Health Cleansing or Detoxification as it is often referred to is one of the latest crazes when it comes to dieting – but good information about these techniques is hard to come by. A detoxification program is a sort of extreme diet and change in lifestyle that lasts just for a few days, 10 or 14 at the most. It helps purify your colon and other parts of your body so that you feel invigorated, fresh and energetic. While many people swear by the advantages of one or another kind of detoxification program, there are certain facts that you must be aware of before you attempt one of these:

1. Any program that involves fasting is not advisable for people with high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, kidney disease, ulcers, hypoglycemia and other illnesses that require regular medication. It’s also not good if you’re pregnant, lactating or old.
2. Prolonged fasting can deprive your body of necessary nutrients and cause dizziness, mood swings, headaches and lethargy. You’re also in danger of slowing down your metabolism because your body goes into starvation mode and starts preserving your fat reserves for the impending food shortage that it perceives.
3. It’s not good to rely on supplements during a detox program to give your body the necessary nutrients.
4. Natural ways of detoxification are better than most programs because they’re processes that are included in your lifestyle and help keep you healthy for as long as you live. Drink lots of water, eat more fiber, eat only when hungry and stop eating when you start feeling full instead of feeling the need to finish all that’s on your plate, include more fiber in your diet, sleep well, don’t drink or smoke, and avoid fattening and unhealthy foods that are fried and processed.
5. Natural stress-busters like yoga, aerobic workouts and other exercises and relaxation techniques are good, natural detoxifiers. They help remove the toxins from your blood and make you feel good, both mentally and physically.
6. Any detox program is only as good as the follow-up measures you maintain. You’d be stupid to spend a whole fortnight living like an ascetic on fruits, vegetables and liquids, and then coming back to civilization and gorging on foods that contain large amounts of fat, sugar, salt and oil. It’s important to keep your body clean by exercising regularly to flush the toxins out of your body and eating a healthy diet to ensure that you don’t poison your digestive system and ensure that you get all the vitamins and nutrients that your body needs.

Before you begin a detox program, run it by your doctor to see if your body can withstand the intensity and if it is necessary for you.