Your body needs a variety of different nutrients and vitamins to operate as it should. While the wish to lose weight can be strong, the harsh reality is that no diet is going to deliver quick and easy results. Eating properly and exercising efficiently takes hard work and willpower, but they can reap great rewards. The easy fix offered by detox diets is a fallacy.
Misconceptions
Detox diets seem to offer a magic bullet for weight loss and, with many celebrities jumping on the bandwagon, these diets can seem a good choice. To the layman, the "science" behind detoxing diets can seem sound. The thinking behind detoxing is that toxic materials, such as cigarette smoke, caffeine, alcohol and bacteria can build up in your body, slowing your metabolism and causing illnesses to form. However, as Jessica Garay, an in-house nutrition and exercise consultant with Syracuse University points out, detoxing could actually destroy the positive bacteria found in your digestive system, rather than any harmful materials.
Nutrient Intake
Nutrient intake depends on the particular detox diet you choose. Some, like the Master Cleanse diet, are extremely low in calories at just 600 calories and contains few vitamins, no protein and mostly carbohydrates. According to Dawn Jackson Blatner, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, some detox diets are more nutritious than others and have good elements. These are the diets that call for eating more fruit and vegetables, whole grains and drinking more fluids, while cutting out things like alcohol and caffeine. Balance, she says, is the key to a healthy diet. Consult a doctor before embarking on any detox diet.
Side Effects
Some varieties of detox can have a negative effect on your nutrient levels, particularly those that use laxative teas or supplements. The initial effect of these supplements is not pleasant and will cause you to make frequent trips to the toilet. You should never use a laxative if you are not constipated -- side effects can include dehydration, injury to your digestive system and the loss of essential minerals. While you may think the apparent weight loss is worth the discomfort and unpleasantness, the weight you lose will usually be water weight, which you will regain quickly on cessation of the diet.
Injury from Detox
Because detox diets are generally not endorsed by doctors or well researched, switching to this kind of diet can have serious consequences. A 52-year-old woman in England claimed she suffered brain damage after following a detox diet advised by a nutritional therapist. The therapist settled out of court. Severe detox diets could also lead to coma or death, according to Harvard's "HEALTHbeat" magazine.
Warning
While severe detox diets are not good for anyone, particular groups may particularly be at risk. Pregnant and breastfeeding women, diabetics and people with kidney or heart diseases or conditions, are vulnerable to the side effects.
References
- Syracuse University: Ask Jess
- "HEALTHbeat" magazine: The Dubious Practice of Detox
- Medill Reports Chicago: Demystifying Detox Diets
- KidsHealth: Are Detox Diets Safe?
- Medical News Today: Woman Brain Damaged After Detox Diet Gets Settlement
- Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service: Dishing Up Detox Diets?
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