In today's world, we are exposed to an innumerable number of toxins in our food, air, water, in the workplace and even at home. As time goes on, toxins accumulate in our bodies and our systems stop working as well as they should. Detoxification is the process of filtering those wastes and toxins from our bodies, often with the aid of body detox kits.

These body detox kits are often found at a pharmacy, health food store or supermarket. They claim to be ideal for people exposed to pollution, those who work with chemicals, who smoke or drink, or who eat processed foods. In other words almost everyone.

Detox kits range from one or two day programs, to 7 or 10 day kits, all the way up to 30 or more days for an advanced cleanse. Usually these kits consist of one or more dietary supplements of herbs and nutrients in capsule, tablets or liquid form. The ingredients have been chosen to support the body's natural detoxification process and include a diet plan to follow. Over a period of days or weeks, by taking the supplements and following the diet, you may be able to purge your body of toxins and restore your heath.

Proponents of body detox tools think that everyone should do a cleanse once or twice a year. Testimonials abound from people who think their energy and health have improved after doing a detox.

On the other hand, there are a number of people who wonder if there is any merit in these products. The Australian Consumers' Association looked at a number of popular over-the-counter detox kits. They consulted experts in nutrition about the ingredients in the detox kits and concluded that there was little clinical evidence showing they actually worked.

A main concern was that detox kits could be dangerous if they gave people the idea that they didn’t have to take care of themselves properly. Instead, they could harm themselves and then correct it with a detox kit. Many authorities also don’t believe that toxins build up and need to be removed. Their thought is that our bodies remove waste naturally and shouldn’t need any help.

Body detoxification kits can be costly and continue to be controversial. They do contain helpful information about dietary and lifestyle habits and many people continue to find them beneficial.

Only you can decide whether one of those body detox kits is right for you. In the meantime, avoid toxins by limiting alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, saturated and trans-fats, soft drinks and refined sugary foods. Exercise daily and eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.