Veggie Blog

THE 4 DAY DETOX will cleanse your body, help you lose weight fast, and focus your mind on what you can do when you commit to change.

Ian K. Smith, M.D. is the #1 bestselling author of The Fat Smash Diet and Extreme Fat Smash Diet. He has appeared on the Rachael Ray show, is the diet expert on VH1’s “Celebrity Fit Club”, is a medical contributor to many network news programs such as ABC’s “The View” and “The CBS Early Show”, and the creator of the national weight loss initiative “The 50 Million Pound Challenge”.

Who is the author?

The author is Ian K. Smith, M.D. The description calls him the number-one bestselling author of The Fat Smash Diet and Extreme Fat Smash Diet, says he has appeared on The Rachael Ray Show and was the diet expert on VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club, and credits him with creating “The 50 Million Pound Challenge”.

What is this book about?

According to the description, the plan will “cleanse your body, help you lose weight fast, and focus your mind”. Those are the description’s promises, not claims made here, and the description gives no details of the plan itself.

What does the description say about the plan’s contents?

Very little. It says the plan asks you to commit to change, and it does not list the foods, steps or recipes.

This summary of the book description is not medical advice.

Why does a short “jump-start” diet often fade?

A plan lasting only a few days can change the scale quickly, mostly because of fluid and calories. The NCCIH fact sheet on detoxes and cleanses reports that a 2017 review said detox diets can cause early weight loss because of low calorie intake but tend to lead to weight gain after a normal diet resumes, and that a 2015 review found no compelling research that they eliminate toxins.

Your body already has a system for dealing with waste: the liver, kidneys and bowel work every day. Eating plenty of vegetables, fruit, whole grains and water, sleeping well and limiting alcohol supports them better than any short cleanse. For lasting change, the NIDDK guide to choosing a weight-loss program advises asking questions before joining a program.

Skip any plan that promises rapid change in weight or in the body’s chemistry. If you take medicines or have diabetes, kidney disease or a history of eating disorders, discuss changes with your doctor.

More on this blog: Gentle Detox Habits vs. Harsh Cleanses: What Is Worth Trying and What Your Body Already Does to Clean Itself, and How to Help It

Book: The 4 Day Detox by Ian K. Smith
View this book on Amazon (affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you)