Detox Diets
Detox Diet
A detox diet is a diet that changes in eating patterns in an attempt to detoxify the body by removing toxins or other contaminants. It proclaims to increase health, energy, resistance to disease, mental state, digestion, plus aiding in loss of weight.
We find toxic chemicals like lead, mercury and arsenic polluting our food, air, water and soil. The human body strives to eliminate toxins, but as exposure increases, the body is less able to get rid of toxins. One way we can help cut out these toxins is to fast once in a while.
Assorted methods of restricting the diet for detoxing include:
- Fasting, including water and/or juice fasting.
- Increased consumption of fish such as salmon
- Food combining.
- Caloric restriction.
- Herbs.
Detox diets as a whole identify that fruits and vegetables form a vast amount of one's eating plan. Limiting your eating to unprocessed foods is often encouraged. Limiting or eliminating alcohol, and drinking more water is also highly recommended.
Some advocates of detox diets would focus on the idea it as a lifestyle, rather than a diet.
Fasting is also recommended to help the body cleanse and heal. It is suggested you fast twice a month or even one day a week. Try to fast at least once per month to begin.
Because most of us are filled with toxins, it is difficult on the body to do a water fast. A juice fast is better for individuals fasting for the first time. Fruit and vegetable juice is full of nutrients and healing properties -- allowing the body to gently and safely detoxify. The nutrients go into the body and the toxins are eliminated.
Juice fasting can include fresh juice, herbal teas sweetened with honey or Sucanat, vegetable broth, Barley Green, wheatgrass juice, and vitamin and mineral supplements for specific conditions.
You may consider altering the fast by including slices of avocado or banana that will slow the cleansing process. Modified juice fasting is good for those with health restrictions such as diabetes or hypoglycemia. The high calorie content of both bananas and avocados slows the intensity of the fast yet, still provide energy for detoxing because they are quick to digest.
If you are concerned about the levels of toxins you may have in your body, a simple hair mineral analysis can determine stored tissue levels of toxic metals. A hair analysis should be done every 3 to 6 months.
Periodic fasting is a great way to help your body detoxify.
Criticism of Detox Diets
Critics say that our liver, kidneys, lungs and skin are sufficient to get rid of toxins without any help. It has also been claimed that some fruits and vegetables have more toxins in them than animal substances like meat, fish, and milk. High mercury levels in some fish may also be a risk factor.
Fat will store toxins that it is unable to eliminate; if detoxing happens too quickly toxins are released into the bloodstream and are most likely cause symptoms such as headaches, feeling weak, fatigue, sore muscles, insomnia and irritability. Most symptoms are temporary and generally seen as worth the health benefits of detox diets.
Detox diets may not be the safest kind of weight loss if they are the restrictive kind (like water fasting or the Master Cleanse that might cause deficiencies in some nutrients. Some are most likely lose muscle mass because most detox diets do not include proteins, which also are most likely hamper weight loss.
While many people claim detox diets increase their health, some of these individuals may have had an unhealthy diet to begin with and lack good nutrition initially. Any improvements in their diet would be beneficial.
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