Detox diets are advertised as healthy body maintenance plans, and it makes sense. Your kidneys and liver filter toxins from your blood -- you clean out air filters, why shouldn't you clean out your blood filters? The fact is that your body is such a perfectly tuned machine that it already has a mechanism for getting rid of toxins, and it happens every time nature calls.
Liver and Kidney Function
Your kidneys and liver are your body's own personal detoxification system. Your bloodstream normally contains wastes that occur as a byproduct of digestion, muscle breakdown and normal cell death. The "dirty" blood passes through your liver on its way throughout your body, and your liver filters out the waste, allowing the "clean" blood to continue on. When you digest food, your liver releases bile into your intestines to help break the food particles down, transporting the waste to your intestines at the same time. The waste combines with the solid food waste and is excreted when you have a bowel movement. After passing through your liver, your blood stops at the kidneys, which catch any tiny waste particles the liver may have missed -- these particles pass out of your body in your urine.
Detox Programs
As long as your liver and kidneys are functioning normally, they don't need to be cleaned out. If they aren't removing toxins they way they should, you need medical treatment, not a detox program. Detox programs vary -- some involve fasting, some involve tea and many involve herbal supplements. Some even promise to help you lose weight. While they may stimulate bowel function and cause you to urinate more, they don't cause fat loss, and MayoClinic.com says there's a question as to whether they even remove toxins from your body. If you are concerned about the health of your liver and kidneys, there are better things you can do.
Drink Better
Drink more water -- that's the No. 1 thing you can do for your body. The more water you drink, the more often you urinate. The more often you urinate, the less time toxins spend in your kidneys waiting to be expelled. Proper hydration does a number of wonderful things for your health, but it definitely eases the strain on your kidneys. The general guideline is eight glasses of water per day, but if your urine isn't colorless, you aren't drinking enough. Sip water throughout the day, and don't wait until you feel thirsty -- thirst is a sign of dehydration. Avoid alcohol, which can stress the liver.
Eat Better
A balanced diet and regular exercise is all it takes to keep your liver in top shape, and the rest of your body will benefit as well. A diet high in fruits and vegetables provides an extra boost of hydration along with a host of vitamins and minerals, and is low-calorie enough to fit into any eating plan. Keep your protein intake under 30 percent of your total calories -- digesting proteins produces a large amount of waste and can stress the liver and kidneys. Fat digestion can also be hard on the liver, so keep your fat consumption under 20 percent of your daily calories. Maintain a healthy weight and get regular exercise to keep your detox organs as happy as they can be.
