The 1-Day Juice Cleanse That Changed My Life

For a long period of my life, I was a high-powered financier living and working in London. I was very busy, constantly working and not sleeping, to the point where I eventually broke down, exhausted.

I saw countless doctors, specialists, and nutritionists, until one day I took matters into my own hands and started changing my diet. I would wake up with a breakfast spinach juice and then re-energize at lunch with a lemongrass de-stresser. Dinner would be supplemented by some sweet potato juice, and before I knew it, I was a juicing convert.

This doesn't look like your traditional juice cleanse—because it's not. It's a gentler rebooting that's only meant to be a one- to two-day break from a normal way of eating, a break to refresh the body and spirit.

I also carefully designed it to deliver concentrated nutrients, along with some pretty necessary fiber, fat, and protein, to make sure my body was balanced so I didn't crash and burn. The juice recipes I rely on always have a naturally low-fructose content, and the almond milk provides protein, which helps stabilize blood glucose levels. The nuts are there for crunch, protein, and fiber so that my energy levels stay high.

What's the secret to juicing in a way that doesn't leave you feeling faint and weak, deserting it after half a day, or bingeing after a week of deprivation? Like all things in life, it's about balance.

Eating a balanced diet is difficult, but doing so is key to being healthy and happy, especially when it comes to juicing. Juice diets that last for 5, 7, or 21 days felt way too extreme to me.

Another key to my transformation is focusing on raw foods. It's amazing how much is lost when you cook produce. Raw foods help detoxification and absorption of nutrients.

I know it feels natural to cook and eat, but when I increased the amount of raw foods in my diet, I felt the difference.