Detox plans designed to help you lose weight usually require abstaining from certain foods and restricting calories. Some plans may even require use of supplements or cleansing products to help facilitate weight loss. In addition to weight loss, detox plans often claim to help remove toxins and excess waste from the body. As with starting any new plan, consult your doctor first.
How Detox Plans Work
Detox plans for weight loss vary, but most of them require fasting from regular foods for a specified period of time, usually three days or seven to 10 days. Temporarily eliminating unhealthy foods is supposed to purify and cleanse the body and help you lose weight. You may be restricted to eating only a few food groups, which may include fruits, vegetables, grains and water. Some detox plans may only allow consumption of liquids.
Weight Loss Potential
Due to the extreme calorie restriction most detox diets require, you may lose a significant number of pounds while following the plan. Detox diets such as the Martha's Vineyard Detox claim to help you lose 21 pounds in 21 days. However, the KidsHealth website notes that weight loss during detox plans will be mostly water and some of it may be muscle.
Natural Detoxification
The Mayo Clinic website reports that your liver and kidneys are designed to naturally remove toxins without the need to detox, fast or cleanse. Ensuring that you maintain optimal health is essential to keeping those organs working properly. Consuming a healthy diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, fiber, lean proteins and substantial water will help you get the nutrients your body needs for sustainment, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Foods to Avoid & Lifestyle Choices
Many detox plans recommend you avoid foods including sugar, fried foods, alcohol, meats, dairy products, refined flour, unhealthy fats, and foods with additives and preservatives. Lifestyle choices that can help improve your detoxification results include exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep, reducing late night snacking, quitting smoking and reducing stress. According to the Detox Safely website, eliminating unhealthy habits gradually throughout the year will help keep your body healthy and strong.
Tips and Considerations
According to the Detox Safely website, a detox plan should be healthy and allow the body to detoxify gradually. The detox plan should provide the body with essential nutrients, improve blood circulation, help rest the digestive organs and cleanse the colon safely. The detox plan should not compromise your health nor should it force the body to detox rapidly.
Warning
According to the Mayo Clinic website, while detox weight loss plans may be popular, there lack scientific evidence about their effectiveness. Due to the strictness of most detox plans, there's a risk of dehydration, fatigue, mineral imbalances, dizziness and nausea. The KidsHealth website states detoxing for a longer period may cause other health problems and slow your metabolism. Given the risks, it's important to consult your physician before starting a detox weight loss plan.
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