Cleansing or detoxifying your body may lead to weight loss. There are several cleansing options to choose from, including detoxifying your liver, colon and other organs. You can use most of the known cleansing or detoxifying methods in your own home. However, there are a few considerations to remember when attempting any cleanse or detox program. Be sure to speak to your doctor before attempting any detox method.
How It Works
Depending on the organ system your detox plan focuses on, you may achieve the program's intended results through the use of specific dietary supplements. The Mayo Clinic states that "detox diets are touted as a way to remove toxins from the body." Specific diets vary, but typically they involve a period of fasting followed by a strict diet of raw vegetables, fruits and fruit juices, and water. Most ingested toxins are excreted through the kidneys in the form of urine or the intestines during bowel movements.
Controversy
Detox and cleansing diets are controversial, according to the EveryDiet website. Detox plans are typically heavily promoted as a means to lose weight and cleanse your body; however, the Mayo Clinic suggests that this many not be true for all diet users. It is true that many of these detox plans have quite severe restrictions and should therefore be used with great care and under the supervision of a nutritionist. Duration of these diets may differ from one user to the next. Discuss the duration of a detox diet and how much weight you should lose with your doctor.
Misconceptions
While eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is typically considered a healthy way to lose weight due to these foods' low fat and carbohydrate content, there is no scientific evidence that a detox diet plan can be effective as a means to lose weight. In fact, as the Mayo Clinic states, there is little to no evidence that these diet choices actually remove any toxins from the body.
Expanded Risks
Not all cleansing or detox diets are healthy. According to the Mayo Clinic, some possible side effects of a detox diet can be fatigue, nausea, dehydration and dizziness. If you are considering a detox diet, the best choice is a healthy diet based on fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean sources of protein, advises Mayo Clinic.
Considerations
The University of Michigan Health System reports that herbal supplements such as burdock and milk thistle might be part of some people's detox diet plans. Burdock comes from the root of a plant bearing the same name and has been used for centuries as a means to cleanse the blood and treat skin diseases. Milk thistle is a flowering plant that some people, especially in Europe, have used as a liver cleansing herb and strong antioxidant. You can find both herbs in your drug store, health food store or supermarket in the form of pills, powders or liquid extract. You should note that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate herbal supplements and they should not be used as alternatives to traditional medicine.
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