Ready, Set, Kick Start a Healthy New Year

Now that the holidays are over, you might be thinking about New Year's resolutions for your health and diet. Many recent books discuss detoxing as a way to kick start these changes.

During a detox, you abstain from or rid your body of unhealthy substances for a set time period. These books describe a range of approaches and goals, from getting your sugar under control and losing weight to gaining energy and increasing your metabolism.

The Blood Sugar Solution 10-day Detox Diet gives you strategies for reducing your insulin levels and strengthening your metabolism.

The Beauty Detox Power is one of several by Kimberly Snyder. Snyder focuses on your mind and how you approach your personal health care projects, getting to the root of your thinking.

It's been said that sugar is as addictive as any drug. The 21 Day Sugar Detox gives you tips for reducing your craving for sugar and explores how to gradually remove sugar from the foods you eat, including foods with hidden sugar.

Wondering what raw food is all about? The Raw Food Detox Diet gives you tips for getting started and includes recipes such as, "Spring in Your Step Rolls" with teriyaki sauce, cheesecake pudding and cinnamon apple/pear pie.

Dr. Ian K. Smith's newest book, The SHRED Power Cleanse, focuses on fast results. The book includes more than 50 smoothie recipes and works with The Shred Diet Cookbook.

The title of 10-day Green Smoothie Cleanse says it all. The idea is to increase the amount of green leafy vegetables in your diet which will increase your energy and help you detox. The green smoothie cleanse is one of several books that Ms. Smith has written.

Clean Slate by the editors of Martha Stewart Living promotes a plant-based diet designed to increase your vegetable intake with smoothies and juices. It also includes several recipes to ensure you get proteins, legumes, beans and whole grains.