Identification

• There is another word that is also commonly used that is synonymous with detoxing. It is called cleansing. Regardless what it is called, the end desired result is always the same. People are sick and tired all the time literally, and they want to get back their energy. This is where cleansing comes into play.
  
  

Time Frame

• A cleanse can take anywhere from 1 week to 30 days depending on how toxic someone is and what type of cleanse they are doing. Usually the rule of thumb is, the more hard core the cleanse, the shorter it is.
  
  

Types

• There are quite a bit of detox programs out and about today. There are detox's for lead, parasites, the colon, liver, kidneys, skin, and even ones to flush marijuana from the system. But probably the most popular one would be the Master Cleanse (Stanley Burroughs, 1941), also known as the Lemonade Diet. This is designed specifically to lose weight in a hurry.
  
  The master cleanse is made up of lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper and purified water. This concoction is to be taken for 2 to 7 days with nothing else in the diet except more water. It is extreme but has been known to be very effective. With that being said, be ill advised that this is basically a crash diet and is not a permanent fix!
  
  

Function

• A very high percentage of the population has a build up of toxins in the system. Another problem they might have is a backed up colon. This may not sound very appetizing but it is the truth. Colon cancer is second only to lung cancer in lives taken each year. Cleanses help to eliminate and move toxins and waste form the system.
  
  

Theories/Speculation

• There are some people who eat right, don't drink, don't smoke and still go on cleanses. This may sound puzzling but they really do have a valid point. They believe that no one is exempt from getting toxic just by the air we breath and the fact that it is impossible to avoid all chemicals and pesticides in foods. This does make sense. Even if the diet consisted of nothing but organic food, there is still no escaping air.
  
  

Benefits

• Going through a cleanse offers quite a bit of health benefits. They vary from person to person, but a lot of people have had life changing results. Some of the main benefits one can encounter are increased energy, weight loss, better brain function, better digestion, better mood, clearer skin and an increased libido.
  
  

Expert Insight

• The idea of going on a cleanse should be taken seriously. There are far too many people who use them as a crutch to party, eat, and drink whatever they want on a Friday night knowing that they are going to do a cleanse on Monday. It should not be used as a quick fix or band aid. It should be used as a kick start to change lifestyle patterns that can last forever.
  
  There are a few good web links at the bottom to check out about detoxing. One of them is a podcast from Dr. Andrew Weil.