In a column she wrote for the UK's Telegraph, Paltrow wrote about a bad detox experience she had. 

"I've done juice cleanses in the past, and in my 20s I did the Master Cleanse, which left me hallucinating after 10 days," she wrote.

"Be aware: a juice detox can crash your metabolism and lead to future weight gain," she further advised. 

Paltrow said her doctor recommends a detox once a year, and that it's a great place to start before a diet.  This year she did the Elimination Diet, which meant no additives or processed foods for three weeks.

"His theory is that the gut (your system of digestive organs) is the root of good health.  It contains about 80 per cent of your body's serotonin-which regulates appetite- so you're more likely to lose weight when it's working properly," she said.

Another piece of advice she offered was to track your body shape with a measuring tape, instead of weighing the pounds. 

"There is something punitive about weighing yourself.  It can leave you vulnerable to shame and guilt...Women naturally gain and lose weight during their monthly cycle anyway, so it can be more realistic to monitor your body shape with a measuring tape."

In order to prevent unhealthy eating, she said it is important to "Keep healthy snacks on hand...Allow yourself programmed treats-I often have a glass of red wine in the evening and smoke a cigarette on a Saturday." 

So indulge a little, just make sure not to go to any extremes that leave you hallucinating!