Body Detox Diet:
General Considerations
Body detox diets are a popular method that people use to eliminate toxins that we ingest every day. These diets encourage you to eat natural foods and to drink plenty of water. You hear about celebrities going on detox diets, so you may wonder if it would be safe for you to do as well.
So the basic idea behind the detox diets is to temporarily give up certain kinds of foods that are thought to contain these toxins. The goal is to purify and purge the body of all the harmful stuff.
Although detox diets vary, most of them involve some version of a fast – not eating for a couple or more days and then gradually reintroducing certain foods into the diet. Typically they involve one or two days on a completely liquid diet and another four or five days slowly adding brown rice, fruit, and steamed vegetables to the diet. After a week of eating only these foods, you gradually reintroduce other foods with the exception of red meat, wheat, sugar, eggs, and all prepackaged or junk foods.
Many of these diets also advise you to undergo a complete colonic irrigation (enema). Other diets recommend taking herbal supplements to help speed the cleansing process.
Basically, detox diets are intended for short-term purposes only and should not be taken for a long period of time. It is better that you don’t use a detox diet if you are trying to lose weight.
Home detox diets are not recommended for teenagers. Normal teenagers need plenty of nutritional foods in their diet, enough calories and protein to support rapid growth and development, thus diets that involve fasting and severe restriction of food are not advised for adolescents.
Home detox diets are not recommended for people with diabetes, low blood sugar, or eating disorders.
Also, many of the supplements that are used during detox diets are laxatives. Laxative supplements are never a good idea because they can cause dehydration, mineral imbalances, and problems with the digestive system.
People who fast for days lose weight, but mostly they will lose water and some muscle which their bodies needs. Fasting for longer periods can also slow down your metabolism, making it harder to keep the weight off or to lose weight later.
Before starting a detox diet or stop eating from any major food group, consult your doctor or a registered dietitian first. The human body is designed to purify itself. Your liver and kidneys will do the job they're supposed to do if you eat a healthy diet that includes fiber, fruits, vegetables, and plenty of liquid.
When taken once every 6 months or longer, the detox diet can be beneficial and will cleanse your body of the toxins. Just make sure that you are not overdoing it or prolonging the diet for longer than you need to.