The market has been saturated by quick-fix, weight-loss detoxes that do little for the body.

Usually these come in the form of crash diets, juice cleanses, or replacing all your food with a liquid for an extended period of time.

While occasional liquid meal replacement is fine, many people take it a step too far to fit into a dress, look good for a party, or overcome a hangover, while neglecting an important fact:

The body’s own detoxification systems are remarkably sophisticated and versatile. They have to be, as the natural environment that we evolved in is hostile. It is remarkable that people are prepared to risk seriously disrupting these systems with unproven ‘detox’ diets, which could well do more harm than good.

That’s from Alan Boobis, professor and toxicologist from Imperial College in London.

Your body is the most savvy detox machine on earth.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take care to feed it the best food and drink possible.

In the same way that a car drives a certain way on basic fuel, premium fuel makes a car run smoother, quicker, and last longer.

The bottom line: Rather than cleanse your life for a few days, focus on a lifetime of healthy habits.

If you want to lose weight, feel better and have more energy — and who doesn’t? — do yourself a favor and focus on the next 12 months, not the next 12 hours.

Detox is a lifestyle, not an overnight diet to lose a few pounds for that special dinner.