Do you need to include detox methods in your diet?

Added: 10/24/2006

If you are exercising along with implementing a healthy diet and still not losing any weight, you may need to include some detox methods into your occasional routine. The tiredness, headaches and gas pains could be gone within three days! Shakes, tea, and regular water, YES plain water can help you sleep better, have a flatter belly and help you loose that excess weight all with little to no effort! In addition, your colon will be free of toxin-filled matter, cleaning your inside much like you would shower to clean your outside! Which method is best for you?

The term “detoxification” is typically associated with drug and alcohol treatment, however, many who are unable to loose weight with regular diet and exercise may benefit greatly from adding detox methods to their routine. This is a very simple, yet effective way to prevent colon difficulty in the future. The available detox diet plans range in spending any where from 3 days to 3 weeks and $10 - $150 dollars to get rid of the harsh chemicals and parasites that invade our bodies with a regular diet. All the preservatives and multiple processes the food that we ultimately buy at the grocer’s market has gone through simply add to the need to give our bodies a “tune-up”

The ever popular “Hollywood Diet” and the “Full Body Detox”, which require the users to replace their typical food intake with a liquid for three days, can be purchased at any health food store for approximately $30.00. These detox methods claim to “flush” the toxins from the body and encourage general health by eliminating the absorption of any solids into the wall of the colon. The liquid mixture looks and tastes similar to orange juice and is taken in 8oz. increments over the three day period. At the end of three days, the user may return to a normal diet, however the calories consumed should be in sync with the users activity level for best results.

The “Official Full Body Detox Diet” will cost $150.00 and guarantees that there will be a weight loss of between 10 to 50 pounds! The plan includes taking seven different types of herbs and liquids only for the first phase. The second phase includes re-introducing some foods to the diet and eventually sticking to a low calorie diet. On this plan the foods are not included so there is even more cost involved.

The idea of cleaning out the inside of the body, loosing weight, feeling better and being able to sleep well should be enticing to everyone. After all, a large percentage of Americans are said to be overweight and sluggish. The commitment, though short term, can be overwhelming and therefore prevents the completion of the program.

It makes sense that toxins are bad for the body and that stress and dehydration cause the body to not expel these toxins through sweat, urine and waste as they should, however, the detox methods have received their share of critism. Especially concerning young adults, these detox methods have been said to be linked to dehydration, chemical imbalances and problems with the digestive system. Eventual eating disorders and poor food choices are also by products of the detox methods because the feeling of going without food and “cleansing” the inside of the body can be addictive. Purging and bingeing allow the detox dieter to rationalize that as long as they go through some sort of detox periodically, that eating foods that are not healthy is offset by the detox method.

The side effects and safety concerns associated with detox methods then should be weighed very carefully against the right detox method for you. Being responsible and educating yourself on what detox diets do and don’t do is an important part of making the detox method you choose work for you.

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