A Guide to the Martha’s Vineyard Cleanse for a Slimmer Waistline

When Kyana Jackson won a website giveaway (a gift basket that included a new diet book and fat-fighting drink mixes), the Indianapolis mom was thrilled. But her excitement didn’t end there: After a week following the guidelines she found in 1 Pound a Day: The Martha’s Vineyard Diet Detox ($14.28, Amazon), she was 15 pounds lighter. Soon, she’d dropped 39 pounds in 21 days. “I’m doing cartwheels every time I look at the scale!” laughs Jackson, 40. “This is by far the most and the fastest I’ve ever lost weight. Plus, I have so much energy. Even my allergies and asthma have stopped bothering me.”

Jackson isn’t the only one who feels that way. To date, tens of thousands of folks have transformed their bodies using the plan. Created at the holistic spa in the Martha’s Vineyard Inn, the plan was revamped to make it more convenient and more effective. “You feed your body the right nutrition in the right doses and amazing things happen,” says creator Roni DeLuz, ND, PhD.

How to Detox Away the Weight

Dr. DeLuz strongly believes that the average body needs a break. After all, most of us have spent years loading up on foods full of sugar, salt, and chemical additives. And that’s on top of environmental pollutants we absorb from sources like exhaust, plastics, and chemical cleaners.

“Our systems are constantly trying to neutralize all the toxic stuff coming in,” she says. So it just stands to reason that certain mechanisms can become “overworked, overwhelmed, and less efficient. Our natural defenses against aging and illness become sluggish, so we look haggard and get sick more often.”

Take a detox bath. Whether you’re following her detox diet or not, DeLuz says you can bolster your body’s natural detox system by relaxing in a special bath once a week. Just fill the tub with warm water and add 2 cups baking soda, 2 cups Epsom salts, up to 2 cups ground oatmeal (use a food processor or blender), and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. “Heat and natural salts help speed the rate the toxins are drawn out,” says the pro. Bonus: “Use chamomile or lavender oil to help relieve anxiety and stress, or go for peppermint or rosemary if you want an energy boost!”

The Detox Diet Plan

Want to see how well it works for you? We’ve included a handy grocery list to make it easy to pick up three days’ worth of detox supplies. As always, get a doctor’s OK before trying a new weight-loss plan, particularly if you wish to use it for longer than seven days.

Woman’s World readers who detoxed for a weekend dropped up to five pounds; those who stuck with it for a week shrunk by up to seven pounds! And don’t forget Jackson, down 39 pounds in 21 days. “People think it’s too strict for them, but then they try it,” says DeLuz. “You get such exciting benefits, you’ll want to do it longer. You get addicted to feeling so good!”

Detox Shopping List for a Weekend-Long Detox

• Veggies for soup (preferably organic): 1 onion, 1 head garlic, 3 sweet potatoes, 1 bunch celery, 1 carrot, 1 head cabbage or kale, 2 acorn squash, and at least 2 cups additional soup
• Soup seasoning: Bay leaves, ground allspice, and ground cloves (plus optional cayenne and chili powder)
• Vegetable broth, preferably unsalted, 2 to 4 quarts
• Olive oil, 8 oz.
• Herbal tea, at least one box, any variety
• Lemon and stevia for tea, optional
• Green drink powder such as Garden of Life Perfect Food Super Green Formula ($45.26, Amazon) or Amazing Grass Green SuperFood ($28.18, Amazon). As an alternative, you can buy or make any variety of vegetable juice.
• Almond butter, 1 small jar
• Blueberries, fresh or frozen, 5 cups
• Rice milk, at least 24 oz.
• Protein powder, any unsweetened variety

Martha’s Vineyard Lose-a-Pound-a-Day Detox

8 a.m. 8 oz. water Power Smoothie: 1 scoop protein powder, 1 cup berries, 8 oz. unflavored rice milk, 1 1/2 Tbs. almond butter, water and ice to taste 8 oz. herbal tea

10 a.m. 1 green drink (1 scoop green powder — see shopping list for options — mixed in 8 oz. water); 8 oz. vegetable broth or herbal tea

Noon 1 serving of Martha’s Vineyard Detox Soup; 1 green drink; 8 oz. vegetable broth or herbal tea

2 p.m. 1 green drink; 8 oz. vegetable broth or herbal tea

4 p.m. Smoothie: 1 scoop protein powder, 1/2 cup berries, 8 oz. water; 8 oz. vegetable broth or herbal tea

6 p.m. 1 serving of Martha’s Vineyard Detox Soup; 8 oz. herbal tea

8 p.m. 8 oz. vegetable broth or herbal tea

Martha’s Vineyard Detox Soup (Makes 7 servings)

1. In a large pot, combine 2 quarts unsalted vegetable broth; 1 cup chopped onion; 2 garlic cloves, chopped; 3 sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped; 4 celery stalks, sliced; 1 carrot, peeled and chopped; 2 cups chopped cabbage or kale; 2 acorn squashes, peeled, seeded and chopped; 2 cups of your favorite seasonal vegetable such as zucchini, tomatoes or green beans, chopped; 2 bay leaves; 1 Tbs. chili powder (optional); 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional); 1/4 tsp. each ground allspice and ground cloves. Boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until veggies are tender, 20-30 minutes.
2. Strain veggies, reserving broth. Discard bay leaves.
3. Pour 1/4 cup broth in blender or food processor; add a small batch of veggies, filling container no more than 1/3 of the way. Purée a few seconds, then carefully lift lid to let steam escape; continue in this manner — adding additional broth, if needed — until desired consistency is achieved.
4. Divide purée among seven storage containers, about 1 heaping cup each.
5. Repeat until all veggies are puréed.
6. Store leftover broth. Cover and refrigerate, or freeze containers.
7. Reheat as needed, adding more broth if desired, and drizzling each portion with 1 1/2 Tbs. olive oil.

After the Detox

The first day after the detox, enjoy any detox foods you like and add between 10 and 12 oz. of steamed veggies. The next day, add veggies plus a bowl of berries. Day three, add one serving of whole grains. On day four, go for eggs or beans. For day five, enjoy fish or chicken. On day six, try red meat. Continue to enjoy these types of foods as your staples on day seven and beyond. In general, eat three meals daily and a very light snack or two. At one out of every four meals, allow yourself a treat. Eat only until you’re satisfied — and prepare to look and feel great!

This story originally appeared in our print magazine.

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