‘A REGULAR CLEANSE EASES MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS AND I FEEL REVIVED’
Liese Lord, 53, lives with her husband, Michael, 49, and their daughter, Katie, 16. She is the founder of The Lightbulb Tree, a consulting practice promoting flexible working.
After a fertility battle for a second child ended unsuccessfully, I needed a partial hysterectomy in 2013, leaving just my ovaries, which threw me into early menopause. I suffered brain fog, hot flushes and disturbed sleep. My consultant tried different treatments, but I reacted badly to artificial hormones, and was feeling anxious and edgy.
So, three years ago, I set about working out how I could deal with the war inside my body, naturally. I ate healthily but did indulge in comfort food, which left me bloated and sluggish. I decided cleansing my insides from things like processed sugar and caffeine could help.
After working with a nutrition coach, I started short-term detox sessions to kick-start my system and help me feel cleansed and more vibrant.
My detox approach is simple. I drink hot water with freshly squeezed lemon each morning, instead of coffee. I also increase my water intake, aiming to have three litres a day, and for three to five days, I cut out bread and dairy, and eat more plant-based foods.
I do this at least once a month – and, after, I always feel revived, plus I find it helps keep me on track with eating healthily in general.
Having my own business and being a mum to a teenager who is currently doing her A levels, I can still succumb to consuming too much caffeine and comfort food. Especially in the winter, the hardest time of year, where I love drinking hot drinks to keep me feeling warmed. So, if I start feeling particularly bloated and tired,
I’ll do an emergency reset detox.
I’ve tried 30-day tea detoxes, soups and smoothies previously, but they weren’t for me. I’m a big believer in feeding my body and not depriving it of anything. My cleansing approach helps everything keep doing what it’s supposed to do.