I couldn’t help notice the numerous reports that Gwyneth Paltrow has been on a three week summer detox diet to shed a few pounds that she gained during a “relax and enjoy life phase”. One report said “she feels pure after surviving for three weeks on pumpkin seeds and coconut water” Well, that was a new one on me so I thought I should investigate.
As it turned out that was a journalist creating a sensational headline. The detox diet did include pumpkin seeds on one day and a glass of coconut water (not milk) every day but she had much more food than that!
The diet has been criticized by some nutritionists as being dangerous and unhealthy as the detractors of detox always do but the diet includes meals of chicken and fish on alternate days. The coconut water (from green young green coconuts) contains some vitamins and minerals and there is a fruit and nut smoothie every day too and vegetables . Hardly dangerous and unhealthy.
Gwyneth is glowing and looking great. She says that the plan allowed her to work and exercise regularly, something she could not do on a liquid-only detox. She has done the Master Cleanse also known as the Lemonade Diet previously.
Cardiologist turned detox specialist
The detox diet was based on one devised by Dr Alejandro Junger who although a cardiologist has become a bit of a detox specialist. He, like many of us who got into detox because of health problems, started to suffer with irritable bowel and depression after a a drastic change in diet and lifestyle when he moved from his native Uruguay to New York City.
Astonished by the fantastic changes in a friend who visited a detox retreat Junger committed to a two week juice fast with colonic irrigation and cured his irritable bowel and depression and lost 15 pound in weight and never looked back.
Detox chemicals to lose weight
Although many celebrities go on detox diets to lose weight the main purpose of a detox diet is of course to eliminate toxins. Chemical toxins can and do interfere with how the weight control system works and many people who have struggled with their weight for years have had success when they cleansed their bodies of chemical toxins.
Chemical pollutants and not obesity itself are even being blamed for the development of diabetes. Several studies have linked environmental chemicals with the increase in diabetes. Chemical toxins have been linked to Parkinson’s disease too.
Summer Detox
Gwyneth’s summer detox excludes dairy, grains with gluten, red meat, shellfish, anything processed (including all soy products), fatty nuts, nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant (aubergine)), condiments, sugar, alcohol, caffeine or soda. Nothing new here.
Here is the 7 day Summer Detox Diet that Gwyneth published in her newsletter Goop.com
You can adjust the meal times to your schedule and the meals to your taste.
DAY ONE
7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
8am: Herbal tea
10am (breakfast): Blueberry and Almond Smoothie
11:30am: Coconut water*
1:30pm (lunch): Salad with Carrot and Ginger Dressing
4pm (snack): A handful of mixed pumpkin and sunflower seeds
6pm (dinner): Broccoli and Arugula Soup (see recipe below)
*Make sure that the coconut water has no added sugar. Fresh is ideal but the brands Zico or Vita Coco are readily available.
DAY TWO
7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
8am: Herbal tea
10am (breakfast): Raspberry and Rice Milk Smoothie
11:30am: Coconut water
1:30pm (lunch): Detox Teriyaki Chicken and Steamed Greens
4pm (snack): Miso Soup with Watercress
6pm (dinner): Pea and Basil Soup (follow method for Broccoli and Arugula Soup)
DAY THREE
7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
8am: Herbal tea
10am (breakfast): Oatmeal (make with rice or almond milk instead of water so it’s a bit more substantial)
11:30am: Coconut water
1:30pm (lunch): Blueberry and Almond Smoothie
4pm (snack): Cucumber, Lime and Basil Juice
6pm (dinner): Super Greens Juice / Miso Soup with Watercress
DAY FOUR
7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
8am: Herbal tea
10am (breakfast): Mango and Coconut Milk Smoothie Almond Smoothie)
11:30am: Coconut water
1:30pm (lunch): Miso Soup with Watercress
4pm (snack): A handful of blueberries
6pm (dinner): Steamed Salmon and Greens
DAY FIVE
7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
8am: Herbal tea
10am (breakfast): Peach and Almond Smoothie
11:30am: Coconut water
1:30pm (lunch): Raw crudité (carrots, green beans, radishes, cucumbers, zucchini) with Carrot and Ginger Dressing
4pm (snack): Beet, Carrot, Apple and Ginger Juice
6pm (dinner): Cucumber and Avocado Soup
DAY SIX
7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
8am: Herbal tea
10am (breakfast): Blueberry and Almond Smoothie
11:30am: Coconut water
1:30pm (lunch): Mixed Greens with Steamed Salmon, Olive Oil & Lemon Juice
4pm (snack): Super Greens Juice
6pm (dinner): Detox Teriyaki Chicken, brown rice, steamed zucchini
DAY SEVEN
7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
8am: Herbal tea
10am (breakfast): Raspberry and Rice Milk Smoothie
11:30am: Coconut water
1:30pm (lunch): Miso Soup with Vegetables
4pm (snack): A handful of almonds
6pm (dinner): Steamed fish, quinoa, roasted squash
Here is the recipe for BROCCOLI and ARUGULA (rocket) SOUP
SERVES: 2
TIME: 15 minutes
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
* 1/2 yellow onion, roughly diced
* 1 head broccoli, cut into small florets (about 2/3 pound)
* 2 1/2 cups water
* 1/4 teaspoon each coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 3/4 cup arugula (watercress would be good, too)
* 1/2 lemon
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and sauté for just a minute or until fragrant. Add the broccoli and cook for four minutes or until bright green. Add the water, salt and pepper, bring to a boil, lower the heat and cover. Cook for eight minutes or until the broccoli is just tender. Pour the soup into a blender and puree
with the arugula until quite smooth. Be very careful when blending hot liquids; start slowly and work in batches if necessary (you don’t want the steam to blow the lid off). Serve the soup with a bit of fresh lemon.
You can make this with nearly anything – including peas and basil, zucchini, carrots and ginger. In this case, broccoli is made a bit more dynamic with a handful of peppery arugula.
When you’re detoxing and drinking lots of juices and smoothies, it’s a nice change to have something warm. This recipe makes enough soup for at least two portions, but it’s easier to make it once and eat it twice.
A few more basic principles
Dr. Alejandro Junger recommends that in addition to the above you follow the following basic principles while on the detox diet.
- Do deep breathing or gentle yoga.
- Take a couple of spoonfuls of extra virgin olive oil at night to help stimulate your liver to eliminate bile and keep its circulation flowing.
- If your bowel movements get sluggish, you can accelerate things by drinking half a cup of castor oil or using a mild herbal laxative. Bowel elimination is paramount for correct detoxification.
- The skin gets rid of many toxins so it is important to sweat, either by exercising or taking a sauna.
- Finally, make sure you eat whole organic foods, which have the best chance of having all the nutrients needed for liver and general detoxification.
Need a more precise plan to follow with easy tasty recipes? Check out my flexible, delicious Recharge and Energizing Detox Plan.
