An extreme form of body cleansing is the fasting detox. This type of detoxification involves abstaining from food for between one and 10 days, depending on the diet. In the place of solid foods, you consume only liquids, which can range anywhere from fruit juices to the lemonade drink popular in the Master Cleanse Detox Diet.

Fasting is a highly effective method for ridding your body of toxins that have been stored in tissues and your digestive tract over time. You see, when your body encounters a toxin that it can’t process, it’ll find a way to store it in your body—most often in fat. When you do a fast, your body is forced to begin burning fat, and as it does so, these stored toxins are released into the body so that they can be flushed from your system.

There are many variations on the fasting detox, but here are three of the most popular options:

• The Master Cleanse Detox Diet: Perhaps one of the most popular detox diets around, the Master Cleanse (also known as the Lemonade Diet, the Maple Syrup Cleanse, and the Cayenne Pepper Detox) involves 10 days of fasting during which dieters consume many glasses of the lemonade drink, made of organic lemons, filtered water, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup. Dieters are also encouraged to take a laxative tea and a salt water flush to further boost the effects of the detox. The lemonade drink is said to satiate most feelings of hunger, although there are cravings and other side effects that participants must cope with.
• Juice fasting: Many people opt for juice fast both for weight loss and for cleansing purposes. These fasts consist of a liquid diet, or juices, instead of solid foods. The juices are generally made of raw vegetables and fruits, as well as filtered water, that are all blended together to make nutritious beverages that are also full of fiber. Most dieters go on a juice fast for between one and three days depending on the requirements and goals.
• Fast Track Detox Diet: Developed by Anne Louise Gittleman, a bestselling author and nutritionist, the Fast Track Detox Diet has helped many people kick-start their weight-loss program while ridding the body of toxins and boosting metabolism. The plan begins with seven days of preparation that includes a diet of organic foods aimed at improving liver, kidney, and digestive health. On the eighth day, participants do a one-day fast during which they drink a “miracle juice” composed of lemon juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, stevia (a sweetener), ginger, and nutmeg. Participants also take psyllium husks or ground flaxseeds to add additional fiber. This is finally followed by three more days of the same special diet imposed in the initial seven days plus some additional “liver-loving” and “colon-loving” foods.

Regardless of which fasting detox diet you choose, be sure to consult your physician or natural health practitioner before beginning in order to ensure you do the diet safely and with no risks to your health. Certain medical conditions (pregnancy, diabetes, etc) can put you a risk if you don’t go through a fasting detox with mindfulness and control.