Using a natural detox diet to remove toxins and poisons from your body sounds like a good idea. After all, what could be better than eating natural foods and avoiding processed ones?

Interested in detoxing?

Detox diets are designed to help the body rid itself of toxins. If the idea of detoxing appeals to you, you might try "clean" by consuming healthy choices such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein and basically all foods without a lot of processing. That would be good for you and will help you to manage a healthy lifestyle that lasts longer, especially if you make exercise as a habit.

Why make a detox diet?

In the past two decades, many studies have shown an increase in the instances of autoimmune diseases as well as infection-related diseases. In addition, such drastic change is largely attributed to unhealthy diet choices. It appears that there is a widespread problem in terms of making correct food choices, as people get used to eating take-out or fast food. Due to their busy schedules and utter indifference to acquiring basic culinary skills, many people resort to eating processed meals that are not only lacking in nutrients but also contain potentially toxic materials.
Literature suggests an association between toxins and premature aging, cancer, Parkinson's disease, fatigue, joint/muscle pain and fibromyalgia.
The idea for detox diets comes from the concern that toxins are constantly bombarding our bodies with potentially harmful effects that leads to lower our immune system.

What to do?

To attempt this, you temporarily give up certain kinds of foods like red meat, sugar, eggs, alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, artificial sweeteners, drugs (anti-inflammatory, antacids, antibiotics) processed foods, certain supplements, prepackaged and junk food as well.
In general, a natural detox diet must include the following items:

• Organic foods such as vegetables, fruits, juices, herbs, whole grains, and lean protein.
• Drinks (organic pomegranate juice, green detox drink, detox teas) and lots of water.
• Fibers rich foods(vegetable, fruits, flaxseeds, oats)
• Probiotics and antioxidants.

Usually, a detox diet is paired with changes in lifestyle, which is also meant to foster the cleansing of toxins from the body. In addition, exercise is also recommended to increase sweating; another way thought to purge the body of certain substances.

Are you the right candidate for a detox diet?

Do you have headaches, sinus congestion, fatigue, impaired immune function, poor concentration, acne or depression? Are you obese? Do you like to have more energy, eliminate cravings and look and feel younger?
If this sounds good to you (blood tests can help if available) you may be the perfect candidate for a detox diet. All you have to do is to follow the right plan.

• Obesity:
  A randomized controlled trial shows that a dietary intervention designed to elicit weight loss reduces overall inflammation in obese persons caused by the adipocytes (fat storage cells). Many studies also show the relation between fat intake and the subclinical inflammation in people.
  Another study held in Norway on obese people shows the low concentrations of vitamin B6 (needed in liver detoxification), vitaminC (essential for immunity), vitaminD (role in immunity) and vitaminE (antioxidant) in morbidly obese patients. Another study conducted on 55 obese patient’s shows that a treatment with poly unsaturated fatty acids favorably modulated adipose tissue and systemic inflammation in severely obese non diabetic patients.
  A detox diet is very essential for obese in order to: - Reduce the frequent inflammations (caused by the accumulation of toxins and of course the presence of enlarged adipocytes) - Boost their immune system.
• Pregnancy/breastfeeding:
  Detox diets are not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to several risks accompanied with the consumption of detoxing special food items, as per follows:
  • Risk of becoming dehydrated
  • Too little nutrition on a detox
  • Many herbs are unsafe during pregnancy and lactation

Is it safe?

That depends on the particular detox diet you're following. Actually, there are many types of detox diet plans. Some are based on only fasting, or just drinking liquids.
It is not safe when It is very low in calories or you feel very hungry and weak.
In addition, any extreme and unbalanced diet plan could lead you to yoyo effect which is losing weight very fast and regaining them back in a short period as well. Following a wrong detox diet plan will surely cause many health related side effects such as: Lower metabolism, hunger, low energy, low blood sugar, muscle aches, fatigue, dizziness, weak, lightheaded, dehydration and nausea.

Detox for a day, or a lifetime?

It is very important to undergo a detoxification program that aims to achieve a long term healthy lifestyle: A healthy, effective detoxification program normally consists of dietary changes coupled with some supplements if needed. Long-term changes in eating behaviors are ultimately much more effective than short-term cleanses which foster the erroneous notion where a person consumes whatever he likes throughout the year, and then commit to a healthy choice for only a short period of two to four weeks.