Dear Marilyn,
 
At one point or another, we all seem to want to shed a couple of pounds, especially before squeezing into an old dress.  And celebrities aren't any different.  It's no secret that before a film starts shooting or a big premiere, celebrities will do just about anything to rid themselves of a few pesky pounds.  Of course hitting the gym extra-hard isn't quite going to cut it, so, more often than not, they adopt a detox into their lives.

Although the initial motivation might be to lose a couple of pounds, the point of a cleanse is to rid your body of harsh toxins and boost your energy levels and metabolism.  We accumulate toxins through food, products we use and the air we breath.   If we're bogged down with toxins, our organs may not perform as well, often leaving us feeling sluggish and tired.   You know when you need to grab that 3 pm coffee just to make it through the end of your work day?  It isn't because we stayed up too late the night before, but rather our energy levels have taken a hit.

Now, you're probably wondering if cleanses are necessary?  Well, depending on your diet, it might be beneficial to your health.  It doesn't hurt to go on a fruit and/or vegetable juice detox, similar to the one Gwyneth Paltrow has praised.  However, doctors will warn you not to take a cleanse too far.  Detoxing for more than ten days can be dangerous.  While they set the wheels in motion for an improved daily life, they also limit the amount of nutrients your body receives, which could be counter-productive in the end.

And please take note; there are so many cleanses out there it's important you go with the one that is right for you.  In addition to a colon cleanse, you can focus on the liver, gallbladder and kidneys.  If you think you could benefit from a specific cleanse meet with a Naturopath who will provide you with useful advice and guidance.

I once used a cleanse called the 5 Day Reset.  The cleanse was supposed to improve energy levels and help me lose five pounds.  After a couple of days I did feel a little more energized and my food cravings started fading.  I'm not naive though and I'm almost certain the energy had a little something to do with the pack of pills I had to swallow twice, daily.  As for weight loss.  Zero.   In the end, my stomach shrank and my cravings were minimal.  That is until my first big meal and all my cleansing seemed to be thrown out the door.

Here’s my tip if you're wary of detoxing:  drinks lots and lots of water.  It's one resource that naturally flushes out our system.  And one thing to avoid is oil.  Most oils have trouble passing through and can build up in our digestive organs.  There are times when it seems necessary to detox, and that’s fine.  For the most part they are all safe.  You should just keep it under ten days otherwise you might be treading dangerous ground.  Again, talk to a specialist, because not all cleanses are fit for you.