This New Year, skip going on a detox or cleanse

Instead of fad detox trends, adopt a probiotics-rich diet to nurture a healthy gut

- Sumitra Nair

The idea to eat clean and shed some extra pounds always peaks during this time of year, whether it is to fit into that sparkly dress or to get a head start on a New Year's resolution. In the last few years, a range of detox recipes and cleanses have become popular—be it the Hollywood-approved Master Cleanse diet that involves drinking a concoction of water, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup throughout the day for 10 days, sticking to a diet of only green juices, or eating salads for several days. Proponents of detox diets usually claim that they improve the immune system, boost energy levels, and aid weight loss. However, while new cleanse recipes tend to go viral, the question that remains is: do these methods really work? Are they even necessary in the first place?