The word detox, commonly associated with alcohol and drug withdrawl, has been the recent buzzword of alternative medicine practitioners. Considering the fact that the standard diet is devoid of nutrients and loaded with toxins such as sugar, fat, chemicals, hormones and pesticides, it is no wonder sickness abounds in those who should be brimming with life. Alternative health practitioners, such as Dr. Tanya Edwards, director of Cleveland's Center for Integrative Medicine, state that eliminating these foods for a short period of time, typically seven to ten days, and adding limited amounts of nutrient-dense organic foods provides health benefits and flushes these toxins from the body. Because even the best of organic foods may not have all of the nutrients necessary for optimum body function, along with the limiting nature of a detox, a high-quality multivitamin can be an excellent addition to a detox program.
Detox Diet Basics
Most of the time, a simple detox will include a specialized diet plan. A sample diet may include fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice and lentils, along with plenty of high-quality purified water. Herbs and supplements, specifically multivitamins, are often included in basic detox plans. From using only organic fruits and vegetables to a more extreme form of detox in complete fasting from all food, there are enough forms of detoxing to suit anyone's preference. Caution is needed with any detox program. Before attempting any form of detox, make sure it is discussed and approved by your doctor.
Benefits of a Detox Diet
There are many benefits to taking a short period of time and doing a detox. Many people feel it is a great jump-start to prepare the body for a permanent change in eating habits. Reported benefits have included weight loss, clearer skin and improvements in the GI system, along with more energy, according to Peter Bennett, N.D., medical director of Helios Clinic in Victoria, B.C., and co-author of "7 Day Detox Miracle."
Warnings
While there are many benefits to doing a detox, caution should be taken. Naturopath Linda Page, author of "Healthy Healing's Detoxification," states that side effects can include increased fatigue, headaches, increased gassiness, nausea and low blood sugar. Many of these side effects are correlated with a decrease in overall calories. While the side effects are temporary and should improve after the body gets used to high-quality foods and the elimination of sugar, caffeine and processed foods, make certain your health care provider is aware of any changes in health.
Who Should Steer Clear of Detox
According to an article reviewed by Mary Gavins, M.D., at KidsHealth.org, detoxing is not for everyone, and there are those who should steer clear of detoxing altogether. Pregnant and nursing mothers should never detox, as the limited amount of calories cannot support a nursing baby or developing infant. Those with diabetes should be extremely cautious in the use of a detox program and never detox without being closely supervised by their health care providers. Anyone with serious medical problems should never detox without explicit approval from a medical provider.
Why Use a Multivitamin
Multivitamins are a supplement and should always be used as such. A 2002 "Journal of the American Medical Association" published study states that most people should supplement with a multivitamin, as it is rare for any one person to get all of the nutrients necessary to optimum health from food alone. A choice multivitamin will aid a detox program; however, most detox programs still necessitate the use of foods in addition to a multivitamin. A multivitamin is still only a supplement and should not be taken in place of quality organic foods.
What Kind of Multivitamin
Multivitamin products range in the hundreds of thousands. It can be quite confusing to figure out which one to take in order to best support a detox. According to "Detox for Dummies," the high-quality multivitamin best taken during a detox is not found over the counter. These vitamins are best purchased from an integrative physician or a pharmacy involved in natural wellness. No matter which multivitamin is chosen, it is best to take one that has all 14 vitamins and all 16 minerals Surfing the Internet can find a multitude of integrative physicians in your area, and most big cities have at least one pharmacy dedicated to natural health.
References
- "Journal of American Medical Association"; Vitamins for Chronic Disease Prevention; Fairfield, MD, and Fletcher, MD; 2002
- "Detox for Dummies"; Wootan and Phillips; 2010
- Kids Health: Are Detox Diets Safe?
- "7 Day Detox Miracle"; Peter Bennett, N.D.; 1999
- "Healthy Healing's Detoxification"; Linda Page, PhD; 2008
- Cleveland Clinic: Tanya Edwards, M.D.
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