After gorging on turkey, mince pies, Christmas pudding and other festive fare, many of us are tempted to 'detox'. It helps to 'cleanse' our body of toxins that have built up, lose weight, get clearer skin, banish headaches and beat bloated stomachs. But do detox diets really work?
Most experts believe the human body defends itself very well against environmental assaults and occasional over-indulgences without the need to 'detox'. After all, that's what our liver, lungs, kidneys and skin do on a daily basis.
Most detox diets can help you lose weight, but that's only because they limit the number of calories you consume by allowing you to eat only low-calorie foods (such as fruit and vegetables) and drinking lots of water. Caffeine, sugary, fatty and processed foods and other food groups, such as dairy products, wheat, meat, eggs and fish are banned.
Yet cutting out major food groups can leave you short on certain nutrients, which could result in nutritional deficiencies if you carry on with the detox diet for too long.
There are certain elements of detox diets that are beneficial: for example, drinking more water, eating more fruits and vegetables, and cutting down on caffeine and processed, sugary and fatty foods. Rather than cutting out entire food groups, try healthier versions wherever you can.
If you want to detox safely and gently for a week, here are the rules.