3-Day Detox

Detox diets attempt to address health concerns by removing harmful substances from daily fare, maintaining a strict diet regimen lasting several days, then permanently replacing bad dietary habits with healthier substitutes. Though experts such as Catherine Collins, chief dietician at St George's Hospital, warn that detox diets have no scientific basis as a means of removing toxins from the body, many health seekers still use detox programs as a way to recover after bingeing on unhealthy indulgences. A three day detox diet can jumpstart a new health regimen by offering a structured program of abstinence from fatty foods and harmful intoxicants.

Significance

The World Health Organization estimates that over a third of Americans have a body mass index of 30 percent or more, classifying them as overweight. Over 20 percent of American adults still smoke cigarettes. The Center for Disease Control has reported that over 60 percent of American adults drink alcohol. An onslaught of unhealthy practices can jeopardize your physical wellbeing. Turning away from bad habits often begins with a change in diet.

Types

Detox diets vary in their duration and dietary requirements as well as therapeutic adjuncts touted by various programs. There are numerous three-day detox programs available, each with its own pros and cons. Osteopath and nutritionist Michael van Straten's three-day detox is a low-calorie program designed to ease feelings of lethargy following a period of overindulgence. Freshy juiced fruits and vegetables, salads, tea and yogurt play prominent roles in his regimen. James F. Balch, M.D., recommends detoxing for at least three days every month by drinking only steam distilled water, herbal teas, diluted fruit juices and veggie broths, supplemented with fresh watermelon or applesauce to ward off hunger pangs.

Benefits

Beyond the physical benefits of changing to more wholesome eating practices, dieters who successfully follow through on a detox program may gain a psychological benefit. Your morale can be by boosted by the sense of accomplishment achieved by taking control over self-destructive health practices.

Features

Some detox programs recommend additional therapies beyond dietary changes. Dry brush massages, advocated by Balch, use natural bristle brushes to stimulate the epidermis. Colonic irrigation, coffee enemas and ionic foot baths are among the more questionable practices sometimes touted by detox programs.

Warning

Anyone considering a detox diet should first consult his doctor. Detox dieting is not advisable for pregnant women, and Balch warns that diabetics should never fast without medical supervision.