Does a Detox Diet Really Work?

glamour.com:

devotees to the people who make it a New Years resolution to try one of the many cleanses and meal plans out there, however dubious they may be, the beginning of a new year seems to be a key moment to take stock of our bodies, our routines, and our overall well-being.The timing makes sense: After a holiday season filled with cocktail parties and not-so-healthy meals, the idea of cleansing the body of excess seems attractive.

It's not the why that I'm curious about. It's the how. As in, how many of those detox diets actually work?While doing a cleanse or following a certain meal plan has become common for many around this time of year, the definition of a detox diet has become murky.

So what does “detox” mean to the experts?“It's a plan that promises to ‘clean’ the body by eliminating toxins, usually through fasting, juices, or restrictive foods,” says Monica Herrero, a specialist in Nutrition and Dietetics at the Multiconsulta Medical Center and the Red Cross Medical Center in Spain and a member of . “However, these diets have no scientific basis, are unnecessary, and can be harmful to health.”Many people associate detoxing with weight loss—basically equating it to a traditional diet—but they have little to do with each other. “Detox diets are temporary, extreme, and lacking in essential nutrients,” says Herrero. “On the other hand, a diet focused on healthier eating should be a personalized plan that meets each person's specific nutritional needs and promotes sustainable, healthy changes.”When talking about detoxifying the body, we have to talk about toxins first.