Dr. Oz Dishes on Weight Loss, From Fasting Facts to Detox Diets

Now in the fifth season of his popular talk show, heart surgeon turned best-selling author and health personality Dr. Mehmet Oz has become known as "America's doctor," best known for his expertise in losing weight and keeping it off. In an interview with the Miami Herald on September 7, Dr. Oz dished on diet do's and don'ts, and also offered some thoughts on health in general.

When it comes to frequently asked questions, said Dr. Oz, weight loss wins. "The most common public question I get is about weight loss. There’s just unbelievable interest in it. People just want to know more because they’re struggling with it every day. They see it in the mirror. They see it on the scale," he said.

Fasting has become increasingly popular in recent years, and Dr. Oz feels that it's not the way to go for weight loss. "Fasting has been an effective way for humans to deal with adversity for all known human history but it’s not the best way to lose weight," he declared. What it is good for: " It’s the best way to reboot yourself, to detox."

So why the interest in fasting? " There are a lot of interesting aspects to how we think about the human body. A lot of folks are actually fasting now because they’re not eating food that has nutrients in it," Dr. Oz explained. "They have adequate calorie counts but they don’t have the elements in their body that they need to grow brain cells, get stronger, look sexy, and be as sharp as they need to be."

Detox Diets

Because he does believe that detox diets are useful for cleansing the body and a general "reboot," Dr. Oz has devised a variety of options for his fans to follow and explained his general views.

"The practice of detoxifying the body to rid it of unhealthy toxins has been around for centuries. Hippocrates recommended fasting to improve health, and many religious groups have historically used fasting as a way of purifying the spirit.," says Dr. Oz. His 48-hour weekend cleanse is designed to purify your body without depriving you of necessary nutrients.

One of Dr. Oz's experts, Dr. Mark Hyman, contends that you can actually tell if your body needs to be cleansed. Among the warnings signs:

• Constipation
• Persistent headaches, muscle aches and muscle fatigue
• Eating a lot of swordfish, tuna, shark etc.
• Several mercury fillings and dental amalgams
• Food allergies
• Stubborn weight loss
• Hormonal imbalances and consistent use of hormone replacement treatments such as birth control or creams like progesterone.
• Consistent use of NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen
• Skin abnormalities such as acne, rosacea or eczema
• A lifetime of consuming the SAD Diet

Dr. Oz's Two-Day Wonder Cleanse

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