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Detoxes, cleanses and fasts may sound like appealing ways to quickly shed unwanted pounds.

But how do they differ from one another? And can you do them long-term?

We went to wellness dietitian Lindsey Wohlford for answers to these questions and more. Here¡¯s what she wants you to know about cleanses, detoxes and fasts.

What is the difference between a cleanse, a detox and a fast?

There are no scientific definitions for these terms, so they can mean different things in different contexts. But in general:

• Detoxes and cleanses, sometimes referred to as ¡°detox cleanses¡± or ¡°detox diets,¡± usually describe eating or drinking something that is supposed to flush out the toxins and harmful substances in your body.
• A fast is usually a complete break from food or drinks with calories, or very minimal consumption of them, for a set period. The idea behind fasting is to give your body a break and allow it to use its own energy source to reset.