Curious about trying a cleanse or fasting to lose weight?  Sure you are - we've talked about this before.

I recently had the opportunity to ask Dr. Mehmet Oz for his thoughts on the subject.  Dr. Oz, known for his Emmy Award-winning health and wellness-themed daytime television show of the same name, is back for a 3rd season in the Oprah Winfrey Show's recently vacated timeslot.

"I don't mind a fast, but it has to be done in a rational way," he begins.  "[And] a lot of cleanses are modified fasts with a little something added to keep the intestinal flow going, [so] it's sort of an overlapping answer."

People who wish to lose weight may be malnourished to start with, explains Dr. Oz. 

"They have been eating poor quality food, and since there is no true nutrition in that food, they are actually nutrient-depleted.  So you are taking someone who is already effectively starving and then they starve themselves even more - it's bad."

You might worry that fasts and cleanses are extreme measures, but Dr. Oz says they can be beneficial to the body by easing up on your liver and giving your intestinal system a rest.

To set yourself up for the most effective and healthy way to do a fast or a cleanse, Dr. Oz has three important tips you should consider:

(1) Before you start any kind of regimen, make sure you are in tip-top nutritional state for at least a couple of days - take your vitamins, eat healthy foods, etc.

(2) Drink plenty of fluids during your course.  Most people feel hungry for the first day, but by the second day the hunger is usually gone because you become used to not eating.

(3) Don't fast or cleanse for more than three days without involving your doctor. 


Have you tried fasting or a cleanse?  What was your experience like?