Detox diet plans are gradually becoming a trend among diet freaks and health conscious citizens, says an expert but cautions that such regimes should be undertaken only under the supervision of dieticians.

Detox diet is basically an intake plan to cleanse the system by giving the stomach a break from excess which has accumulated and the toxins that are in the body.‘Around 65-70 percent of my clients want to opt for a detox diet. But we talk to them to understand the requirement and recommend it if only it is required,’ says Namita Jain, a dietician and clinical wellness specialist associated with the Bombay Hospital in Mumbai.

‘But it has to be done under the supervision of a dietician and it has to be done in a scientific way. A lot of people do it on their own,’ Jain told.‘They will starve one day and next day eat and binge, and that really takes a toll on their health,’ Jain said on the sidelines of the inauguration of the first Diet Mantra Clinic, a wellness clinic in Kolkata.

‘These are special diet plans to clean the system, when you have eaten too much... It is not at all recommended for children or youngsters and only if a dietician suggests one should start it,’ she said.According to jain, there are one-three-five and seven days plans for detox diets.

‘It has become a recent trend in India but it existed since long all over the world. Spas the world over have had such diet plans to get rid of all the toxins in one’s body.’

Detox diets may involve consuming extremely limited quantity and type of foods like only water or juice, or eliminating certain foods like fats or processed foods from the diet, according to experts.

Jain said dieting and exercising together are the mantra for keeping one fit. ‘The trick to getting into shape is 80 percent diet and 20 percent exercise. We also advocate walking and bringing in at least one hour of exercise daily to lose weight,’ Jain told.