Hollywood and Bollywood stars have long been spreading “detox diets” in their routine and reporting wonderful effects from them. Today, it is the people around us who talk about these diets. The Internet has been flooded with articles on how “detox diets” work, from losing weight to eliminating toxins from the body and improving energy levels. But wait? Is this just another one of the fad diets or is it a diet that actually does what it claims to do?
So, let’s start with what the “Detox Diets” claim to do. They claim to remove “toxins” from your system. These diets take various forms. They involve consuming certain foods, special juices, consuming detox teas and other fluids, and many are spread only on an empty stomach. Colon cleansing is also part of “detox diets” to empty the intestines. Toxins as defined by Merriam-Webster states:
“A toxin is a poisonous substance that is a specific product of the metabolic activities of a living organism and is generally very unstable, notably toxic when introduced into tissues, and is typically capable of inducing the formation of antibodies.”
This means that a toxin is a harmful substance and the body needs to eliminate it to avoid damaging our body. If toxins build up instead of being excreted, you will need urgent medical intervention. But, in most cases, especially in healthy individuals, there is no accumulation of toxins since our body has a built-in detoxification system. The kidneys, liver, skin, and even lungs are working overtime to eliminate them from our body.
So how do people feel good after a “detox diet”? Detox diets promote natural foods: not processed and packaged foods high in saturated fat, sugar, and salt. He also advocates the intake of fresh juices (vegetables and fruits). You end up drinking more water and less or no caffeine or alcohol. These changes are generally good for the body and therefore help you feel better. And furthermore, since the intake of high-calorie foods has been eliminated, a person following this diet is likely to lose weight. But again, this weight loss is temporary. This weight loss is primarily loss of water and loss of stored glycogen and will recover once one begins to eat normally. Therefore, just the huffing along with clean eating habits will be long-term in terms of weight loss.
OUR OPINION: Drastically limiting food intake through fasting or eliminating food groups can put the body under a lot of stress. These diets cause nutrient deficiencies and lead to many health problems. For example, when macronutrients like carbohydrates, protein, and fat are lacking, one can feel dizzy, lightheaded, or nauseous. Blood sugar levels can drop and the body becomes fatigued. These diets can also trigger unhealthy eating behaviors in young adults, which can affect their long-term health and well-being.
Therefore, there is no scientific evidence to support the body’s need to detox through diet, as the body is designed to detoxify, repair and regenerate on its own. Organs such as the liver, kidneys, lungs, digestive system, and enzymes in cells work to remove toxins from the body. By reducing key nutrients, you can hamper the body’s natural process and damage it instead. If you are looking to lose weight, detox is not the solution.