Weight Loss & Body Detox

Obesity affects 67 percent of Americans older than 20 years of age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With a number this high, it comes as no surprise that millions of people look for ways to achieve weight loss and that thousands of diets and weight-loss solutions exist. One of the many weight-loss solutions revolves around the concept of body detox.

Weight Loss

To lose one pound of weight you need to create a calorie deficit of 3500, according to FamilyDoctor.org. The healthiest way to lose weight consists of eating fewer calories each day and increasing your activity level. Quick weight loss solutions and fad diets that require you to eat only one type of food may lead to various health problems and may cause you to quickly regain any weight lost, according to the American Heart Association. You should focus on losing between one and two pounds of weight each week. Creating a deficit of 250 calories each day will allow you to accomplish this.

Detox

Body detoxification, often referred to as detox, helps eliminate toxins from your bowels, liver, lungs, kidneys and blood. The toxins cleared out during detox accumulate in the body from the use of medications and other drugs, as well as from your diet and the environment, according to Dr. Elson M. Haas and Buck Levin who authored the book, “Staying Healthy With Nutrition.” However, you should not use a detox diet for an extended length of time or you may face various health problems. However, when used for a short time frame, it may help with the weight-loss process. Body detox helps to eliminate cravings and other bad habits.

Scientific Evidence

While many people feel more focused and energetic during and after performing body detox, little scientific evidence exists to support its use, according to the Mayo Clinic. The body can effectively eliminate toxins from the body through the kidneys and liver. It then excretes them in your urine and stool.

Detox Downfalls

Unfortunately, some people experience negative effects from body detox. Many detox regimens trigger people to lose weight too fast, fail to include essential nutrients and cause people to lose valuable electrolytes, according to Registered Dietitian Keri Glassman, in an interview on “The Early Show” which airs on CBS. Other side effects can include headaches, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.

Healthy Detox

Despite the negative side of detox, Glassman sometimes advises people to use body detox. She suggests using a body detox that permits you to eat; not one that forces you to fast or stick to only one food source. The best detox diets eliminate caffeine, alcohol, meat and most dairy. However they allow you to consume whole foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts and whole grain. The diet should also emphasize drinking plenty of water. Glassman suggests slowly reintroducing low-fat dairy back into your diet in small amounts. If you also choose to incorporate meats back into your diet, you should select lean meats such as poultry.