Types of Detox Diets, How They Work, NutritionVista's recommendations

What NV recommends
Actually the human body has the innate mechanism to cleanse the body and does not need a specially designed diet to remove toxins. Instead of opting for a detox diet, here are a few guidelines those if adopted routinely have the same effects as a specifically designed detox diet- This method is much healthier and easier

1. Drink water adequately (10-12glasses) to flush out toxins regularly.
2. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
3. Fresh fruit and vegetable juices will provide vitamins and minerals without taxing the digestive system and liver.
4. Whole grains, germinated legumes, nuts will provide carbohydrates, proteins and B complex vitamin and essential fatty acids
5. Include- fish and lean cuts of meat for adequate protein.
6. Avoid refined carbs.
7. Avoid processed foods, caffeine, alcohol and smoking.

Ultimately, the mantra is "Eat right and your body does the rest"

Know more about hazards, contraindications and precautions of detox diets in the forthcoming article.

By Geetanjali Kelkar, PhD
Sr. Dietitian NutritionVista.com

Dr Sunil Jhangiani, founder and Medical Director of NV was recently asked questions on detox diets by Shweta Taneja for Live Mint online- "Disguised as Detox"
http://www.livemint.com/2010/07/26205013/Disguised-as-detox.html

Here are some of his responses on Detox diets.
“Such long and intensive detox plans are actually marketing tools which disguise extreme weight-loss diets,” according to Sunil Jhangiani, US-based founder of Nutrition Vista (www.nutritionvista.com), an online consultant website for diets. “It’s more fashionable to say that one’s undergoing a detox than saying that one’s on a weight-loss diet,” he said in a phone interview. According to him, the celebrities on detox diets actually want rapid weight loss, which is unhealthy in its drastic measures. “Most of the people undertaking these diets become addicted to the weight loss they see in the initial period. However, the rapid loss of weight weakens your body systems and reduces your stamina drastically,” Dr Jhangiani adds.

The key thing to remember before embarking on a detox diet such as the Master Cleanse is that once you are back to your normal routine, the lost weight also comes back, which will make you want to go back on the detox diet. “This results in a yo-yo movement in which the diet soon becomes not about detoxification of the body, but about remaining thin,” explains Dr Jhangiani.

Occasional detox is a good thing
A good detox diet is not about starving oneself but eating things that will help clean your body’s filters. “Urban lifestyle puts the digestive system, liver, kidney and skin under a lot of stress so it’s a good thing to give them relief every now and then,” says Dr Jhangiani.