your Body For the Detox Day

In the week leading up to your detox day you should eat between one to three servings of any of the following foods - onions, garlic, oranges, celery, asparagus, green leafy vegetables, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and limes.

In addition eat at least one serving or supplement from the following list - apples, berries, pears, carrots, flax seeds, olive oil.

Eat also two servings of lean protein such as chicken or fish, and drink enough water to equal have your bodyweight in ounces. For example if you weigh 140 lbs (or ten stones), you should drink 70 fluid ounces of water which is around three and a half pints.

Avoid any kind of junk or processed food! 

The Detox Day Has Arrived!

You need a quiet day when you will be at home, so plan ahead. 

You should drink a cup of fluid each hour from when you get up in the morning, ideally water. Every other hour you should drink a cup of the drink made from the following recipe. The ingredients you will need are - freshly squeezed orange and lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger and cranberry juice (unsweetened). You will also need a herb called Stevia (which is a natural sugar substitute) which you should be able to obtain from a health food store. Bring to the boil the cranberry juice and simmer for 20 minutes over a low heat adding all the ingredients apart from the orange and lemon juice and the Stevia. Allow the liquid to cool and add the Stevia and orange and lemon juice and refrigerate.

First thing in the morning and when you go to bed take one to two teaspoons of powdered psyllium husks or two to three teaspoons of ground flaxseeds with a glass or water or the juice you have made.

Chill out - do very little exercise on your detox day.

For Three Days After the Detox Day

Make sure that each day you eat a serving of low fat live yoghurt with active cultures as this will restore good bacteria into your gut.

By this stage you should be feeling fantastic and remember to check out the scales as you can lose up to around half a stone in weight by following this Detox plan.

It is important that you check with your doctor before embarking on any major change in your diet, so we recommend that you speak to your GP or your pharmacist before starting any kind of detox plan.

10 Great Tips On How To Wear The Maxi Dress

The maxi dress has been around for a few seasons now, but it doesn't seem to be losing any of its appeal or popularity - maybe this is because it is so easy and so forgiving to wear. It can look fabulous whether you are tall or short and it's brilliant to take away on holiday as it can be worn casually in the daytime over a bikini or in the evening dressed up. Here are some tips on how to choose a maxi dress to suite your size and shape and how to wear it.

Choosing a maxi dress to suite your size and shape

• If you are taller with a larger frame look for a maxi dress which has a more fitted bodice rather than one that is gathered under the bust as this will give you a more defined profile rather than yards of material billowing out around your middle.
• For those with a few extra pounds around the waistline look for A-line styles (rather than gathered) which flare out from under the bust and which will flatter the waist and hips.
• Bandeau style maxi dresses are fantastic for hot summer days and they look very elegant as they accentuate the shoulders and neck - think of Angelina Jolie in that famous black bandeau maxi dress pictured with her children. She is wearing no jewellery at all, just sunglasses, but looks super cool.

Choosing Colours and Patterns On A Maxi Dress

• If you are petite look for smaller prints such as flower or Indian designs which won't swamp you. Smaller girls can still pull off the block stripe designs as well though.
• If you are choosing a maxi dress for evening wear, look for a single coloured dress which will look stylish and which can be dressed up with jewellery.
• White maxi dresses are perfect for summer days and evenings and they have been spotted on celebrities such as Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan and Kate Hudson. Perfect for that sunset walk along the beach on holiday too.

Accessorising Your Maxi Dress To Perfection

• Small and delicate jewellery doesn't really suit the maxi dress vibe. Jewellery to accessorise a maxi dress needs to be strong and bold in style and colour. Look for colourful Millefiori glass pendants, ethnic style jewellery and bold wood or metal bangles rather than bracelets.
• With shoes - really anything goes. Flip-flops can be worn daytime or evening with a maxi, but if you are going for the super sophisticated evening look then go for some killer-high heel strappy shoes to add extra glamour. Even pumps or cowboy boots will look great with a maxi dress.
• Please don't carry a tiny hand or shoulder bag around - again choose something big and bold - I really think casual bags are the way to go for daytime wear with a maxi, look for straw bags, or colourful fabric styles.
• For cooler evenings a pashmina to wrap around your shoulders looks great - or instead take some tips from the golden girl of Hollywood - Jennifer Anniston. When she wore the Burberry maxi dress (pictured above) at the premier of Marley and Me above in London, she covered up with a tailored and chic blazer which looked amazing.

Five Brilliant Superfoods Which Will Keep You Young And Beautiful

We hear lots of different things about superfoods and antioxidants these days, so we decided to delve into some of their mysteries in more depth and look at how they can keep us young and beautiful longer. We came up with these five top superfoods with which you can literally feed your face, keeping it smoother, more beautiful and wrinkle free for longer.

Superfood Number 1 - Strawberries

Evidence has shown that people who eat lots of foods rich in Vitamin C have less lines and wrinkles and less age related skin dryness than those lacking in this wonder Vitamin. The reason behind this is that Vitamin C is an antioxidant which fights free radicals which will damage skin cells and break down collagen in the skin leading to sagging and wrinkles. Make sure you get your strawberry smoothies down you and don't be afraid to make up a strawberry facepack, mixing strawberries with oatmeal, honey and yoghurt and even adding some orange juice (more Vitamin C).  Make sure to do a patch test first though.

Superfood Number 2 - Virgin Olive Oil

This magical ingredient benefits you from the inside when it is added to salads, it is drizzled on bread or used for stir-frying. Again, it's full of those fantastic antioxidants and it also reduces inflammation, which can also speed up skin ageing. Apply it to your skin on the outside as well - it was good enough for the Romans to use to smooth their skin so it's good enough for us. Use it where skin is dry or needs softening, such as on your lips or even on elbows and knees.

Superfood Number 3 - Pomegranates

Pomegranates beat them all for inflammation fighting antioxidants - it has even more of the feisty little fellas than red wine or green tea. Make sure you pick up the fruits at the supermarket when they are in season, or look for them in fresh juices mixed with yummy fruits such as raspberry or cranberry.

Superfood Number 4 - Green Tea

Again - packed full of antioxidants - you should aim to drink about three cups a day, and when you have done with your teabag, remember to chill it in the fridge and use it to cool eyes and reduce any puffiness. If you drink your green tea with some lemon juice then the antioxidant power is given a massive boost as all the goodness should stay in your system for longer.

Superfood Number 5 - Oily Fish!

Yes, put like that it doesn't sound fantastic to everyone, but believe us - eating two to three portions of oily fish such as sardines, salmon or mackerel each week has amazing health benefits not only for your heart but also your skin. These types of fish contain Omega-3 oils which strengthen skin cell membranes which helps hydrate the skin and which also helps reduce any inflammation caused by Eczema and other dry skin conditions.

Make sure you add some of these goodies to your shopping list next time you are in the supermarket and see what a difference they can make.