Unhealthy foods, environmental toxins, and chemicals in the products we use can negatively affect the way we feel and the way we look. Many people choose to detoxify to eliminate toxins.
This typically involves a period of fasting followed by a strict diet of fruits, veggies, juices, and water. Some detox diets may also include herbs, teas, and supplements and require colon cleanses and enemas.
But do these detox diets really work? This article will review what’s involved so you can find out if you can benefit from a cleanse.
What are the Supposed Benefits of a Detox Diet?
A detox diet is said to provide the following benefits:
- Fasting gives your organs a rest
- Stimulates the liver to get rid of toxins
- Promotes toxin elimination through urine, feces, and sweat
- Improves circulation
- Provides the body with nutrients
- Minimizes health problems such as allergies, digestive issues, inflammation, fatigue, obesity, and autoimmune diseases
However, there is not much research that backs up these claims.
How Effective are Detox Diets?
While detox diets sound good on paper, there is little evidence that backs claims that they remove toxins from the body. Your body flushes most toxins on its own without the aid of detox. While there are a few chemicals that may persist in your system, they are eliminated from most products today minimizing the chance that you will come into contact with them.
Studies have been conducted to determine the various ways a detox diet may benefit health with the following results:
Weight Loss: Some people may lose weight on a detox diet. However, this is typically due to a loss of fluids and carb stores rather than a loss of fat. Some diets may also call for extreme calorie restriction which leads to weight loss. But this is not a sustainable strategy and the weight will typically come back when calorie intake is increased.
Reduces Disease Risk: Short term fasting has been shown to improve disease markers in some people including boosted leptin and insulin sensitivity. However, these effects do not apply to everyone. Furthermore, the reduced calories associated with a detox diet can cause stress which increases the risk of disease.
It should be noted that detox diets are not all bad. People that follow them will be focusing on eating nutritious foods that can cause a boost in energy and wellness. However, if the diet, or aspects of the diet, are not followed long term, these effects will only be temporary.
Detox Diet Side Effects
Detox diets have been known to produce negative side effects including the following:
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Bad breath
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- Digestive issues due to colon cleaning and enemas
- An overdose on supplements, laxatives, and diuretics
- Side effects from unsafe detox products
Getting rid of toxins seems like a reasonable part of every nutrition plan. But detox diets will produce minimal, temporary results that are not sustainable long-term. It’s best to stick to a healthy diet so you can enjoy optimal wellness without the need to cleanse.
What’s your game plan for keeping your system clean?
