Spring Break is in three weeks, starting March 8, and many students are in a frenzy to shed as many pounds as they can. It’s all about getting your body ready for the beach as the most anticipated time of the spring semester comes closer.

A popular way to lose a few quick pounds has been juice cleansing and detox smoothies. Though these fast regiments have shown mixed results, little research has been done to prove how effective they may be.

CNN nutrition specialist Dr. Melina Jampolis, said juice cleanses are good way to lose weight fast, but could leave you with results such as tummy flab and fatigue.

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“Cleanses lack the nutrients you need, and you may lose muscle as a result of inadequate protein intake,” she said.

Instead, Jampolis suggests different methods to lose weight in a fast and safe way. These methods include doubling your intake of vegetables, making workouts effective, cutting liquid calories and getting a good night sleep. Lastly, she talks about making a meal plan that you can stick to.

Smoothies are trendy now, as well. Coming in different colors and flavors, people are drinking nothing but smoothies to slim their bodies down. There are a variety of smoothies that focus on the specific needs of the smoothie drinker.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, host of “The Doctor Oz Show,” has come up with nine different slimming smoothies, one of which is called “Dr. Oz’s Green Drink.” This drink includes ingredients such as spinach, cucumbers, apples and oranges; everything you need for a high in fiber but low in calorie drink.

Chelsea Cunningham, a senior from Chicago studying TV and digital media radio, said she is interested in the smoothie frenzy.

“I love juice cleanses, but I like smoothie cleanses more because you get more nutrients from the skin of the fruit,” she said. “I also think it’s a great idea for Spring Break because your smoothies can be tasty, fill you up and help you lose weight.”

Another cleanse, known as the Master Cleanse, has gained popularity with A-List users that showed premium results. Celebrities such as Beyoncé, Jared Leto and Michelle Rodriguez have all admitted to taking part in this intensive detox shedding weight. The Master Cleanse, also called the Lemonade Diet, only consists of lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water. For 10 days straight, all you consume are these four ingredients.

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The main purpose of this cleanse is to detox your body. While doing so, this lemonade concoction provides your body with the nutrients needed to survive without the consumption of solids. After going 10 days without solid food, you can begin to eat light meals such as soup, fruits and vegetables. Weight loss with this method is definitely inevitable.

An issue that may arise is how effective the method will be with your weight loss. Will you gain the weight back right away? There are no findings about the health benefits of the Master Cleanse, but if your main goal is to lose weight fast, then this could be for you. It is possible, but like juice cleanses, you can lose muscle mass as well as the weight lost with this cleanse.

No matter how you choose to lose weight for Spring Break, be smart about what works for your own body. Do research to find out the health benefits and know what methods are safe.

Brittany Pettiford can be reached at [email protected], or 365-3311 ext. 259.