You have probably heard of the liquid diet, the Cayenne pepper diet, the 21-day diet and fasting as popular ways to detox. For some people, a detox diet is a way to remove toxins from the body, but according to the Mayo Clinic website, detoxing may be more psychological because people believe they are doing something good for their bodies. However, there are healthy ways to remove certain foods from your diet without fasting.
Claims
Popular claims of detox programs are that detoxing can reverse aging, eliminate harmful chemicals and stop disease. Detox practitioners assert that your body needs a break from the environmental toxins encountered in daily life -- polluted air and water, hormones in some foods and chemicals in cleaning products, but Dr. Roger Clements, a chemist at the U.S.C. School of Pharmacy, says your body's G.I. tract, or gastrointestinal tract, and liver are designed to handle anything you put in your body, in an article published on the CNN Health website.
How Detox Works
There is no scientific evidence that detox programs work, according to the Mayo Clinic. A detox diet involves a period of fasting, a strict diet of raw vegetables and fruit, fruit juices and water. Some detox programs may require herbs, supplements and a colon cleansing, or enema, to clear the intestines. Typically, most detox programs last seven to 10 days.
The 21-day Detox
The 21-day diet was created in California and involves three phases. In the first phase of the 21-day program, participants quit animal products -- including dairy -- and transition to a plant-based diet. By the second phase, participants are eating a raw food diet and then by the third phase, participants undergo a seven-day liquid fast called the "energy soup" diet.
Dr. Peter Pressman, an assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of Southern California, said in a health article published on cnn.com, that the 3-week detoxification program is not medicine and could be dangerous if medical care is delayed. Although there is disagreement about the efficacy of a detox diet, some followers insist that their health conditions such as psoriasis and arthritis have been reversed, according to the CNN Health website.
Warning
As with any other diet, before you begin a detox program you should speak to a health care professional. Detoxing involves caloric and food restrictions that could be potentially dangerous for individuals with a chronic illness. Possible side effects of a detox diet include nausea, dehydration, fatigue and dizziness, based on information published on MayoClinic.com.
Recommendations
A natural, safer way to detox is to go on a seven-day plan that eliminates sugar, white flour, caffeine, dairy and alcohol, suggests nutritionist Patti Milligan. Milligan advises that a detox diet should emphasize whole grains, fresh fruit, leafy green vegetables and green tea. These foods will provide enzymes that naturally help your liver and kidneys. Milligan recommends this detox diet every change of season and under the supervision of a health care provider.
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