Detoxification diets come in many varieties and offer a plethora of supposed results. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, the benefits of detox diets are not supported by scientific evidence. Long-term detox diets often restrict food intake so drastically, you are unable to ingest enough nutrients to support body systems that -- ironically -- filter toxins naturally. A safe way to test detoxification waters may be a short-term, less restrictive plan. Start with a weekend, but always discuss it with your doctor first.
Detox Basics
The idea behind detoxifying your body is that the toxins you encounter are not being sufficiently filtered by your body's natural elimination process. Your body is actually made to filter toxins out all on its own, and does so all the time through your kidneys, liver, bowel movements, urination, sweat, even breathing. Many people believe that toxicity has become too extreme for your body to keep up the pace. According to the Centers for Disease Control's Second National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, a rise in the toxic levels of 116 chemicals in the 2,500 people tested was recorded. The CDC says these agents enter your body through contaminated groundwater and many other sources. This information may encourage you to try to help your body improve this process through detox.
Recommendation
According to diet and nutrition counselor Lynn Baer, a slower, less dangerous approach than the traditional juice detox is easier on your system and results in less oxidative stress, which causes aging. She suggests a weekend restricted to fruits and vegetables to gently detox your body. Her advice is to include fruits lower in sugar so blood sugar levels do not swing drastically. She also advocates protein from spirulina or chlorella to sprinkle on your fruit or add to a smoothie.
Additional Benefits
The Mayo Clinic reports that many people claim to feel "more focused and energetic" during and after detox diets. Others lose weight. Eating fruits and vegetables over the weekend should increase your intake of vitamins, minerals and fiber. This weekend diet also decreases your intake of alcohol, refined sugar and red meat, helping you to break from your unhealthy habits and begin a more plant-based, non-toxic lifestyle.
Considerations
Patricia Fitzgerald, a certified clinical nutritionist, stresses that a weekend or even a yearlong diet cannot remove all the toxins from your body. Toxins are entering your body through the air you breathe, the food you eat, the products you use. And your body is built to do the job of filtering these toxins out. She urges you to look at detoxification as a lifelong process where healthy choices put your body in the best shape possible to detoxify itself. Her advice is to drink plenty of water and avoid adding toxins into your environment by not smoking, and making educated choices about which products to use for cleaning and hygiene.
Warnings
Detox diets have led to side effects including dehydration, fatigue, dizziness and nausea. Avoid extreme, fast-results-based diets and seek a less toxic, more healthful lifestyle for the greatest benefits. And speak with your health care provider before beginning any diet plan, even if it's only for a weekend.
References
- Detox Safely: Easy Detox Diet - How to Do a Weekend Detox Diet
- Dr. Frank Lipman: Detox Demystified: Fad, Fact, Or Fiction
- Dr. Weil: 11 Simple Detox Tips
- Mayo Clinic: Detox Diets: Do They Work?
- Centers for Disease Control: Second National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals
- Chlorella Factor: Chlorella and Spirulina - Superfoods for Health
Member Comments