The word detox is a major buzz word at the start of each new year, given that people tend to over eat and over drink. But are they actually any good for the body? They claim to be able to revive tired looking skin, and to make the body healthy again. Or is this just a bunch of other lies?

The majority of detox programs are aimed at losing weight but you many want to consider performing a detox in order to keep your skin looking healthy. A detox is essentially a way of getting the body rid of any unwanted toxins and to get rid of unwanted waste from inside.

There are several ways that a detox can be performed, but it not always just about diet and trying to lose. The companies that offer detox plans make claims that their detox diets can get rid of cellulite improve the condition of the skin and to stop bloating. Can you really ask for anything more than this?

The best way to detox is just to do it yourself. Eat healthy and drink lots of water. But if you have tried this and see that you are not getting very far then you may want to consider taking part in a detox diet. Generally certain foods are forbidden, such as dairy products.

One of the main concerns over such plans and diets is are they actually safe? And the answer to this does very much depend on the duration that you intend to perform the detox diet for. Anything over 2 weeks could be considered two long, because depriving the body of any food that is enriched with essential vitamins is not a good idea, and if this is done then further possible complications can arise.

It is not uncommon to suffer from side effects if you take part in a detox diet, and the first week can often be the worst week and the body is needing to re-adjust. Some common side effects are feeling tired and having bad breath.

Whenever you are thinking of going on a diet regardless of the type, you should also seek professional advice first from either your doctor or to visit a dietician who can advise you properly.

This is of course not to say that some very good diet and detox plans do not exist – they do, you just need to find them. But you still need to be careful and to realise what works for one person will not always work for another.