At one time or the other, you must have been told, or maybe you heard it somewhere how much good a body detox does to you. How it purifies or cleanses your internal organs of unmentionable toxins and other metabolic substances. In entirely, it revamps your health as many would have believed.
As reported by the DailyMail UK, Dr. Susan Besser of Mercy Medical Centre seems to think differently about the trending detox diets; how ineffective and potentially life-risky some of these diets could be.
The trending stories wrongly told
As earlier mentioned, people, including celebrities say they go on a detox to get rid of toxins and poisonous waste from the body. It is widely misbelieved that these detox diets aid speedy and absolute eradication of toxins and makes you more energized. Popular detox diets include juicing, fasting, which involves forgoing of certain foods for a time and then gradually reintroducing them back into the system and/or constraining oneself to a regimented green vegetable and powders.
But how effective is detoxing? Good to know we have no scientific proof of this claim.
Popular detoxification regiments
According to Dr. Besser, detox diets and colonics stand out as the most widely known and used programs.
This includes lemon detox diet, which involves abstaining from foods and replacing them with lemon juice, water, cayenne pepper and maple syrup for a period of ten days.
Another method includes a three-day Apple Cider Vinegar diet where people drink two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed with water just before their next meal. As supposed, these combos rid the system of toxins and revitalize the hair and skin.
People also “help” remove poisonous wastes from the colon - an organ that is part of the digestive tract, by taking in coffee enemas and some prefers laxatives.
The coffee enema is usually introduced into the lower bowels while laxatives come in different varieties which include pills, tablets and in liquid forms.
What you should know and watch out for
As reported by the DailyMail, Dr. Lauren Streicher believes many detoxes are ineffective and have no long-term effects. Likewise, Dr. Besser opines the body is constantly “cleansing” and “revitalizing” itself.
The human body naturally has many toxin-removal organs some which are the liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal systems. The liver filters out waste from the air breathe in and then convert toxins into a readily removable form. The kidneys help detoxify by purifying the blood of toxins while the gastrointestinal systems send its waste in the colon and get it expelled from the body.
As such, there is no need to assist the body in detoxifying when it has wholesome and functional body organs to do just that.
Dr. Streicher further added that it's commendable to take in food in that contains low fats and high fibers because it nourishes your body and makes you feel healthier. But pro-detox dieters feel this is because toxins are eliminated from the body which is rather untrue.
Laxatives should be avoided at all cost. It is more harmful than juicing or other detox diets. It involves stimulating of the digestive tract and the quickening of bowel movements. If done without extreme care, it could lead to diarrhea, and it can potentially worsen your kidneys, cause blurry vision and fainting.