Skin complaint: I always hide my brittle, dry nails in shame, and I’ve tried everything under the sun to make them look less unsightly.

Juicing prescription: A juice for breakfast and lunch, followed by a normal dinner. Day 6 or 7 must be a juice-only day, with a light dinner – miso soup for example. Juices to contain ingredients like vitamin E-rich avocado which rehydrates the layers between the nail, and vitamin C which helps rebuild their structure.

WEEK 1

I’m terrified of the juices. Chard, kale and parsley? It sounds horrific, but I’m surprised by how nice they taste. Preparing the juice and washing up afterwards is a nightmare in the mornings, especially if I decide to go to the gym at 6.30am – and wake my flatmates up with the loud whir of the juicer. I learnt a hard lesson this week too: there’s a difference between a Japanese daikon radish and a parsnip. I hadn’t realised my mistake until I was mid-juicing and the sour, rotten taste was too much to bear. After a week of juicing, I’m much more aware of what else I’m consuming – and have even been turning down office treats. But my nails haven’t improved just yet.

WEEK 2

Already, it feels like I’ve been juicing all my life. It’s become the norm to get up 40 minutes earlier to prepare the juices. Two I like, enjoy even, but the other two, I drink quickly while holding my nose. They all require a long list of ingredients which make them quite costly, I'm spending roughly £30-40 per week. Still, I am starting to see some positive effects – my skin looks healthier, somehow brighter, and my spots appear to be finally clearing up. It’s a little early to see the effect on my brittle nails, but they do look shinier.

WEEK 3

Hurrah! My nails are growing like daisies and, remarkably, without any breaking. At the risk of sounding shallow, I am absolutely overjoyed. The juicing has become part of my routine now – although it’s not exacly what you crave when hungover. Another tip: save the full day of juice detoxing for a weekend, it’s tough at work when everyone’s enjoying a Pret baguette.

WEEK 4

I’m pleased this is the final week of juicing. I can’t wait for a lie-in and more space in my fridge. I do feel better though, and my nails are strong and healthy looking for the first time in years. I'm sure my colleagues will be glad I’ve finished boring them about juicing.

Conclusion

I’m happy to report, juicing has been a success for me. I have proper, incredible nails now. I definitely think the juice test has been worth my while, even if it has meant getting to grips with a new daily routine. I’ll keep at it, although realistically it will be more like three or four juices a week rather than 14.

Try Sarah's Juicing Plan

Lucy Foster, associate editor, ShortList magazine

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