Detox diets have become a hot topic thanks to endorsements from celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey. The goal is to cleanse the body and aim to remove toxins and poisons from your body by eating pure and natural foods. These diets are controversial, due to claims that they are too restrictive, they do not have enough scientific support for their ideas, or they are unnecessary because the body has its own cleansing system.
Purpose
A liver detox diet aims to cleanse the liver of harmful chemicals that come from alcohol, caffeine, pesticides, smog and pollution, according to Fitness Magazine online. Many people believe the liver is overstressed because the environment is so polluted. Some people use detox diets as a method of weight loss. Others, like Dawn Jackson Blatner, an American Dietetic Association spokesperson, say these diets are dangerous and unnecessary because the body has organs such as the liver, kidney, skin and lungs, that remove toxic substances without needing a special diet.
Precautions
Liver detox diets can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies as well as muscle breakdown. Also, people who suffer from diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and digestive issues, or pregnant women, children, teens and the elderly may suffer from dizziness, fainting or even a coma due to changes to the electrolyte and blood sugar balance.
What You Should Do
Find out if you need a detox diet by having your physician check your liver enzyme levels. Elevated levels mean your liver is stressed and you might benefit from a detox diet. If you decide to go ahead with the diet, start by picking a specific diet plan. Popular detox diets are the Raw Food Diet, Fat Flush Diet, the Master Cleanse Diet and Martha's Vineyard Detox Diet. These all start by fasting or purging by giving up specific types of food. Then, you gradually reintroduce different types of food into your diet. Most detox diets calls for organic food and a lot of water intake. Whole unprocessed foods such as grains, nuts and seeds are encouraged, as well as many different kinds of fruits and vegetables. Some diets include herbs such as psyllium seed, licorice root, yucca root, milk thistle seed and gentian root to purify the liver.
What You Shouldn't Do
Do not begin a restrictive diet like this without checking with your doctor. If you do decide to follow the diet, generally you won't intake alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, drugs, certain supplements and processed or refined foods. Many do not allow red meat, wheat, sugar, eggs and junk food as well.
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