Food nutritionist Monica Grenfell's Apple Diet will show you what to eat and when - helping you to lose 5lb a week and look great in that party frock!
Monica says:
Apples have always been good for weight loss. They act as a fatloss
accelerator and are high in fibre, 4-5g per apple, which helps stop hunger pangs. The natural sugar in apples also cuts sweet cravings.
This plan, which incorporates five apple detox days, is successful as the diet is based on eating rather than depriving yourself. It's easy to stick to and you'll lose around a stone in the first month.
So go out and buy a big bag of Cox's Orange Pippins today!
Why apples?
1. Apples contain soluble and insoluble fibre, which will dampen the appetite.
2. Studies show soluble fibre, or pectin, turns into a sticky gel in thestomach and stops the body from absorbing sugar too quickly.
3. Apple pectin is also known to help reduce cholesterol. When 26 people ate three apples a day, their cholesterol fell by seven per cent - more than those who ate the same diet with no apples.
4. Pectin stops the body craving food for up to four hours.
5. They contain phytochemicals with antioxidant properties, which fight the effects of ageing on the body.
Watch out for...
Apples are high in fibre and wonderful for anyone suffering constipation as they're a natural laxative. However, do not exceed
five apples a day and never give more than a couple of slices to very small children.
In week one, you eat 3-5 apples a day!
Detox Day 1:
Eat five apples at regular intervals. Cut each apple into slices and eat slowly. Drink a glass of skimmed or soya milk with each apple. In between meals, eat a small pot of unflavoured yogurt.
You may also drink tea, coffee and have plenty of water.
Days 2-3:
Eat five apples as before, but add a colourful mixed salad with olive oil and vinegar dressing at lunch and dinner.
Days 4-7:
Eat three apples daily, choosing meals from the menu plan (below). No need to drink milk with each meal, but consume a pint each day.
Menu plan:
Breakfast:
OR Small bowl porridge with milk
Mid morning:
Lunch:
Dinner:
Now follow this meal plan but have three apple detox days each week(as week 1, day 1). These must not be consecutive days. Meals marked ** are low-calorie, low-carb choices.
Breakfast:
Lunch:
Light cheese
Mid afternoon:
Dinner:
flaked almonds (small portion), or Mixed vegetable stir-fry with couscous, or **cold chicken, or salmon salad
Supper:
Breakfast:
Lunch:
Dinner:
served with 1 teacup-sized portion of brown rice. Dash of soy sauce, or oven-baked cod with mushroom, onion and tomato sauce poured over the top (get a carton of ready-made sauce from the supermarket). 2tbsp mashed potatoes
Breakfast:
Lunch:
Dinner:
Bake in the oven and serve with peas and broccoli, or **100g steak, grilled, with mushrooms, tomatoes and salad, or quarter-pound burger with tomato relish and salad (no bun)
Have a day off apples. Enjoy a takeaway or even a slice of cake, but make sure you don't undo all your good work!
Where to next?
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Recipes to try:
Healthy-eating recipes
Over 350 apple recipes to try