Now you've abandoned your unworkable post-Christmas diet, it's the perfect time for a proper, measured detox, says the lifestyle consultant Linzi Boyd

Look Before You Leap Don't detox on a whim. Keep an honest food diary for two weeks beforehand. This is a great way of taking stock of what you eat and how you feel afterwards - tired, bloated, still hungry or craving sugar half an hour later. That festive binge a few weeks ago wasn't representative of your usual diet, so wait for things to normalise before you start making changes

Spread it Out Unless you're in the hands of the experts, a hard-core, no-food weekend will do you no good whatsoever. A gradual, natural detox over four weeks is far more effective. You're less likely to fall off the wagon, and will be able to incorporate the good habits into your everyday eating. If you really want a quick fix, go for a residential treatment where your progress is properly monitored. I love Homefield Grange, near Northampton

Cut Out the Culprits The key to an effective detox is cutting out processed foods, refined sugars and artificial sweeteners. Try eliminating wheat for the four weeks, too - a lot of people have a gluten sensitivity, but because they eat it every day, any bloating or digestive trouble it causes just seem normal

Balance Your Food Groups This always surprises people, but a detox food-plan is not just about raw vegetables. You should incorporate carbohydrate, protein and fat into every meal. Aim for equal proportions of complex carbohydrates and lean protein. This applies to snacks as well - pair apple with goat's cheese, and chicken with oatcakes. By making sure you don't go hungry, you're far more likely to stick to the programme. And take a good probiotic, such as Biocare, to nourish your system

Don't Fear Fat Fat does not make you fat. It's vital for your body, whether you're detoxing or not. Replace your usual cooking fats with coconut oil - I swear by it. Despite being saturated, it's one of the purest fats there is and will not go rancid. It also makes a brilliant natural body moisturiser when fragranced with essential oils such as lavender or grapefruit

Opt for Organic Pesticides and chemicals have to be broken down by your liver, so ease the strain by choosing organic whenever you can. People often complain that organic goods are more expensive, but processed food contains so few nutrients that you need to eat twice as much in order to fill and feed your body properly

Skin Deep Much of what you put on your skin is absorbed into the body - so don't undo all your good work by plastering on cheap moisturiser. Treat yourself to some natural skincare products; I love the Living Nature range, which is made with manuka honey. Dry body-brushing is also a great way of shifting dead skin cells, clearing the pores and boosting circulation, all of which help the detox process

Don't Give Up After a two-day high at the beginning, you're likely to hit a low point after ten days - push through it. Boost your spirits with a massage or facial. If you can, persuade a friend at work to join you on the detox, to carry you through your weak tea-time moments

Source: The Telegraph UK