Detox Diets – Is It a Go or a No?

A detox diet, sensationalized by a number of gangly Hollywood celebrities, is a dietary regimen that claims to cleanse the body from toxins and other impurities that are acquired from the environment or from unhealthy eating habits. These contaminants, called "body burden", accumulate in the body and is believed to cause several types of health conditions.

Advocates and supporters, alike, profess on its effectiveness, among which would include weight loss, improved energy, better complexion, regular bowel movements, improved digestion, and heightened concentration, and focus – an overall improvement on the body’s general health and well being, in short.

Detoxification includes but is not limited to the following: eliminating foods that are high in calories and chemicals like caffeine, alcohol, red meat, and processed food; focusing more on fresh foods that provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants like raw fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes and whole grain; and fasting, whether it be on water, juice, or tea.

While the first two points actually have a scientific basis, the last point, it being highly restrictive, is definitely not one of the safest ways to lose weight. The newer, yet equally extreme, diet known as Master Cleanse is quite popular these days. This requires near starvation with the mere exception of lemonade plus a mixture of other liquids for 10 whole days. This diet is just as dangerous but is being strictly adhered to by misguided, fanatical youths eager to have the bodies of Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyonce Knowles, or the like.

Dieticians and nutritionists worldwide speak strongly against these kinds of diet, stating that the body is well equipped with its own detoxification systems and that these do a very good job at ridding the body of harmful toxins. Therefore, there really is no need to subject your body to such extreme measures because this will actually cause more harm than good.

These crash diets promise fast results and you might just get down to that waistline or dress size you have always dreamed of having but the abrupt changes may lead your bodily functions to go haywire. The sudden drop in blood sugar, sodium, and potassium levels may cause changes in sensorium, cardiac arrhythmias, shock, and even death. In addition, prolonged fasting may lead to nutritional deficiencies, muscle wasting and a weakened immune system. These are serious conditions and may lead to debilitation or even irreversible damage to the body. So before you throw yourself - money, health, and all - into the frenzied business of celebrity dieting, take a step back first and consider all the sides to it.

Cutting back on empty calories, and eating more fruits and vegetables may not be as glamorous as being on the latest diet craze and it may not give you that bootilicious bod that you have been pining for. But this seemingly outdated plan can mean added of years to your life and it may very well spell the difference between life and death. Dietary changes, if deemed necessary, should be done gradually these should always include a good balance of nutrients needed to sustain health.

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