With so many detox diets to choose from, it can be difficult to tell the difference between fact and fiction. While detoxing”cleansing your body of harmful toxins through a strict diet”can lead to weight loss, better digestion and improved wellbeing, you should never jump into it without doing your research first. To help you figure out which regime suits you best, we took a look at three of Hollywood’s hottest detoxes. (Be sure to consult with a physician before attempting any extreme diet changes.)
1) Dr. Joshi’s Holistic Detox
Dr. Joshi attracts celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Moss to his UK wellness clinic. According to his book, Dr. Joshi’s Holistic Detox, you can achieve improved health and weight loss in just 21 days by balancing your alkaline and acidity levels and by flushing unnecessary fat from your liver. How do you do it? By eliminating red meat, dairy, fruit, wheat, alcohol, coffee, sugar and processed foods. Recommended on a once-a-year basis, Joshi claims that his detox is so effective, it can reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol levels rapidly”and even eliminate the need for certain prescription medications. But such extreme claims can be risky: never discontinue medications without a doctor’s supervision. And while eliminating sodium and sugar from your diet can yield positive results, some medical professionals say that diet modifications alone are unlikely to lower your body’s pH levels.
2) The Master Cleanse
Best known as the lemonade diet, the Master Cleanse consists of drinking nothing but a lemonade, maple syrup and cayenne pepper concoction for a minimum of ten days in order to rid your body of toxins and harmful substances. Around since the 1940s, this detox only became popular recently, when Beyoncé© claimed she lost over 20 pounds while on the diet. It’s true that this cleanse can result in rapid weight loss”but it’s also thought to cause serious side effects, including gallstones. While toxins will be eliminated, so will essential proteins and nutrients. That’s why most doctors advise people (especially those with health conditions) to avoid this regime.
3) Clean (by Dr. Alejandro Junger)
Dr. Alejandro Junger’s Clean program stresses the consumption of whole fruits and vegetables while cutting out gluten, dairy products and processed foods. Followers consume just one solid meal per day (ideally at lunchtime), with breakfasts and dinners consisting of liquid meals such as shakes and soups. This allows the body to rest, repair and detoxify. While the food choices allowed on this diet are limited, the quantity of overall food intake is not. Nutritional levels won’t plummet, since you’ll be getting essential vitamins and nutrients.
