Do Cleansing Diets Really Work?

To answer this question, potential users first need to be clear about what they think of when they hear the phrase "cleansing diets." Cleansing is defined as "to free from dirt, defilement, or guilt; purge or clean."

While diet actually means "food and drink considered in terms of its qualities, composition, and its effects on health," society often associates diet with weight loss. This is an important distinction to make because not all "cleanses" are intended to produce weight loss.

All cleansing diets that do result in weight loss are not necessarily offering safe weight loss and many users that do experience weight loss have reported it to be temporary once the cleansing diet was complete. That doesn't mean that cleansing diets do not have many benefits or that sustainable weight loss isn't one of the many benefits.

Cleansing diets can remove impurities and toxins built up in the body and have many long and short term benefits. Many of the short term benefits of a cleansing diet include: healthier digestion and metabolism; increased mental awareness; and increased energy. Many long term benefits of a cleansing diet are reduced risk of cancers and reduced risks of chronic illness.

When we think of cleansing our outer body, we may think of many products but we no doubt picture water as a major component. Our internal body also desperately needs water to function properly and any internal body cleanse should include lots of water in order to work.

A successful healthy cleansing diet should include: At least 4 liters of pure water. It may also include: Vegetable soups, Vegetable juices, Fruit juices, Raw fruits and vegetables, Yogurt, and Herbal Teas. Excellent vegetable choices (for soups, juices or raw foods) during cleansing may include: Cucumber, Broccoli, Celery, Lettuce, Wheat grass, Parsley, Cabbage, Spinach, and Alfalfa .