I need a cleansing from all this detoxing!

Are you or someone you know on a detox diet plan or a cleanse? Everyone seems to be, especially this time of year.  After all we just ate and drank like there was no tomorrow for the last month of 2010.

Not many days go by where I am not hearing about some 7- 14 day detox, where people cuts out all alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and refined carbohydrates, sometime solid food all together,  - while taking supplements to help "detoxify" the liver, kidneys and colon.

Is the detox going to significantly improve anyone's health in 7 days? No, not really. And while most detox programs aren't dangerous,  mostly due to there short duration, they are not particularly effective either. A 7-day detox or cleanse won't reverse a poor lifestyle. Its true cleanses might even help you lose a little weight initially, but very little of it is fat.  You also can't get more than 15 feet from a bathroom without feeling a little anxious. Good times!  Montezuma's revenge will do the same thing but I don't recommend it for long term health or fat loss either.  After all, one week of anything, no matter how healthy, can't reverse 51 weeks of little exercise and poor eating.

Perhaps moderation of these "toxic" substances that we need to "cleanse" ourselves of with an emphasis on overall healthier eating is a better plan.  Of course if you feel your wallet could use a good cleansing, well then I highly recommend the other approach. You could use that money to buy me a beer though. Just a suggestion. Enjoy your day.