How to Cleanse or Detox Your Body — And No, It Doesn't Involve Expensive Juice

Juice cleanses have become a popular trend among dieters seeking to remove toxins from their bodies. But these liquid-based cleanses are not always the most effective way to detoxify yourself. 

"Unfortunately, as most people learn the hard way, juice cleansing can be extremely unrealistic, hard to maintain for a long period of time and leave you feeling even hungrier or craving more foods when you're finished," Lisa Moskovitz, a dietitian, told Mic. 

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Most juice cleanses are expensive, and purchasing three days worth of juices can total up to $200, according to ABC7. While juice cleanses promise to do things like "rest your digestive system" or "eliminate toxins," Amy Keating, a nutritionist with Consumer Reports found no substantial evidence proving these claims.

"We just didn't see a lot of evidence to back some of the claims they make," Keating told ABC 7.

On top of avoiding expensive juices, the best way to cleanse the body is to have a healthy body. A functioning liver, kidneys and intestines works constantly to detoxify your body. 

"The premise of doing juice cleanses and other types of liquid detox regimens is false," Liz Applegate, a sports nutrition director at the University of California at Davis, told Live Science. "The body does not need any help in getting rid of toxins."

"The notion of using these methods to give the digestive system a rest is nonsensical," Applegate continued. "The digestive system operates every day to digest foods, and it doesn't need any rest."

Christy Harrison, a registered dietitian and nutritionist, wrote for Yahoo Food:

Eat plenty of plant-based foods and lean protein (but preferably not under the judgmental banner of "clean eating"). Honor your hunger and fullness cues, which will probably mean having several snacks in addition to three meals a day (and may also mean taking home doggie bags from restaurants rather than cleaning your plate). Try cooking more meals at home, this helps reduce your sodium intake as well as your spending.

So detox or cleanse diets "essentially advocate starving the body of the fuel it needs," Harrison continues. It's better to cut the junk food altogether or eat it sparingly, which is what you would be doing on a cleanse diet — before you eventually snap and likely binge — and aim to instead watch your calories, and make a conscious effort to up your intake of lean meats and veggies.