We’ve all heard the horror stories of sewers clogged with fat after the festive period.

And I couldn’t help wondering that a similar fate might have befallen my own innards after a sluggish December consuming less than ideal foodstuffs.

With this in mind, a five-day juice cleanse sounded the ideal detox.

Delivered to my door by Poole-based Nutrichef, who have joined forces with Soulmatefood, the new diet is described as the world’s first hydrostatic ‘perfect’ cleanse.

It comprises bottles of colourful juices, packed full of vegetables and fruits, high in antioxidants and health-boosting vitamins.

Not only do they provide an intense alkalising cleanse, but keep all their flavour with no loss of nutrient value.

The juices are treated under pressure, rather than heat. All juicing is done on site from raw, organic and fresh ingredients (no pulps, concentrates or other juices added) and juices are treated immediately.

Each day I had to start with juice Number 1 – a delicious apple, carrot and ginger which tasted immediately pure and cleansing (calming and soothing and rich in vitamin A, C and fibre). After slowly sipping every two and a half hours, I moved on to juice Number 2 – containing aloe, kale, apple, spinach, lime, lemon, celery and avocado (immune-boosting and full of beta carotene, iron and calcium).

Juice Number 3 was a warming and spicy lemon, cinnamon, chilli and ginger (anti-inflammatory and full of vitamin C), and when that bottle was empty I moved on to Number 4 which was reminiscent of a decadently thick fruit coulis, packed with blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, beetroot, lemon, redcurrant, kiwi and orange. This one’s energizing and full of iron, potassium, folate and vitamin C.

The last juice of the day – Number 5 – included cucumber, kale, broccoli, celery, lime, lemon, pear and spinach (hydrating and full of magnesium, potassium and vitamin C).

A soothing night-time hot detox tea also comes with the cleanse, and I was advised to drink plenty of water, too.

Before starting it’s best to choose clear five days void of heavy exercise. A food diary enables you to monitor your weight, and how you’re feeling.

For me, the first night was the worst. I was hungry! Luckily I was able to snack on fruit and vegetables – and even a Nutrichef flapjack. But was I hungry or just missing the ritual of preparing food, I wondered.

In all, I found the juices delicious, and it was nice to have my meals ‘planned’ for me for five whole days.

After just two days I stepped on the scales and was stunned to see I had lost four pounds! After the five days were up, I’d lost a total of five and a half pounds, and someone commented that my skin ‘looked like porcelain’.

(And I’m not just talking turkey.) n Throughout January, Nutrichef is offering the juice cleanse for a discounted price. The three-day Juice cleanse is £90. Please give the voucher code NUTRIJUICE3 and the five-day juice cleanse is £125. Please give the voucher code NUTRIJUICE5.

nutrichef.co.uk