Demi Moore, Beyonce Knowles and other celebrities have touted the benefits of cleanse diets, prompting a slew of regular Americans to give cleansing a try. With the dozens of cleanse plans available as books, commercial products or online guides, it may be difficult to understand precisely what a cleanse is supposed to do and how these plans differ from traditional diets.
Cleanse vs. Traditional Diet
Unlike a traditional diet, a cleanse is not intended to be a long-term dietary change. Typical cleanse plans last from three to 14 days, although some dieters undertake cleanses for up to a month. Another difference between cleanses and traditional diet plans is that the primary purpose of a cleanse is not necessarily weight loss. Rather, cleanses purportedly remove dangerous toxins from your body. Cleanse plans are also more restrictive than many other diets, allowing you to eat only a few types of foods.
Claims
Cleanse advocates claim that toxins from food additives and preservatives, pesticides, hormones, pollution, tobacco use and other environmental sources accumulate in your cells. These toxic chemicals cause a variety of health problems, including low energy, fatigue, gastrointestinal distress, skin problems, irritability and depressed mood. Cleanse diets purportedly draw toxins out of your cells and clear them from your body, improving overall health. Many detox diets also include a colon-cleansing process by which dieters induce frequent bowel movements to clear waste from their intestines.
Types of Cleanses
Cleanse plans differ in their specific rules, but most require dieters to significantly restrict their food intake to fresh, whole foods. The Master Cleanse is a popular cleanse diet that allows dieters to drink only a beverage made from freshly-squeezed lemon juice, pure maple syrup, cayenne pepper and filtered water. Other cleanses restrict your meals to include only homemade juices, uncooked foods or specific fruits and vegetables.
Warning
No scientific evidence supports the claims of cleanse proponents. While toxic chemicals may enter your body through foods or environmental sources, your liver and kidneys neutralize these toxins. Because your body naturally eliminates dangerous toxins, performing a cleanse is unnecessary and may be dangerous for your health. Mayo Clinic's registered dietitian Katherine Zeratsky says that detox diets may cause nausea, fatigue, dizziness and other serious medical symptoms. Discuss your cleanse plan with your physician in advance, to ensure that it is safe.
Member Comments