Cleanses are a popular part of some celebrity weight-loss stratagems. Although they may leave you feeling lighter, there is little scientific evidence that they have a long-term effect on your health or your weight. If you're looking for sustainable weight loss, you're better off with a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise.
Internal Cleansing
There are two types of internal cleansing: colon cleanses and dietary cleanses. According to Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist Dr. Michael Picco, people who undergo colon cleanses believe the process clears away toxins, gives you more energy, boosts your immune system and relieves constipation. A second type of cleansing involves following a "detox diet" such as the Master Cleanse. USA Today reporter Nanci Hellmich notes that dietary cleanses run the gamut from strict diets that eliminate processed food, alcohol, caffeine and sugar to extreme liquid diets or enemas.
Methods
There are two main methods for colon cleansing. Go Ask Alice!, Columbia University's Health Q&A website, reports that cleansing can occur via colonics, in which a doctor flushes your rectum with warm water, or through supplements that cause bowel movements. The idea is that the colon sloughs off excess mucous during the bowel movements, leaving you lighter and potentially healthier. Detox diets usually aim for a laxative approach in the hope of achieving the same result.
Weight Loss
While internal cleansing products often claim to help you lose weight, you should treat these claims skeptically. Gary Foster, the director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Pennsylvania's Temple University, tells USA Today that cleanse diets remain unproven as a weight loss method. Picco concurs, noting that colon cleansing also lacks the hard scientific evidence to prove it works as a toxin remover.
Potential Complications
Picco does not believe you need to cleanse your colon to eliminate bodily toxins; your digestive system is programmed to do this naturally. He notes that cleanses can leave you dehydrated. In extreme cases, some cleanses -- achieved through laxative use -- can leave you with a dangerous electrolyte imbalance. Similarly, Foster adds that dietary cleanses can be dangerous for people who have high blood pressure or diabetes, two conditions often associated with obesity.
Warning
Picco advises you to check with your doctor before doing a cleanse to be sure it won't interfere with any of your current medications. If you're having a cleanse performed in a doctor's office, Picco suggests you make sure the equipment is disposable, intended for a single patient only.
Member Comments