5 Minutes With Dr. Alejandro Junger, Gwyenth Paltrow's Detox Doctor

Gwyneth Paltrow calls his detox program "life-changing." Demi Moore says it's "the best." Whilst Donna Karan credits it with giving us the tools to "be the healthiest, positive most beautiful beings possible." So given the high praise, we caught up with the man who created the cult CLEAN program, Dr. Alejandro Junger, to learn a little more about it.

What is CLEAN? CLEAN is a 21 day detox-cleansing program. It consists of a liquid breakfast, a sensible lunch and a liquid dinner. All foods used for these meals are from a set list of foods that we call The Clean Elimination Diet. During this time, eating in this way, one creates the conditions for the body to maximise the work of the body's already existing detoxification functions. The result is the restoration of our body's natural ability to heal itself. Weight loss, more energy, a clear mind and the improvement of the body's ailments are common results.

Keep reading . . .What makes it different to other detoxes? It was designed by me, a physician with the understanding of the biological processes involved as well as how to support them nutritionally so it is the most effective as well as the safest, for most people. What makes it superior to most programs I have encountered and tried is that I designed it so that at the same time the intestines are repaired, an essential requisite for true health. It is also designed for people that are living busy lives in modern cities. Most other programs I know of are too intense for busy people.

How did it come about? When I moved from Uruguay to NY after medical school for my postgraduate training, the change in lifestyle (mostly in my diet) made me very sick. My colleagues diagnosed me with allergies, irritable bowel syndrome and depression and prescribed me seven medications to mitigate my symptoms. I refused the idea of depending on drugs to function in my daily life. I took off and travelled around the world looking for a better solution. Finding the concepts of cleansing and detox allowed me to fully restore my health and look and feel 10 years younger. Seeing my results, my family, my friends and later my patients demanded that I show them what I had learnt.

How often do you recommend someone does the CLEAN detox? Just do it. Buy the book and follow the instructions. There are recipes for the liquid and solid meals and many tips on how to complete the program successfully. If you are busy and have no time to shop and prepare your meals, you can do it with the CLEAN Program Kit.

How can people get the most out of it? No cheating, doing sauna, massages, a little sun every day (15 minutes a day), maintaining a meditation practice.

Tomorrow we'll bring you Dr. Alejandro Junger's tips on leading a happy and healthy lifetsyle.