If you are looking to shed some pounds gained over the holidays, some doctors say detox and cleanse products do not work and that they can even be dangerous when taken to the extreme.
Using a cleanse to jump start weight loss is a great marketing ploy, but there is no science to back up this practice and there is no medical benefit, said Dr. Michael Roizen, chief wellness officer for the Cleveland Clinic.
“The cleanse is not a rational behavior unless you’re doing it for the psychological value. In other words, the psychological value is you're making a statement that I’m going to change my eating habits and I’m going to start it with quote a cleanse," Dr. Roizen said.
When detoxes are used repeatedly, over a short period of time, they can lead to dehydration and can make a person ill, he said.
"Some of the cleanses have caffeine in high enough quanities that they can cause with repeated use seizures," Dr. Roizen said.
It may help with weight loss for a short period of time but when you resume the food you regain the weight. The only safe route to weight loss is eating fewer calories per day with healthy foods.
"Basically it sill is calories in versus calories out," he said.
