Contributed by: Healthians Team
Detoxification: An Urban Myth?
Detoxification (detox) diets are frequently promoted as the ideal antidote to fast-food habits and alcohol-fueled social gatherings. Marketers of detoxification products, diets, and supplements claim the following benefits:
- Miraculous weight loss
- Improved digestion
- Enhanced hair, nails, and skin
- Increased energy levels and
- Boosted immune system
Detox diets often claim to ‘detoxify’ your body, however, not all detoxification marketing claims are true. In truth, there is little evidence that detoxing can flush impurities from the body.
We’re here to debunk all the myths about detoxing and address some of the most often asked questions about toxins and detoxing. It’s critical to scrutinize detox claims and double-check your facts to ensure you’re well-informed.
Myth #1: Your body needs to be healthy in order to be healthy
Fact:
The concept of detox diets is completely irrational and unscientific. In reality, your body already has its own waste removal systems and is capable of removing toxins effectively. In this process, your liver is the true superstar.
Detoxifying the normal things you eat, breathe and ingest is part of its job. Organs like kidneys and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are other detoxification machines that act to remove toxins and waste from your body.
Taking care of your liver is the most crucial thing you can do to assist your body to cleanse itself of various toxins. That includes eating a balanced diet to keep this vital organ from becoming overworked and overwhelmed.
Myth #2: Detox is a quick fix for months of overindulgence
Fact:
It’s nice to believe that it could be possible, but unfortunately, it isn’t. If you overindulge too often, no fad diet can repair the damage caused. People are always looking for a quick fix. The problem is that they aren’t long-term solutions.
When you try a detox diet, you may drop a couple of pounds, but that’s usually due to fluid losses and some loss of lean muscle mass, not body fat. What happens after that, though?
After the detox, most people don’t have a healthy and sensible strategy in place, so they revert to their old eating patterns and unhealthy habits. If the so-called detox diet is inadvertently temporary, so are the results!
Myth #3: A juice-cleanse works wonders to eliminate toxins
Fact:
Proponents of detox diets often purport that juice cleanses are the nectar of the health gods. They spring-clean a person’s insides, removing toxic overload, improving digestion and immunity. Though these claims may make it seem like an obvious choice, there is little scientific evidence to support the notion that all-liquid diets and juice cleanses are the healthiest options available.
A juice cleanse offers a false sense of security that you are doing something beneficial. In reality, your body automatically detoxifies itself, so there’s no need to do a special regimen of juice-cleanse to get rid of toxins.
However, if you’re still considering adding juice cleanses to your wellness regimen, don’t forget to check the nutrition labels carefully and consider substituting some of them for whole vegetables and fruits.
Myth #4: Detoxing is quite safe
Fact:
Not Really! Like many other fad diets, detox diets are glorified starvation diets that only result in a temporary weight loss of water. Most of these can have harmful side effects. It is a myth that you can safely slash certain macronutrients without a consequence. Carbohydrates, protein, and fat are the perfect trifecta for keeping your body in good shape.
They provide a variety of functions, including assisting with vitamin and mineral absorption, supplying energy, and assisting with brain function.
A prolonged lack of these essential nutrients from your diet, can compromise your immune system, and lead to electrolyte imbalances, vitamin and mineral shortages, sluggish metabolism, nausea, dehydration, low energy, and irritability.
Wrapping it up
Despite the popularity of cleanses, detoxes, and fasts, relying solely on a detox diet for instant results is never required and may be harmful to your health. The ultimate lifestyle ‘detox’ is quitting smoking, exercising, and enjoying a healthy balanced diet based on at least five portions of different fruits and vegetables a day; plenty of whole grains, and lean sources of protein along with low-fat dairy products.
It is important to remember that there is no proven way – certainly not through detox treatments – to make something that already works well in a healthy body work even better.
If you’re thinking of doing a detox diet or cleanse, make sure you consult your healthcare practitioner first to determine what’s optimal for your health.
