There has been a lot of hype around fad diets over the past few years. Most claims of fad diet are exaggerated and make no sense, but some diets do have truth to them. One of these is the Detox Diet. This diet claims to do as its title suggests: to detoxify or cleanse the inner gastrointestinal tract. How do our insides get toxins built up in the first place? A number of toxins collect in our body from the food we eat and from the environment we live in. For example, pollution, cigarette smoke, alcohol, caffeine & processed foods. However, some people may say there is no need for detox diets because our body is constantly detoxifying to protect us. There is no concrete scientific evidence that says we need to help our body in this process, but there is no harm in eating foods that support it.
Now that you get the idea of what a detox diet is meant to do, its important to note that not all detox diets are created equally. Some limit solid foods, reduce caloric intake and require strict compliance. These are the types to avoid, because they may do more harm than good. Certain populations should also avoid detox diets such as: pregnant women, children, teenagers, those with chronic disease or other health-compromised individuals who require energy and maximum nutrition for growth or strength. A detox diet should also not be used for the wrong reasons, such as weight loss.
What are the benefits of a detox or cleansing diet?
A detox diet is good because it means you are ready to think differently about the food you’re putting into your body. This has the potential to forever change your eating habits for the better. Detox diets also emphasize whole foods such as: vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, whole grains & water, which are healthy and lower in fat, salt & added sugars. Lastly, detox diets are environmentally friendly because most imitate a vegetarian or vegan diet, which eliminates animal products.
How do I start a healthy & safe diet?
- Before starting any diet, do your research & speak to a health professional
- Choose a diet that lasts no longer than 3 weeks. Anything longer and you may start to deprive your body.
- Avoid diets that restrict calories. A good diet should still provide the same calories, but distributed among foods differently.
- Avoid liquid diets. These offer poor nutrition and you may starve your body.
- Ease into any diet. Never completely cut out foods such as dairy or caffeine. Slowly take them away and then slowly re-introduce them after the cleanse.
A common detox diet:
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Foods to Avoid |
Food to Eat |
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Rylee, your information still grabs my attention, all of your posts can be related to so well. I am always reading magazines for beauty tips because they are interesting…and sometimes funny, but here you present the evidence! I am going to try some of your tips!
So glad to have you as a frequent reader, Lisa! Hope you enjoy the recipes I’ve posted for more fun beauty secrets!
A lot of detox diets ask for fasting and gradually reintroducing foods back in. Have you found examples of these? Some detox diets also try to sell some kind of accompanying product. Very tricky. But it’s great that you are emphasizing what foods to eat and avoid rather than doing all those liquid fasts.
You are absolutely correct, Elizabeth. Detox diets often eliminate certain foods, such as caffeine. Caffeine should not be cut “cold turkey” from any frequent consumer’s diet, as this may send the body into a shock. The same goes for re-introducing foods back into a diet; most commonly dairy. Suddenly having to digest dairy is a shock on the system, and may make a person very ill.
Hey Rylee,
I think your information is great. I love that you touched on the misonception that healthy detox diets should not be entirely liquid or really limited. I have several friends who keep talking about doing one of these fad detox diets, so I passed the link on to them.. Hopefully you’re information will help people find better alternatives to fasting when they’re trying to attain a healthy body/digestive system.