Why detoxing is bad for you: Doctor explains the disgusting side effects of trendy cleanses

Many people go on a detox diet for a health and beauty boost, to kick-off a weight-loss program, or to remove unspecified 'toxins' from the body. However, health experts have been warning for years that trendy detox cleanses are not only ineffective, but dangerous.  Now more than ever, they're urging people clinging on to their New Years resolutions to not fall into the trap of easy fad diets that could be harmful.  Daily Mail Online breaks down which detox diets and regimens are ineffective and potentially life-threatening.
There are many ways to detox:

1. Detox diets
There are many detoxification programs and recipes out there. A popular one used by many celebrities, including Beyonce, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jared Leto, is the lemon detox diet, dubbed the 'master cleanser'. It's a 10-day diet program in which meals are replaced with a drink containing nothing but lemon juice, water, cayenne pepper and maple syrup. This concoction is supposed to remove toxins, aid weight loss, and illuminate skin and hair.

Another popular detox method is the three-day apple cider vinegar diet in which people drink two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed with water before each meal. It's supposed to make people feel less hungry and make it easier to avoid snacking.  Detox methods also come in the form of raw food diets where people consume uncooked foods like kale, nuts and seeds, dried fruits, coconut, avocado, olive oil and goat cheese daily.

2. Colonics
For this type of detox many people aim to rid the colon, an organ that's part of the digestive tract, of fecal material and other unspecified toxins.   Some colon cleansing methods include coffee enemas, which are endorsed by Gwyneth Paltrow, and laxatives.
During a coffee enema, a device is used to inject hot coffee into the lower bowel through the rectum. The procedure is though to rid the liver and kidneys of a variety of unspecified toxins, including cancer-causing ones.

Laxatives — which come in many different forms including a pill, a chewable tablet and liquid — contain chemicals that loosen stools and increase bowel movements.
They're also high in salt, a water-absorbing ingredient, to pull water into the intestines to speed up bowel movements, said Dr Susan Besser, a primary care provider at Mercy Medical Center.  They're mostly recommended by doctors to ease constipation, but many people use it to cleanse their colon.

Why NONE of those detox diets have any benefits
Unless it's a precursor to a healthier diet, one-off detoxes and colonics do nothing to rid the body of toxins, experts warn.
'Most detoxes don't have long-term benefits unless it's a kick-start to eat healthy,' Dr Lauren Streicher, an associate professor at Northwestern University, told Daily Mail Online.
In fact, Dr Besser explains, the body is perfectly capable of detoxifying itself.
'Every part of the body is cleansing and revitalizing itself,' she told Daily Mail Online.
The liver, gastrointestinal system, and kidneys are some of the body's many designated toxin removers.
'Most detoxes don't have long-term benefits unless it's a kick-start to eat healthy,' Dr Lauren Streicher, an associate professor at Northwestern University, told Daily Mail Online.
In fact, Dr Besser explains, the body is perfectly capable of detoxifying itself.
'Every part of the body is cleansing and revitalizing itself,' she told Daily Mail Online.
The liver, gastrointestinal system, and kidneys are some of the body's many designated toxin removers.

Source: DailyMail