Solve health problems before they start with a plan for keeping fit and healthy for life...

He is the trusted physician of the Prince of Wales and his patient list reads like an excerpt from Who's Who.

Dr Mosaraf Ali has given health advice to pop stars Geri Halliwell and Rod Stewart while supermodel Kate Moss, who first went to him after her traumatic break-up with Johnny Depp, raves: "His treatments always work."

Baroness Smith, wife of the late Labour leader John Smith, was referred to Ali at a time when she was feeling listless and not coping well. She says she was "helped enormously" by his integrated approach, which combines conventional and complementary therapies.

Prince Charles, meanwhile, has become a firm friend and supporter of Indian-born Ali, since the two met in 1992 at a reception for Rajiv Gandhi.

Over the years, the Prince has referred his sons to the doctor for minor ailments. Camilla Parker Bowles also attends the Integrated Medical Centre, run by Ali in London, and takes part in yoga classes there.

Now Ali has written The Integrated Health Bible - with a foreword by the Prince of Wales - which explains his medical approach to a much wider audience.

The physician believes we should all work at staying healthy, rather than just treating ailments when things go wrong.

A conventional doctor who later went on to study alternative treatments, he says: "Some 80 per cent of patients do not need medicine, they need lifestyle changes.

"If you take, for example, backache, obesity-related problems, diet-related problems, the diabetes group of problems or stress problems - these can usually be corrected with a regime of diet and exercises. You don't really need to take medication.

"You do need to take medication, however, only if blood-pressure is beyond control, or diabetes has caused kidney failure. But that is only 20 per cent of the time."

Ali was born in Calcutta in 1952 and qualified to become a conventional doctor in Dehli and Moscow, before going on to learn about alternative treatments, including homeopathy, traditional massage techniques and acupuncture.

For those who want to raise their level of health and lower their propensity to sickness, he recommends an integrated health lifestyle programme, which involves eating well, daily yoga exercises and massages.

Ali urges people to avoid smoking and drinking alcohol and says they should go to sleep early and rest wherever possible.

On the food-front, his therapy involves eating organic food and drinking carrot, celery, apple and ginger juices and lots of water.

Canned or preserved food are to be avoided, along with yeast-products, fried foods, most citrus fruits, cheese, mushrooms, coffee and excess salt. Late, heavy dinners are also out.

Those who follow his plan, he promises, will see results within weeks: "Health is such a thing that it takes a long time before it breaks and, if it hasn't broken, you can rectify it very quickly."

To find whether you are on the path to health, Ali also recommends that everyone should regularly carry out his health MOT. This test involves asking yourself a series of questions which will pinpoint potential problem areas.

* The Integrated Health Bible by Dr Mosaraf Ali is published by Vermilion, price £12.99.