Dietitians Dish: Detox diets not necessarily proven to work
Kristi Rolfsen  With the new year right around the corner, many
people are looking for quick, easy ways to drop pounds.
Detoxification diets, better known as detox diets, have been
extremely popular in the media in recent years. They are often
marketed as a natural way of weight loss, while cleansing the
body of toxic chemicals.  These diets are often used by
celebrities to drop pounds days before the red carpet, and there
are dozens of different detox formulas available to try. Even
with the buzz in the media, these diets are not necessary or
proven to work.  What is detox diet?  A detox diet is an
extreme, quick weight-loss plan that claims to rid the body of
toxic chemicals. This is usually done by temporarily giving up
certain foods that contain harmful chemicals and consuming
nutrients, antioxidants, fiber and herbal extracts that help the
body's natural detoxification process.  Processed foods, sugar,
wheat, red meat, caffeine and alcohol are