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Is eating low-GI carbs all there is to the low-GI diet?

No. You also need protein-rich foods such as meat and chicken, fish and eggs, dairy foods and soya to help produce new cells and enzymes, and to keep muscles strong. Extra-lean foods that are high in protein also help to maintain your metabolism, so it is vital that you have some at every meal.

Do I have to cut out all fats?

No. If you cut right back on unnecessary fats in certain cuts of meat and snacks, there is room left for good fats. These come from oily fish, nuts, seeds and plant oils. They can help you to burn calories and assist with the anti-ageing process.

Week one: rapid weight loss and detox

Eat one of our low-GI breakfasts, one low-GI lunch and one low-GI supper each day, as well as one piece of fruit mid-morning and another mid-afternoon. In addition, you can have half a pint of skimmed milk (or unsweetened, calcium-enriched soya milk) per day to use in tea and coffee, or as a drink. If you exercise as well, you will lose 4lb-5lb in this first week. Of this, 2lb-3lb will be body fat; the rest is excess water that you have retained.

The key to this process is to consume our special detox fruit (see below) and to avoid adding salt to any of your meals. When you cut out processed foods, your salt intake will fall dramatically, allowing you to flush out excess fluid.

BEST FOR DETOX

These fruit and vegetables are especially good for stimulating the organs involved in detoxing. The more smoothly your organs are working, the better your metabolism and fat-burning capabilities.

Cherries, raspberries, strawberries
Why? Rich in ellagic acid, a supernutrient that helps mop up free radicals after exposure to pollution and alcohol, boosting brain power

Citrus fruit, apricots
Why? Rich in vitamin C and betacarotene, which help repair smoke damage in the lungs

Cranberries (a glass of low-sugar cranberry juice counts as a fruit)
Why? Proanthocyanidin antioxidants help to flush the kidneys and act as a natural detoxifier

Grapes
Why? Rich in flavonols, which cleanse the arteries

Prunes
Why? A natural colon cleanser, stimulating the gut to expel waste

Citrus fruit, berries
Why? For vitamins C and E, to make powerful liver-detoxing enzymes

CALORIE BURNERS

As well as following our low-GI eating and detox plan, there are things you can add to your daily diet that will boost your metabolism and speed up the weight-loss process.

Cold water with lemon
Two litres a day has been shown to increase your calorie burn by up to 100 calories. These calories are burnt as you heat the cold water to body temperature. The lemon, rich in vitamin C, will cleanse your liver.

Green tea
Research shows that five cups of green tea a day can raise your calorie burn by 80 calories. It is thought that the antioxidant catechins in green tea have a metabolism-boosting effect.

Chilli sauce, such as Tabasco
Research at Oxford Brookes University has shown that adding hot chilli sauces and mustard to dishes can increase your calorie burn by up to 8% for two hours after eating. This is because they contain a supernutrient called capsaicin, which speeds up your metabolism.

Low-fat dairy foods
Studies in the United States have shown that eating low-fat dairy foods can increase fat burning, especially in the abdominal area. It is believed that calcium encourages the release of fat from fat cells, and also reduces fat absorption.

READ NEXT: EATING LOW-GI FOODS TO LOOK YOUNGER

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