Office Detox

5. Stop for lunch. Make time for this vital meal of the day. Even if it just means popping to the canteen or local sandwich shop, give yourself a break. It is impossible to concentrate all day; you need to stop even if just for 30 minutes. If you rely on big baguettes or sandwiches bulging with mayonnaise clad dressing, try to alter your balance of nutrients so that you have more protein (meat, ham, tuna, chicken, turkey, eggs) and less carbohydrate like bread. The extra protein should help to keep your brain alert for the afternoon ahead. A carbohydrate-rich lunch on the other hand can make you feel drowsy and needing a siesta.

6. Think before you drink your calories. Next time you reach for a smoothie, a fizzy drink or yet another latte, consider the calories you are drinking. Research shows liquid calories do not fill us up in the same way as food calories so they do not quell hunger. Instead consider a good old fashioned glass of water. Apart from anything else, it will not cost you a dime but it will also not add unwanted pounds.

7. Be a trendsetter. Next time it is yours or a colleagues birthday, instead of the inevitable cakes, bring in a beautiful, fragrant, colourful basket of exotic fruits for everyone to enjoy. Hopefully others will follow suit and your calorie, fat and saturated fat intakes will dramatically fall.