Today on the Dr. Oz show, an audience member asked him, “What do you think about cleansing?” This is a question that I am sure a lot of doctors are getting asked these days. With cleansing systems popping up all over the place, there is a lot of interest in giving the body a rest, “starting with a clean slate” and giving the body optimum nutrition. But is it all necessary?

Dr. Oz’s response was in two parts. For the first part he stated that he didn’t believe in colonics. Thank goodness because I am not a fan of having that done myself. For the second part, he said he did believe in cleansing for 2-3 days to purge the body but that you couldn’t stop giving it nutrition during that time. So, starvation is not a good idea. He also said that you had to have a good base to start with. If you are overweight, and you just starve yourself, you are not doing your body any favors. However, if you give it proper nutrition which it may have been without for some time, then a purge or cleanse might be a good idea. So make sure you choose a cleanse that is full of what your body needs.

I have personally used a cleanse before and dropped 18 pounds (yes, probably mostly water weight) in 9 days but what was really great was just knowing I was giving my body good nutrition and I was able to jumpstart my weight loss properly.

What do you think about cleansing? Leave your comments below.

When the body has been overwhelmed with unhealthy foods like fast foods, sodas and cookies, then Yes, you should do a water diet detox before you start your diet plan. At one point in my life, my brain was feeling overwhelmed with all of the information it was getting each day. Advertisements, Internet, television news, school…it was too much. I went on a TV detox for 30 days to just clear things out a bit. The same idea rings true for your body. You should try some type of water detox or cleansing program to get your body back to a clean slate.

Cleanses and detoxing works because they can help to take away your severe cravings before you start your new healthy eating plan. It is not always easy, but the cravings do subside after a few days when you aren’t giving your body so many choices. Some people consider cleansing or doing a detox as a good way to “jump start” the new eating and exercise plan. However, you do not want to go overboard. Cleanses should not be done for more than a few days. While some might do for religious or other reasons, for the average person, just a day or two of cleaning out will suffice. Keeping it short also helps you remember it is “doable”. Anyone can do anything for a day or two.

Whether you choose a water diet detox, or the lemon pepper Master Cleanse, an at home cleanse or even Jillian Michael’s New Cleanse, it’s a great idea to help you start your diet on the right foot.