Published: Friday, March 11, 2011, 1:00 AM     Updated: Friday, March 11, 2011, 1:02 PM

About this time every year, I start getting questions about cleansing fasts and detox diets. And it’s understandable. if the past few weeks of Carnival have taken a toll on your energy level, and perhaps your waistline, the promise of a detox regimen to renew and rejuvenate can be oh-so-enticing, particularly with Lent beginning and summer right around the bend.

Detox regimens claim to enhance the body’s natural process of neutralizing and eliminating toxins, such as like pesticides, preservatives and pollutants. They typically include some form of fasting, or a cleansing program of supplements along with a modified diet.

Popular fasts and cleansing programs tout such benefits as alleviating allergies, improving thyroid function, diminishing PMS symptoms, reversing signs of aging, boosting the immune system, and improving mood and sex drive.

On the flip side, these programs also warn of potential symptoms that might occur as the toxins leave your body, including headaches, constipation or diarrhea, skin outbreaks, hives and cold sores, to name a few. Simply a means to an end, proponents say, as your body works its way through the detox process.

Most medical professionals say that cleansing is unnecessary, that our body’s own detoxification system can cleanse itself. And the fact that there’s little published research on the topic makes it nearly impossible to say whether there’s any measurable physiological benefit.

Following a detox regimenn can have a powerful psychological impact, however, particularly for someone who feels controlled by food, or someone looking for a jump-start toward better health.

So although I don’t recommend detoxing as part of a regular wellness regimen for most people, I understand that a cleanse or fast can offer a much-needed mental boost and help one regain focus toward living a healthy life.

But first, a few caveats:

A one-day fast is generally safe for most healthy people and up to five days if the fast includes juices. And while long-term calorie restriction can slow metabolic rate, a short-term fast isn’t likely to have a negative impact.

Always check with your physician first, because fasting can change the amount of medications in the blood stream. Fasting isn’t recommended for people with diabetes, those on blood thinners, or for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Don’t expect to shed body fat. Any pounds lost will likely be fluid, and most people will regain them as soon as they start eating normally again.

In the days leading up to a cleanse, protocols typically recommend eliminating the obvious: caffeine, alcohol, sugar, white flour and fried foods, and adding fresh fruit and veggies at every meal.

Post-cleanse, most protocols recommend gradually phasing foods back into the diet — except those that offer no nutritional benefits. An example is to break the cleanse with fruits and vegetables on day one, adding beans and whole grains back in on day two, then lean meat and dairy on day three.

The bottom line: if you’re determined to follow a cleansing fast after a decadent Mardi Gras season, do it in a healthy manner. And for many, simply resuming your normal healthy diet might be all the ‘detoxing’ you need.

Detoxifying fasts and cleanses can mean different things.

Fasting might refer to a juice-only diet, or it can imply a diet of only raw foods, like fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. to some purists, a true fast means nothing but water — for up to weeks at a time.

Here is a sample day’s intake for three versions of modified fasts.

1. Juice fast (one day, up to five days)

Freshly made juice is preferable, either homemade or from a local juice bar, but store-bought 100 percent juice can suffice. start your day with a 2-ounce shot of wheat grass or aloe juice. every two hours or so, have 12 ounces of each of the following: grapefruit juice, water with lemon juice and a tablespoon of maple syrup, veggie juice (blend of any of the following: spinach, parsley, kale, Swiss chard, celery), pure cucumber juice, and coconut water. Drink a glass of water between each type of juice, and finish the last drink at least two hours before bedtime.

If you want to boost your protein intake, add a scoop of hemp or brown rice protein powder, providing 15 to 20 grams of protein, to any of the vegetable-based juices.

2. Raw only (fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, up to five days)

Start your day with herbal tea or hot lemon water. Have fresh fruits, raw vegetables, salads, avocado, and raw nuts and seeds every two to three hours, in quantities sufficient to satisfy appetite.

3. just good clean eating (no time limit, continue indefinitely)

Centered on whole, unprocessed foods. start your day with herbal tea or water with lemon.

Breakfast: Omelet made with one whole egg plus four egg whites, filled with veggies of choice, such as spinach, tomatoes and onions. Serve with a side of fresh berries.

Snack: ¼ cup raw almonds or walnuts

Lunch: Mixed greens salad topped with red and yellow peppers and grilled chicken breast or black beans, topped with a splash each of vinaigrette and lemon juice. Serve with a side or two of lightly steamed or roasted nonstarchy vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower or Brussels sprouts).

Snack: Fresh berries with plain low-fat Greek yogurt, 1 or 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed added.

Dinner: Salmon (poached, steamed or grilled) with a side of lightly steamed vegetables of choice (asparagus, spinach, turnip or mustard greens).

Molly Kimball is a registered dietitian in new Orleans. Her column appears every Friday in Living and her nutrition video blog appears every Tuesday on nola.com/health. She can be reached at eatingright@timespicayune.com.