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There are many different kinds of detox diets, but the premise is the same: you should rid your body of toxins by cleansing. Most Detox regimens tend to promise fast, easy weight loss. After a detox diet, they claim, you’ll feel more energetic and lighter. Some experts are skeptical of the fad.

Detox diets may involve fasting, taking laxatives, or consuming only liquid. These diets can be difficult on the body!  Critics say that such diets are based on false science, and can be harmful for your health.

Other detox diets, though, involve consuming fruits and vegetables. Some even include special foods for your liver and colon, while excluding caffeine, alcohol, glutens, sugars, and dairy, which are hard to digest. This kind of diet is much less strict than pure fasting, and has more credibility.

So, then, is fasting good for you or not? When the body is denied glucose to function for more than about four hours, the body will get it elsewhere: first in the liver, and then in muscles. Caloric restriction has been shown to have a positive impact on health, but fasting hasn’t been studied as carefully. Mice who fasted every other day has increased stress resistance and lived longer. Humans who fast have been shown to lose weight, but the long-term effects are not as clear. Still, fasting has been shown to decrease LDL cholesterol.

Fasting may be risky, though, especially for someone who suffers from anorexia. If you’re considering a detox diet, be sure you carefully research the risks and side effects. Also, remember that not all detox diets are created equally, so choose carefully.