Detox Diets to Follow

Detox diets focus on the elimination of toxins and impurities from the body. As well as promoting weight loss, detoxes aim to cleanse the body, removing modern-day pollutants, chemicals and pesticides that exist in certain foods and in medications. Unless the liver is stressed -- enzymes in the liver can be checked to verify this -- it is not necessary to undertake a detox plan.

Liquid-only Diets

Detox diets should not be undertaken by pregnant women, teenagers, children or those with medical conditions. Detoxes are low calorie plans that restrict certain food groups. Advice from a doctor should be sought before undertaking any detox diet. Many detox plans involve drinking liquids only. The Master Cleanse or lemonade diet involves drinking a mixture of maple syrup, water, lemon juice and cayenne pepper for up to 10 days to detox. The Martha's Vineyard detox plan -- also known as 21 pounds in 21 days -- is a three week "MasterFast," whereby the dieter consumes juices, soups and protein shakes, along with water and supplements.

Raw Food Diets

Other detoxes are based on the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, to be eaten raw, along with nuts, seeds, grains, cooked eggs or lean proteins. Examples include the 3-Day Fruit Flush Diet and the Raw Food Diet. The Liver Cleansing Diet focuses on detoxifying the liver and includes liver cleaning capsules as part of the detox. The Fast Track Detox Diet is designed to boost metabolism and cleanse the liver and colon. A "miracle juice" of unsweetened cranberry, orange juice, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and stevia is consumed alongside the eating of "liver-loving" and "colon-loving" foods, such as cauliflower, apples, broccoli, carrots, berries and leafy green vegetables.

Gentler Detox Diets

Detox diets can be less restrictive, an example being Dr. Joshi's Holistic Detox, which lists the consumption of gluten-free bread. However, this plan omits dairy products and when followed for a number of weeks, may result in nutrient deficiencies. A gentler form of detoxing involves the elimination of caffeine, alcohol, saturated fat, sugar and processed foods and the excessive consumption of protein, so that a healthy diet is maintained which combines all food groups and does not compromise on nutritional value.

Advantages and Drawbacks

Detoxing advantages include weight loss and a sense of purifying the body. However, scientific facts about the health benefits of detox diets have yet to be established. The drawbacks of undergoing restrictive low calorie diets for many days include fatigue, nausea, dehydration, headaches, nutrient deficiencies and a weakened immune system. The supplements and ingredients for detox plans can be expensive. Resuming former eating patterns on completion of the diet may result in weight gain and yo-yo dieting, which can damage your metabolism. There is evidence to suggest that in certain groups of patients repeated and extreme crash dieting causes cardiac stress and harms the heart.