Ever seen these types of claims before?

• Detox and lose weight!
• Rid your body of parasites/toxins/gunk!
• The detox diet helps you cleanse your system!

The premise of detox dieting is that our bodies develop a "build-up" of toxins which make us feel unhealthy and lack energy, and that these need to be removed. By drastically restricting what you eat and drink to a few special foods, detox diets are supposed to successfully remove the toxins. The diets take different forms - some restrict you to fruit or vegetable juices, others to just one type of food, others are supplemented with detox pills - but the idea behind them all is the same. Namely, that you can clean your body from the inside, lose weight, feel fabulous and full of energy, and have glowing skin in the space of just a few days or weeks.

While there's nothing wrong with an eating plan that encourages you to limit alcohol, avoid processed foods, and stick to fresh foods and whole grains (and some detox diets are that simple and healthy) there are some serious risks involved with the more radical detox diets.

Detox-diet advertising does have one thing right; your body is teeming with toxins. Every day you bring toxins into your body from the air you breathe and the food and water you consume.

However, what is less well advertised is that your body is designed to deal with these toxins. Your liver, kidney, respiratory and digestive systems are all purpose-built to deal with anything unwanted - and they do this quite successfully!

That's not to say that cutting down on processed foods, alcohol, and added sugars won't help you to feel better and be healthier, but there is no scientific proof that detox diets or fasting can rid your body of toxins any more effectively than the usual processes. In fact, ironically, very strict detox diets can have the opposite effect. If you are not eating enough each day, your metabolic rate can slow down, which actually reduces the rate at which your body can flush out toxins.