Hollywood’s Cleanse Craze

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To lose weight fast, some stars turn to low-calorie detox plans

By Ericka Sóuter

Fitting into slinky summer gear is no easy feat. That’s why, when stars need help sipping, they start sipping! The latest wave of juice-based detox diets – consisting of tonics such as pulverized kale, coconut milk and spicy lemonade – claims to speed up weight loss, increase energy and rid the body of toxins.  “They result was…amazing,” Gwyneth Paltrow, 37, who followed organic Avenue’s five-day cleanse, wrote in her Goop newsletter. Another devotee? First lady Michelle Obama, 46, who recently fashioned her own two-day plan, eating only fruits and vegetables for meals. “[Cleanses] help me clean out my palate,” she has said. Of course, drawbacks exist, “If you don’t get enough calories, your metabolism may slow, so once the cleanse is over, you can gain the weight back,” says NYC-based nutritionist Tanya Zuckerbrot (skinnyinthecity.com). Us reviews the regimens celebs rely on.

Organic Avenue

Degree of Difficulty: 2 out of 5

The Skinny

The five-day L.O.V.E. Easy cleanse (2,000 calories a day of juice and raw food) can help you shed up to 2 pounds each day, says staff consultant Mia Andres. How does it taste? “Coconut Mylk and the Cacao Smoothie were so delicious,” Paltro wrote. ($350, organicavenue.com)

A Day’s Sample Menu

To start, 1 ounce of Chlorophyll Elixir followed by 1 pint of grapefruit juice and a pint of Young LOVE Juice (cucumber, celery, spinach). To eat? Sunflower falafel with tahini sauce, cauliflower couscous salad and chocolate mousse. Finally, Green Milk (almonds, cucumber, celery).

Expert Analysis

“Cutting process food inspires healthy eating, but it’s pricey,” Zuckerbrot says.

Dr. Bo’s Magic Pak

Degree of Difficulty: 5 out of 5

The Skinny

This 10-day detox of supplements and low-carb meals consists of just 800 calories a day, and devotees (who have included Jessica Alba and Rebecca Romijn) are advised to get three colonics while one the plan. “You can lose up to 15 pounds,” creator Dr. Bo Wagner tells Us. ($107, drbowagner.com)

A Day’s Sample Menu

Garden of Plenty shake for breakfast; salad, steamed veggies and chicken or quinoa for lunch and dinner; plus, a variety of Wagner’s nutritional supplements, including Colon Magic (with psyllium).

Expert Analysis

“You get to eat real food, but 800 calories a day is too few,” warns Zuckerbrot

iZO Foundation Cleanse

Degree of Difficulty: 5 out of 5

The Skinny

Like juice? It’s a must on this five-day diet, which counts Reese Witherspoon, Emily Deschanel and Sanaa Lathan as fans. Each day, you guzzle 12 raw, organic blends for a total of 900 calories. The payoff: You’ll peel off up to 10 pounds, founder Timothy Martin tells Us. ($100 a day, izocleanse.com)

A Day’s Sample Menu

Two pints of iZo Juice Red (with parsley and beets); a pint each of Juice Green (with cucumber and ginger), lemonade (with cayenne pepper), SuperGreen (with algae), iZo Pro (with almond milk) and six other iZo blends; 10 iZo herbal laxatives.

Expert Analysis

“It’s low in sugar, but you’ll gain weight once you return to solid food,” Zuckerbrot says.

Tracey Anderson’s Baby Food Cleanse

Degree of Difficulty: 3 out of 5

The Skinny

Infants may be chubby, but eating like one for six days could help you shed 5 pounds. This 1,200-calorie-a day plan used by Courteney Cox and Shakira has eight different purees. “It’s delicious,” the creator, trainer Tracy Anderson, tells Us. “Everyone loses like crazy on it!” ($350, tracyandersonmethod.com)

A Day’s Sample Menu

Eight ounces each of kiwi basil puree, apple blueberry sauce, mango salsa, carrot puree with edamame, roasted winter squash with cranberries, spinach beet salad and chocolate chestnut pudding; a pint of roasted chicken and vegetable soup.

Expert Analysis

“It’s high in vitamins and antioxidants,” says Zuckerbrot. “But it lacks protein.”

Are Cleanses Risky?

They can be? Plans with fewer than 1,200 calories a day don’t have enough nutrients. One effect? Dehydration, says NYC-based Dr. Louis Aronne. And since you can develop headaches and nausea, Dr. Keith DeOrio advises checking with a doctor before trying a cleanse.