This Expert Says Short-Term Detox Cleanses Are Pointless

January is traditionally the time to go on a health kick and some people even go the whole hog and 'detox', to banish the after-effects of the festive season. However, if you're currently juicing or cutting out certain food groups, you might want to take this advice into account before going any further. Dr Veronique Chacay is a dietician at the University of Queensland and she says that our own bodies can cleanse themselves, thus negating the need for 'detox' cleanses. Chacay says that our bodies are more than capable of detoxing and that juice cleanses and other similar detox programmes are next to useless. We might have to give the planned detox a miss so... In a piece published on The Conversation, the expert said: "no one-off detox regimen can “erase” the effects of weeks' worth of excess and years of sluggish lifestyle habits. "There’s no scientific basis or high-level evidence showing the benefits of commercial short-term detox programs. She goes on to say: "It will perform its detoxification tasks regardless of whether you’re undertaking a rigid detox cure, or a gourmet food and wine tasting marathon. "But providing the right ingredients for optimal function daily, rather than opting for a quick-fix detox, is the key".