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08/18/2012 03:34 PM

Juice Cleansings Meant To Tackle Toxins May Not Flush Away Weight

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Juice cleanses are taking the city by storm, but experts warn that these cleanses are not a good method for weight loss and may not even match the body's natural ways to detox. NY1's Cindi Avila filed the following report.

A lot of New Yorkers start the day with a glass of juice, but now many people are consuming juice all day and nothing else.

Terri, a restaurant in Chelsea, decided to offer their food customers a juice-cleansing option and they say it has been a success.

"All the juices contains all the vitamins and enzymes a person needs for the day," says Tomer Versano, the general manager of Terri.

The reason why people do a juice cleanse vary. Some are trying to clean out their system but others are doing it to try and lose a few pounds.

Anne Marie Colbin, Ph.D of the Natural Gourmet Institute of Health and Culinary Arts warns people against cleansing to lose weight.

"A cleanse is not a diet," she says. "It's not a quick fix because it depends on your metabolism. For some people, you put them on a restrictive diet like that and their body does not let go of the weight. The body holds onto the weight, thinking it's famine. It defends itself against famine."

Colbin points out that while juice drinkers may not lose weight, they should lose something else.

"The only reason to go on a cleanse is to lose that feeling of bloat and heaviness," she says.

Places like Organic Avenue offer cleanses anywhere from three to five days.

"I sort of just wanted to refuel my body and get rid of all the toxins I'd be taking in from snacking," says Abby Schneider, who has performed a cleanse.

"It's a great opportunity to give your body and your digestive system some rest," says Matthew Grace, who says he cleanses often.

While cleanses are said to detoxify your system, some doctors say that is something the body does naturally, with the liver, kidney and intestines flushing out the things our bodies cannot store.