Detox diets, the good, the bad and what you should know

by | Jul 12, 2016 | Health Habits, Nutrition Support, Uncategorized

What you should know:
What is a detox diet?
It is a type of diet consisting in the consumption of shakes and smoothies made of fruits, vegetables, and herbs used for a certain time with the belief that you can get health benefits.

Before this trend started the word detox was related to medical practices to refer cases of alcoholism, drug addiction and poisoning that put lives at risk.
Nowadays the term detox is used to refer home methods that claim can eliminate swelling, headaches, joint pain, weight loss, reduce fatigue and even depression. None of the products require a prescription.

 

The bad
The popularity of detox diets has grown exponentially recently, however, there is little evidence that detox diets remove toxins from the body. Our kidneys and liver are responsible for filtering out most toxins.

People usually express that they lose weight by following these diets and this occurs because they consume fewer calories than their bodies need. Unfortunately there is no institution that regulates the term detox.
Detox diets should not be followed for long periods of time because they do not provide enough amounts of protein, and can cause vitamin deficiency, minerals and essential fatty acids.

Some stricter followers even recommend the use of enemas (colon cleansing) but repeated use of these can cause an electrolyte imbalance.
Due to the increasing popularity of this term, many companies admit that they have changed the names of products we already know for “detox” or “cleansing” to increase sales.

 

The good
Detox diets basically eliminate the consumption of highly processed foods which are high in sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, additives, and preservatives. The use of many of these ingredients is widely debated due to health problems resulting therefrom, such as obesity, diabetes and much more.
Detox diets also encourage the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Most people do not consume even half of the daily recommendation of 5 servings a day (3 vegetables and 2 fruits).

Only one shake or smoothie can provide those 5 portions easily and if is not strained it can also provide a good amount of fiber.

 

Conclusion
The consumption of smoothies and shakes can be part of a healthy life if you follow a personalized diet and exercise regularly.

Before starting a program of this inquiry ask your dietician or healthcare provider.