The human body has a natural process that continually eliminates toxins by transforming them into lesser chemicals and discharging them through urine or stool. A detox diet is meant to enhance and support this natural function and provide a period of deeper cleansing to release built up chemicals the body absorbs through air, water and food.
When the body does not receive the nutrition it needs to run smoothly, it can impair the ability to engage the natural detoxification process. This can lead to illness, immune dysfunction, and an overall imbalance metabolism. This is where detox diets are utilized to help restore balance and bring the system back to normal.
Detox diets work by reducing the number of chemicals being ingested, either through fasting or only eating organic foods. The foods chosen for the diet are meant to draw out the toxins by utilizing foods high in water content that will encourage frequent elimination. During the diet it is also essential that what is eaten will contain the necessary vitamin and nutrients needed to create the detoxification.
Just how effective are these diets and do they really work to stimulate and replace the body's natural processes?
Many people who participate in detox diets report improvements in not only skin, digestion and other bodily functions, but an improvement in concentration and clarity. These plans can include fasting, raw foods, breathing, hydrotherapy, and colon and liver flushes. Some of these diets claim to focus on particular areas of the body, such as working specifically on skin, colon or lung cleansing.
Supporters of this process say the best way to do a detox diet is one or two times a year to ensure proper cleansing. Diets can be customized to suit specific needs.
Once the diet has ended, practitioners recommend gently easing regular food back into the system, beginning with fruits and vegetables before returning to regular eating.
Critics of the detox diet claim there is no research or substantial proof that this form of cleansing has any viable effect on the body. They also remind us that, within several hours after eating, the intestines, liver and kidneys are designed to eliminate toxins from the body, and that extra measures are not needed. There may even be proof that engaging in these kinds of diets can be harmful to your health.
For those engaging in a detox diet for weight loss, doctors warn that not only will the weight return once the normal diet is resumed, but can cause cardiac and intestinal damage.
Whether for cleansing, energy boost or weight loss, engaging in a detox diet should be done wisely. Know the parameters of your body, don't engage in the diet for too long, and when returning to normal eating, ease in with healthy fruits and vegetables. And check with your doctor to see if you have any prevailing health issues that might be exasperated by a detox.
