My 21-day detox experience

At the start of this year, I just did not feel myself. I was tired, run-down, un-focused, not sleeping well and feeling totally out of sync. Not surprising, considering I had been travelling with the kids for Christmas and my regular eating patterns were off. Also, I was not getting to my yoga mat, drinking way too much coffee and a little too much wine and, on top of all that, I got that nasty cough and chest thing everyone had. I succumbed to taking two sets of antibiotics to get rid of it. No wonder I felt like hell!

In the second week of January, I decided to take my health into my hands and embarked on a life-changing, 21-day detox programme for the body, mind and soul. I now feel as if I have totally reset my body. I am full of energy, completely focused and productive, and have been able to kick certain unhealthy habits that were creeping into my life.

Eliminate toxic foods

You don't just jump into a detox programme. It is an intelligently planned process of first eliminating toxic foods from your diet, then filling your body with healing foods and supplements. In my detox, I removed the following:

• Caffeine (including tea, chocolate and diets sodas)
• Alcohol
• Sugar (in all forms, including condiments - and I am a pepper jelly lover)
• Wheat
• Dairy (no milk, cheese, yoghurt or eggs)
• Acidic foods (such as tomatoes and citrus)

I instead filled my body with:

• Fresh fruit (excluding bananas)
• 100 per cent organic vegetables
• Lean sources of protein (chicken, fish and beans)
• Low-glycaemic, high-fibre carbohydrates (brown rice, quinoa, yams)
• Coconut water
• Flaxseed
• Probiotics
• B vitamins
• Vitamin D from the sun
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Aloe vera
• Liver-cleansing enzymes (milk thistle)

I feel good now

It was not easy! I think I have a relatively healthy diet but I don't think any of us is aware of the many toxins we put into our body on a daily basis. These build up over time and cause not just a low immune system but a host of other problems, including fatigue, digestive disorders, depression, infertility, headaches, weight gain and insomnia.

In addition to my 21-day diet, I made other lifestyle changes that helped the process, such as having eight hours' sleep every night and eating my last meal two hours before bedtime and my next one 12 hours later, giving my digestive system a rest. I had smoothies in the morning, a proper meal at lunch and a clear soup and salad at dinner, eight to 10 glasses of water each day and did self-massages each day, along with daily cardio, yoga, breathing and meditation exercises.

Words cannot describe how good I feel — younger, lighter, my skin is clearer and my mental clarity is just unbelievable. You can try a detox too.

Sharon McConnell-Feanny is a certified yoga instructor and co-owner of Shakti Mind Body Fitness in Kingston. She has more than 25 years' experience in health and fitness; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.