Fad or fact: Do detox diets or cleanses really work?

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The idea to eat clean and shed some extra pounds always peaks during this time of year, whether it is to fit into that sparkly dress or to get a head start on a New Year’s resolution. In the last few years, a range of detox recipes and cleanses have become popular— be it the Hollywood-approved Master Cleanse diet that involves drinking a concoction of water, lemon juice, cayenne pepper and maple syrup through the day for 10 days, sticking to a diet of only green juices, or eating salads for several days.

Proponents of detox diets usually claim that they improve the immune system, boost energy levels and aid weight loss. However, while new cleanse recipes tend to go viral, the question that remains is: do these methods really work? Are they even necessary in the first place? According to a 2008 Harvard paper, weight loss as a result of a detox diet is gained back almost immediately when the person starts eating solid foods again. “A detox plan isn’t a weight loss plan," notes Mumbai-based clinical dietician and sports nutritionist Zainab Gulamhusein.

“Detox diets like fasting diets, juice or green juice diets aren’t essential since our own bodies naturally detoxify and filter toxins through the liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, and the digestive system," Gulamhusein says. Detoxes are largely pseudo-medical concepts. And if a body isn’t naturally expelling waste or toxins, it probably needs medical attention.