What does a detox actually do and what can you expect if you jump onboard? Naturopath Pam Stone has the answers.

To detox or not to detox? If you've tuned into anti-detox rumblings in the press lately, you might have your doubts. "Detoxing has become trendy to the point of being gimmicky," admits Blackmores' naturopath Pam Stone. But rather than simply offering an expensive alternative to a few good nights' sleep and plenty of water, structured detox programs can instil long-term change in your eating habits, she adds.

"If people burn the candle at both ends and then go on a detox, it's worse than not detoxing at all," says Stone. "The short-term 'slap bang' approach is not what it's all about. Detoxing is about improving the effectiveness of your elimination organs; what you do afterwards is more important than what you did while you were on the detox."

Based on the idea of ridding ourselves of toxins, detox programs aim to help the digestive and waste systems enjoy an easier ride. Give your body a toxin break and your energy levels will benefit, say those in favour of the practice.

But don't be fooled into thinking your system would crash without assistance. "Our bodies are programmed to naturally detox anyway, and we couldn't survive if this didn't happen - we'd very soon turn into toxic waste dumps and get sick," she observes.

You can however assist natural detoxification processes by easing their workload. As Stone points out, "If we support the detox organs and cut back on foods that overload us, we give our bodies a better opportunity to get rid of these waste products."

Signs of overload include blotchy skin, coated tongue, bad breath, feeling bloated, constipation, fatigue, poor immune function and recurring allergies. "These point to the fact that our elimination organs are not functioning as well as they can," she says.

If a detox kit is your method of choice for improving this function, expect a change in your energy levels to begin with, warns Stone: "For the first few days, your energy levels may drop a bit because you're denying them a hit of stimulants." And if coffee is your daily indulgence, withdrawal may bring on a slight headache and mild fogginess. "When the body moves beyond this stage, this side effect gives way to a feeling of more energy, clearer thinking and wellbeing," she says.

Also bear in mind that your skin may encounter a minor breakout - as it's a crucial organ for elimination, detoxification through the skin can lead to a few pimples. "But by the end of the detox, people say others are commenting their skin is clearer and their eyes brighter," says Stone.

Blackmores' 10-day Detox Program (Five Organ Care) contains the following products, and according to Pam Stone, this is how they work:

1. Digestive Bitters: "A liquid bitters formula that helps stimulate function of the stomach and liver."
2. Milk Thistle: "An antioxidant that protects liver cells from damage and helps the liver to perform by increasing bile production, which assists digestion. Bile absorbs toxins and helps escort them out of the body."
3. Acidophilus Bifidus: "This provides healthy bacteria needed in the small and large intestines. Toxin-producing bacteria can breed in these organs, so this helps maintain balance."
4. Colon Care: "A gentle laxative granule taken dry or mixed in water which promotes normal bowel movement."
5. Skin mitt: "An exfoliating glove that encourages the elimination of dead skin cells."
6. 10-day meal plan: "Recipes and an eating guide to help weight loss goals."

Find out more about how detoxing can improve your health and wellbeing and get round-the-clock support and advice to help you complete your detox program successfully at www.blackmores.com.au/detox.