Most of us have tried a detox diet at least once in our lives. The idea of “cleansing” ourselves of toxins from unhealthy diets or pollution is attractive – but what is the science behind detox and does it actually make us healthier?
We asked 5 nutritionists: “Do detox diets have any health benefits?”
What is a Detox Diet?
There is no such thing as a “detox diet”, but a whole series of regimens that aim to detoxify the human body. Dr. Veronique Chachay, a dietitian at the University of Queensland, says detox diets “cover everything from enemas and colonic irrigation, lemon juice detox or water fasting, to excluding certain food groups, herbal cleansing, large-dose nutritional supplements, and sweat lodges, among others.”
What Do Detox Diets Claim?
All detox diets have one thing in common: They claim to rid the body of toxins. These toxins can come from a variety of sources, explains Dr. Chachay said external sources of toxins “include molecules produced during baking, deep-frying, and grilling, as well as alcohol and additives in processed foods.
“Then there are drugs, tobacco smoke and exposure to environmental pollutants, among other things.”
“The accumulation of ‘toxins’ is believed to be the main cause of weight gain, constipation, gas, gas, poor digestion, heartburn, diarrhea, lack of energy and fatigue. ‘Detox’ is a way for the body to eliminate these toxins and, as a result, a person feels healthier and loses weight, “says Dr. Tim Crowe, Nutrition Expert at Thinking Nutrition.
Do Detox Diets Do What They Promise?
Is there any science behind these claims that these diets can detoxify the body? All the experts said “no”. Dr. Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, a diabetes and public health expert from the University of Wollongong, says, “By and large, the idea that an intervention can ‘detoxify’ someone, or even that there are things in your body that you can and should “detox” is not well documented. Most of these diets refer to vague “toxins” which, even if harmful, would not be removed by the diet methodology chosen. “
Dr. University of Sydney Obesity and Nutrition Expert Nicholas Fuller says, “Substances are only toxic because of the amount in which we ingest them. The situation that needs a ‘detox’ is when someone is in Hospital for a dangerous concentration of a life-threatening substance. “
Dr. Chachay adds, “The human body is a comprehensive, self-repairing, self-detoxifying device. He’ll do his detox duties whether you’re on a rigorous detox or a gourmet food and wine tasting marathon. But the key to doing this is getting the right ingredients in daily for optimal function, rather than opting for a quick detox. “
What Are The Benefits Of A Detox Diet?
While detox diets may not be able to “detoxify” the body the way they claim to be, do they have other health benefits?
Dr. Crowe says, “Any person, especially someone who initially has a poor diet, eats more fruits and vegetables, drinks more water, eats fewer foods high in fat, salt, or added sugar, and drinks less alcohol, will naturally do themselves feel better .”
Weight loss is often noted on restrictive detox diets, but Dr. Crowe says that “this can easily be explained by the restrictive nature of detox diets, which can dramatically reduce kilojoule intake” and “the weight will go back up once a person is resumed”. their normal diet and carbohydrate stores are replenished. “
One potential benefit of detox diets is psychological: “Detox diets can also help people think more about what they are eating. For some people, a detox diet can be the beginning of a long-term transition to healthier diets and lifestyles.” says Dr. Crowe.
What are the Cons of Detox Diets?
There are several documented drawbacks to detox, Dr. Crowe sums them up as follows:
- Feelings of tiredness and lack of energy at first
- The cost of buying organic foods that many of them advocate eating
- Detox Kit cost when pursuing a commercial program
- Buying supplements when your diet recommends them
- They need to be better organized than usual to ensure enough “allowed” food at home and at work
- Difficulty eating out and socializing as most restaurants and social occasions do not include detox-friendly meals
In addition, the short-term nature of positive effects, such as: B. Weight loss, being demoralizing and not promoting long-term healthy eating.
Dr. Crowe concludes, “The detox fad can promote the idea that a person can lead an unhealthy lifestyle for most of the year and then make up for the damage in a few days with a quick detox. A theory that just doesn’t work.”
Take that away: In most cases, the disadvantages of detox diets outweigh the advantages.
Article based on 5 expert answers to this question: Do Detox Diets Offer Health Benefits?
This expert answer was published in collaboration with the independent fact-checking platform Metafact.io. Subscribe to your weekly newsletter here.
source https://www.bisayanews.com/2021/09/11/detox-diets-that-rid-your-body-of-toxins-are-not-all-theyre-cracked-up-to-be/
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