Search for
"detox products" online and you'll get over 35,000 hits. Detox diet books number
in the hundreds. Surprising? Unfortunately, no. Ridiculous? Absolutely. It's
continually shocking to me the amount that some people will pay for products that
have absolutely no scientific evidence that they do...anything. The theory
behind detoxing is that our body becomes overloaded with "toxins" from the food
we eat, mainly coming from additives, caffeine, preservatives, and alcohol.
Supposedly these toxins stay in the body, wreaking all kinds of havoc, from
weight gain to belly bloat to fatigue. The truth is that this entire premise is
faulty.
Talk to any
GI specialist and he/she will tell you the same thing: our bodies don't get
"backed up with toxins" that come from the foods we eat. The body is perfectly
capable of cleansing itself using its own special device: your liver. Ever heard
the phrase, "You live-r you die"? You need your liver - can't live without it!
It is your body's natural way of filtering out the "bad stuff" and keeping the
good.
So why do
people keep buying detox and cleansing products, claiming to see results? Many of these products are
filled with intestinal irritants, designed to upset the lining of your
gastro-intestinal (GI) system so that you go to the bathroom (and therefore think the products is effective). The products claim
that this is your body ridding itself of "toxins and years of build-up", when
all you have done is irritate your intestines.
Unfortunately, the consequences can go beyond mere irritation of your GI system. Many detox products or detox diets are
downright dangerous. Some products require extreme fasting for days or weeks at a time,
in which participants only drink liquids or eat only one or two foods. Taking in
so few calories leads to severe muscle wasting (not fat loss). Still other detox products contain
laxatives or colonics; these can be dangerously dehydrating and cause
electrolyte imbalances in the body. Use the products enough and you will start decreasing how effectively your intestines absorb the vitamins and minerals in the food you eat. Some people become dependent on these "colon cleanses" to go to the bathroom because they have overused them and upset the natural regularity of their bodies.
Looking for
a healthy way to "cleanse" your body? Try this:
1. Drink
plenty of water
2. Eat whole foods rich in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, and
whole grain.
3. Fuel
your muscles with low-fat dairy products and other lean sources of protein.
4. Eat
consistently throughout the day: every 3-4 hours is ideal.
5. With the
okay from your doctor, be physically active every day.
6. Avoid
laxatives and detox supplements.
So whether it's a pill, liquid, diet, or foot pad (yes, those are out there too), stay far away.
Be Extraordinary,
RDKate
