Liquid detox diets may intrigue you if you experience regular constipation, carry excess body weight, feel tired constantly or want to remove toxins from your body. The Internet, books and various spas often advertise a large variety of detox diets. While some people swear by using liquid diet body detox, scientific research has not shown their effectiveness.
Identification
A liquid diet body detox requires that you consume liquids, but no solid foods. The liquids you can consume range from water to herbal drinks to freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices. The Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, reports that European fasting clinics prefer liquid diet body detox that allows for juices, possibly because they do not cause as many harsh effects as other types of liquid detox diets.
Theories/Speculation
Liquid diet body detox proponents claim that this type of diet allows your body to absorb the vitamins, minerals and nutrients it needs, while flushing out toxins that enter your body through chemically altered foods, environmental pollution and pesticides. The rapid digestion occurring during this type of diet helps to relieve constipation and regulate your digestive system. A short liquid diet body detox may help "jump-start" a weight loss program or a healthier way of life, explains Dr. Michael Hall, a family physician for DuBois Regional Medical Center. However, Hall recommends only following this type of diet under medical supervision.
Expert Insight
Scientific research has failed to prove or disprove the effectiveness of any detox diet. Your body naturally detoxifies itself by passing blood and wastes through your liver and kidneys, explains Katherine Zeratsky, a registered dietitian practicing at the Mayo Clinic.
Potential
During and after you follow a liquid detox diet, you may experience increased energy and improved focus. Unfortunately, this may result from your belief that you are doing something to improve your health, not from the fact that the diet had an effect, Zeratsky states. Your belief that a liquid detox will work can cause your subconscious mind to promote the release of hormones that control your immune system responses and your energy levels, Hall explains. This effect may cause people to experience short-term health improvements and to believe that a liquid detox diet worked.
Side Effects
A liquid diet body detox can cause many unwanted side effects. Hall notes that these types of diets may cause nausea, fatigue, dizziness, heart palpitations, nutrient deficiencies, electrolyte imbalances and increased risk of heart problems. Yo-yo dieting that combines periods of fasting, or following liquid diets, followed by regular eating may lead to a loss of heart muscle and damage to your blood vessels, reports Linda Bacon, a nutrition professor at the City College of San Francisco, in an April 2010 report by CNN.
Expert Opinion
Hall recommends detoxifying your body naturally. A healthy diet consisting mostly of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean proteins allows your body to naturally remove toxins, while supporting or improving your health.
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