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As a health and fitness professional, I have tried most of the diets out there so I can give my clients a first-hand account of what they may be getting themselves into. I’ve tried Atkins, South Beach, low fat, 40-30-30, and on and on and on. But, the most rigid of all the diet programs that I have tried out is definitely the detox diet.

The detox diet, also known as cleansing diet, is meant to rid your body of an accumulation of toxins by eliminating many foods which could cause those toxins to begin with. Detox diets can be short term, from 3 days to 21 days, or are considered lifestyle changes. There are several different avenues you can take for the detox diet.

Although there are several books and diets plans that you can follow for a detox diet, the premise of all of them is to eat fresh organic produce and drink lots of water. Do not eat any processed foods (anything that comes in a box or bag), alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, and drugs. Here is a closer look at several of the more popular detox diets.

Are these nutrisystem reviews 2020 right for the person to check? The answer to the question is provided through the experts. The consumption of the drugs and tobacco is reduced with the weight reduction pills. The eating and consumption of the processed food should be reduced to get the desired results.

The Raw Food Diet is very popular with celebrities right now. Proponents of this diet minimize cooking food above 116 degrees as they believe excessive heat kills important healthy enzymes in food that aid in digestion and absorption of food. The general rule of thumb is that 75% of the diet should be consumed raw, but I have seen many experts suggest as high as 85%. Because the diet is high in fresh fruits and vegetables, there are inherent healthy side effects of the diet, but because of the limiting factor of the 116 degree rule, it limits many foods and can be hard for many to adhere to.

The Hallelujah Diet is a vegan diet that also adheres to the raw food premise and requires 85% of food be consumed raw or live. No meat or dairy should be consumed on this diet, which makes it very hard for many to follow for a long period of time. This diet puts a religious twist on the diet protocol and uses the motto, “God’s way to optimal health.” For more information about this diet, look for the book of the same name by George Malkus

The Fat Flush Plan is a book written by Ann Louise Gittleman which includes 3 phases to keep you detox free for life. It starts with a strict first phase which is meant to cleanse out the toxins. It lasts 1 to 2 weeks and is calorie restrictive at just 1100-1200 per day. No grains, margarine, alcohol, sugar, oils or fats (except flaxseed oil), starchy vegetables, dairy products are allowed, which makes it difficult to follow for many people. Phase 2 increases the calorie allowance to 1100-1500 per day which should be maintained until weight loss goals are met. Phase 3 is the maintenance phase and gradually allows the re-introduction of some starch, grains, and limited dairy.

Because the liver is seen as the detoxification organ, the Liver Cleansing Diet concentrates on that organ to detoxify your body. Like most detox diets, whole, raw organic foods should be eaten liberally while processed food should be avoided. The Liver Cleansing Diet suggests that something crunchy should be eaten with every meal, and fiber is a key component to the diet. Meat is allowed in this diet, but high temperature cooking should be avoided. The diet suggests protein and good fats be consumed, like Omega 3 and Omega 6, so foods like olive oil plays a part in the diet. For more in-depth information on this diet, check out puristat.com

Of all the detox diets I have researched and tried, the strictest is the Martha’s Vineyard Detox Diet by naturopathic doctor Roni De Luz, who also owns Martha’s Vineyard Holistic Retreat. This diet claims that you will lose 21 pounds in 21 days. It is a liquid diet and has been compared to the cabbage soup diet with varying vegetables. The diet limits the amount of fluids that you can consume a day, even limiting the amount of water to a max of 48 ounces. Different vegetables and fruits are liquefied to make sure you get lots of vitamins. This diet is a short term diet that lasts 21 days and is said to detox the body, making the body work healthier and to lose weight. Permanent weight loss is highly unlikely with this diet, because as soon as you go back to your normal diet, you will gain most, if not all, the weight back. The diet has many naysayers who say it lacks key nutritional components like protein and fiber. Check out the book by the same name for what Dr. De Luz has to say about the diet.

Many people who do the detox diet have some side effects. Most common are headaches from lack of caffeine. Some people also suffer from digestive issues due to the increase of fiber from all of the fruits and vegetables.

Women who are pregnant or nursing should not take part of in a detox diet, and everyone who decides to try this diet plan should check with their doctor, especially those with anemia or osteoporosis.

Want to see if you can benefit from a detox diet? Go to about.com and take their Detox Screening Quiz.