Forget about food combining, low carb diets, and cortisol reducing supplements, the latest weightloss craze is detox diets. Celebrities are on detox diets, your aunt has probably tried a detox, and even doctors are prescribing detox systems. Does that mean you should try it? Read on to find out the pros, the cons, ways to get started, and how not to get sucked into an MLM.

Why and What The Experts Are Saying:
A detox diet often involves eliminating all processed foods and only eating organic fruits and vegetable or juicing organic vegetables and fruits. Most of these diets recommend eliminating all stimulants i.e. caffeine, cigarettes, alcohol and drinking lots of purified water. Some detox systems are powders infused with all types of nutrients that are good for your body. They require that you eliminate all food and only take the powders with purified water, a vitamin, and possibly some packaged protein snacks in case the hunger is too much to handle. The point of a detox is to rid the body of all toxins and infuse it with a multitude of nutrients that many detox gurus claim are missing from most people's diets. Dr. Becky Natrajan, a gastroenterologist in Tucson, AZ, explains that "many of us are very nutritionally bankrupt, we have over farmed our farm lands and a lot of our foods don't give us the nutrients that we really need." According to Dr. Becky using a detox product that contains a multitude of essential nutrients cleanses our cells and provides the nutrients necessary to get our bodies back into optimum health.

In addition to regaining optimum health, some experts believe that a detox is essential to weightloss. "You cannot expect to improve your metabolism, lose weight, and permanently, or drastically increase your energy level without first cleansing your cells" says metabolism expert Christopher Guerriero in a recent interview and teleseminar for bellaonline readers.

The Pros
Most people are under the impression that if they cut back on calories, sugar, fat, and processed carbs they will be healthy and lose weight but they fail to see that in order for the body to function at it's optimum it has to have ALL the necessary nutritents to metabolize fat and produce energy. Cutting back on the bad stuff is only part of the equation and the sad truth is that most diets program only promote this type of thinking. This is where detox diets are key to getting people to increase the foods that are most beneficial for health, vitality, weightloss, and energy.

The Cons
Detox diets are not easy. They require eliminating all kinds of food and can range anywhere from 7 days to 30 days. Even quick detox plans such as Anne Louise Gittleman's The Fast Track One-Day Detox Diet: Boost metabolism, get rid of fattening toxins, safely lose up to 8 pounds overnight and keep them off for good (click the link to get the book) requires a prep phase that if skipped renders the one day detox useless. Some detox diets are big on juicing and consuming green superfoods which is unrealistic and complicated for most stressed out busy people. Other detox programs are strictly supplement based, eliminating food all together. They can cost around $150 for a month's worth of supplies which becomes a huge problem for those with families that have other dietary needs. In addition to the cost, some of these systems are structured as multi level marketing businesses that push selling and recruting others to sell it too. They promise big money and some associates can be very aggressive about signing you up as an associate.

Ways To Detox
Detox diet books that outline a specific eating plan and provide great recipes are great for those who have more time. Try any of the following

• The Fast Track One-Day Detox Diet: Boost metabolism, get rid of fattening toxins, safely lose up to 8 pounds overnight and keep them off for good
• The Great American Detox Diet : 8 Weeks to Weight Loss and Well-Being
• The Raw Food Detox Diet : The Five-Step Plan for Vibrant Health and Maximum Weight Loss
• The Acid-Alkaline Diet for Optimum Health: Restore Your Health by Creating Balance in Your Diet

Detox systems that contain a multitude of nutrients are more convenient and make the entire process easier for those who have less time and don't care to juice or chop veggies. Try the Isagenix System. It's been featured in Chicken Soup for The Healthy Soul, Mars & Venus Diet Solutions, and The 24 Hour Turnaround and is endorsed by dozens of doctors and wellness professionals. Warning: This is an MLM so if you're not into being recruited to sell look for a retailer online that is o.k. with you just buying product.

Doctor prescribed detox systems are good if you have special medical concerns and need doctor supervision. Look for a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor, or Holistic Health Practitioner that offers a product similar to Isagenix and provides added supervision according to your special medical concerns. Another medically supervised option is a colonic, unpleasant but effective.

The last option for those who want the least amount of trouble is a green's supplement. These are over the counter supplement mixes that some claim are the equivalent of eating 6 organic salads. They don't taste great but for some it may be a better option than juicing and/or eliminating most foods. Try: Vibrant Health Green Vibrance