Do you need a detox potion --really?
My
client asked me, “what do think about detox drinks?” Well, I am glad she asked. I have always been a sceptic, but honesty I
am so tired of seeing and hearing of the latest detox drinks and extreme diets! I decided to get to the bottom of this to
save you some time, energy and frustration. After much research and speaking directly to
licensed nutritional experts, doctors, and long-term fitness professionals,
they all agree that everyone is out to make a buck. One can see what a profitable industry Health
& Fitness has become, but have some taken in a bit too far? I am actually
not surprised by the number of people wanting a quick fix since we live in
high-speed society, but detox products are not the solution to permanent weight
loss.
My
recollection of a cruise my husband and I took a few years back really stirred
up my skepticism. A fitness trainer was
promoting a detox soak that would cleanse your body promoting miraculous weight
loss while you lay in the tub! Wow, what
better time than to market their expensive product while everyone is eating and
drinking excessively on their vacation? I thought, can we just escape reality without feeling
the guilt?! I went to the seminar for
kicks, and was amazed by the turn out. Everyone
wants a drive-through break- through, but the willingness to believe that
losing weight permanently is a consistent, dedicated life-style is not a popular
notion. Healthy weight loss requires common
sense nutrition basics and effort, and the willpower. No need to keep getting confused and
frustrated—eat less and move more! Here’s
the bottom line according to a fitness professional/USF college professor: “reduce your calories, eat high protein, eat nothing
processed, drink water and exercise a lot.”
The Truth
According to Web MD a trusted source by many healthcare professionals,
detox
diets
and products are popular, “but they aren't proven to do what they say they'll
do: flush toxins out of your system. In fact, they may be risky and even backfire.
You might lose weight on a detox diet, because they're usually very low in
calories.”
The claim that your body needs help getting rid of toxins has "no
basis in human biology," says Frank Sacks, MD, of the Harvard School of
Public Health. Your organs and immune system handle those duties, no matter
what you eat. “The human body already has a fantastic detox
system, called the liver and the kidneys, and there is no need to spend money
on expensive treatments and products. Eating
healthy and getting plenty of sleep is a better investment. Plus, you're likely to lose weight and gain it back when
you go off any extreme diet. (Medical News Today)
What Else to consider on a detox diet?
That depends on the particular detox diet you're following. Some involve fasting, or just drinking
liquids. Others allow some foods, like fruits and
vegetables. They typically are short diets -- they're not a way of
eating you can stick with in the long run.
You'll be hungry and may feel weak. Whether or not a detox diet is safe
depends on the plan and how long you stay on it.
Most
people don’t feel good on low-calorie, nutrient-poor diets. Potential side
effects include low energy, low blood sugar, muscle aches, fatigue, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and nausea.
Limitations: You're going to go without a lot of the foods you usually eat. Detox diets are typically very rigid and involve eating the same few things over and over.
Cooking and shopping: Depends on the detox plan
you're following. Because there's not a lot you're allowed to eat, you won't
have a long shopping list and prep work should be minimal.
Packaged foods or meals: Some detox plans recommend
herbs, pills, powders, enemas, and other forms of colon cleansing. Methods vary and often include products that
are only available from the author’s web site.
Exercise: Here’s what many claim. Exercise is not required! Really? Well
it’s because you will be starving and not have the energy for it!
Costs: Besides your grocery shopping, a detox diet
may also call for some supplements and other products, which vary in cost.
Take the healthy, realistic, balanced & much less expensive approach…
I agree
with healthcare professionals that suggest the idea of “detoxing” by clean
eating that focuses on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein -- basically, whole foods without a lot of processing, that's good for you and more likely to give
you results that last, especially if you make exercise a
habit.
Here is
a fabulous recommendation from Jennifer Haller, Nutritionalist and Health Blogger:
I have strong thoughts on
detoxification programs (boxes, juices or quick fixes).
My mantra with everything is "listen to your body and heal yourself". If you are a relatively healthy person who has a healthy emotional and mental relationship with food, a detox at the change of season is a good refresher and cleanser for allergies and overconsumption of toxic foods like sugar and dairy. That said...Detox kits and juices are NOT going to help with long-term weight loss or food addiction or sicknesses like obesity, diabetes or any autoimmune condition. A lot of detox kits have herbs and vitamins/minerals for detoxification. If you are a healthy person, your liver and digestive system do this naturally every day when you eat and thru elimination. If you are an unhealthy person, (are overweight or have sugar addiction or Candida overgrowth or any number of illnesses) purchasing these herbs will be a waste of money because you need to first heal your gut so that it can detoxify naturally. These kits can be a jumpstart to a detoxification program but a 30 to 60 day of real food plan is a better idea followed by a reintroduction of certain foods. Eliminating all sugar, dairy, alcohol and some difficult to digest grains can benefit you more than a kit detox will !
My mantra with everything is "listen to your body and heal yourself". If you are a relatively healthy person who has a healthy emotional and mental relationship with food, a detox at the change of season is a good refresher and cleanser for allergies and overconsumption of toxic foods like sugar and dairy. That said...Detox kits and juices are NOT going to help with long-term weight loss or food addiction or sicknesses like obesity, diabetes or any autoimmune condition. A lot of detox kits have herbs and vitamins/minerals for detoxification. If you are a healthy person, your liver and digestive system do this naturally every day when you eat and thru elimination. If you are an unhealthy person, (are overweight or have sugar addiction or Candida overgrowth or any number of illnesses) purchasing these herbs will be a waste of money because you need to first heal your gut so that it can detoxify naturally. These kits can be a jumpstart to a detoxification program but a 30 to 60 day of real food plan is a better idea followed by a reintroduction of certain foods. Eliminating all sugar, dairy, alcohol and some difficult to digest grains can benefit you more than a kit detox will !
My simple advice:
1) eat real food (vegetables, fruit, healthy meats and eggs) and eliminate toxins (sugar, dairy, difficult to digest grains and legumes, alcohol, all processed foods)
2) drink your weight in water (literally, if you weigh 145lbs, drink 145oz water!)
3) walk outside for 30 minutes each day
4) practice stress management and gratitude (thru prayer or meditation)
5) get adequate sleep
When you've done these 5 steps for 60 days and you haven't lost weight or seen any changes (which will be baloney because I know you will ☺), then you can buy a kit detox and try it. You'll probably find yourself on the toilet a lot and see some changes, but honestly, nature holds all the detoxification properties we need!!
This is so well put! I couldn’t
agree more!
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