Detox Diets - To Detox Or Not - That Is The Question!

Detox diets are popular and could be practiced anywhere from a day to a week or more. The regimen begins with a fast followed by detox diets that either completely avoid certain foods or include carbs, fats, fruits, vegetables, juices, herbs and water. A brief fast for day is unlikely to cause harm but prolonged fasting may result in malnutrition, particularly protein.

Now many do confuse fasting with a detox diet. They are similar and yet not. Normally fasting is undertaken to rest the body mainly or to remove toxins from the body or as a spiritual or religious practice.

Solid food is eliminated and only fluids are ingested, such as water, juice, and tea. Some fasts permit fruits and vegetables. The purpose of a fast is to allow the body rest from digesting.

A detox diet on the other hand is undertaken to remove toxins from the body. So unlike a fast, the intake of solid food is permitted but restricted. Fresh fruits, & vegetables, whole grains and nuts are consumed and processed foods, meats, sugars, simple carbohydrates and alcohol are eliminated. Along with the restricted diet, herbs are taken to assist the body in detoxification.

Many ethical questions are raised time and again with regard to detox diets. Unfortunately the whole theory of detoxifying the body is based on premise and toxins are not defined which make it totally a myth. Detoxfication is considered to be a purification ritual and appears to be symbolic.

The mechanics of detox diets, care and effects will be addressed in the forthcoming article.

By Vijayalakshmi Iyengar
Sr. Dietitian NutritionVista.com

Dr Sunil Jhangiani, founder and Medical Director of NV was recently asked questions on detox diets by Shweta Taneja for Live Mint online- "Disguised as Detox"
http://www.livemint.com/2010/07/26205013/Disguised-as-detox.html

Here are some of his responses on Detox diets.
“Such long and intensive detox plans are actually marketing tools which disguise extreme weight-loss diets,” according to Sunil Jhangiani, US-based founder of Nutrition Vista (www.nutritionvista.com), an online consultant website for diets. “It’s more fashionable to say that one’s undergoing a detox than saying that one’s on a weight-loss diet,” he said in a phone interview. According to him, the celebrities on detox diets actually want rapid weight loss, which is unhealthy in its drastic measures. “Most of the people undertaking these diets become addicted to the weight loss they see in the initial period. However, the rapid loss of weight weakens your body systems and reduces your stamina drastically,” Dr Jhangiani adds.

The key thing to remember before embarking on a detox diet such as the Master Cleanse is that once you are back to your normal routine, the lost weight also comes back, which will make you want to go back on the detox diet. “This results in a yo-yo movement in which the diet soon becomes not about detoxification of the body, but about remaining thin,” explains Dr Jhangiani.

Occasional detox is a good thing
A good detox diet is not about starving oneself but eating things that will help clean your body’s filters. “Urban lifestyle puts the digestive system, liver, kidney and skin under a lot of stress so it’s a good thing to give them relief every now and then,” says Dr Jhangiani.