Detox diets are generally short-term dietary interventions designed to eliminate toxins from your body.
A typical detox diet involves a period of fasting, followed by a strict diet of fruit, vegetables, fruit juices, and water. Sometimes a detox also includes herbs, teas, supplements, and colon cleanses or enemas.
This is claimed to:
• Rest your organs by fasting
• Stimulate your liver to get rid of toxins
• Promote toxin elimination through feces, urine, and sweat
• Improve circulation
• Provide your body with healthy nutrients
Detox therapies are most commonly recommended because of potential exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment or your diet. These include pollutants, synthetic chemicals, heavy metals, and other harmful compounds.
These diets are also claimed to help with various health problems, including obesity, digestive issues, autoimmune diseases, inflammation, allergies, bloating, and chronic fatigue (1Trusted Source).
However, human research on detox diets is lacking, and the handful of studies that exist are significantly flawed (2Trusted Source, 3).
Detox diets are generally short-term dietary interventions designed to eliminate toxins from your body. A typical detox diet involves a period of fasting, followed by a strict diet of fruit, vegetables, fruit juices, and water. Sometimes a detox also includes herbs, teas, supplements, and colon cleanses or enemas.
Detox diets are widely promoted online and in magazines. Three-day, seven-day, and longer detoxification plans are promoted for weight loss, improved health, and other benefits. Most plans suggest that you restrict your calorie intake significantly and many propose that you consume only juices or smoothies.
The science behind these programs is lacking. In fact, according to many nutritional experts, some of these programs can even backfire causing weight gain or malnutrition.