The dos and don'ts of the detox diet

DO: Start your morning with a glass of warm water and a little fresh lemon juice. Your kidneys will thank you for the flush.

DON'T: Grab a cup of coffee. As wonderful as may be to wake up to freshly brewed coffee, the caffeine will dehydrate you and increase your blood pressure. Even decaffeinated coffee is full of toxins that will interrupt your detox process.

DO: Drink soy milk. Soy provides important amino acids, which are vital for hormone production and essential to boosting your immune system. However, be sure to choose soymilk with added calcium, vitamin A and vitamin D.

DON'T: Drink cow's milk. With lactose intolerance being so widespread, causing bloating, cramps and nausea, Dr. Joshi recommends choosing an alternative.

DO: Drink only a bit of water during meals. Sipping room-temperature water during your meal will aid in digestion and absorption of the nutrients in your food.

DON'T: Consume copious amounts of water during your meal. Too much fluid can dilute the enzymes necessary for proper digestion.

DO: Have a mid-afternoon snack of herbal tea and a gluten-free/wheat-free biscuit.

DON'T: Keep reaching into a bag of biscuits just because the label promotes a "healthy" status. Calories are calories and they will add up.

DO: Host a detox dinner party. Use recipes from Dr. Joshi's book to wow your friends and prove that healthy food can be fabulous food.

DON'T: Beat yourself up if you can't resist the cake at your best friend's birthday party. Savour the decadent dessert, acknowledge that you need to re-focus your goals and get back on track.

Although Dr. Joshi's detox diet may take some getting used to (No coffee? Really?), the payoff is a digestive system that works like a charm, glowing skin, and enough get-up-and-go to get the most out of life. So pull those "skinny jeans" out from the back of the closet because you just might need them soon.