By Jennie
My head is not easily turned by the latest diet fads – eat carbs, don’t eat carbs, eat fat, but not that kind of fat, stand on your head, don’t eat after 6:00 p.m. unless you live below sea level, etc. I have known for a long time that the “secret” to weight loss is this: expend more calories than you take in. How you do that is up to you, but it’s more about doing it in a healthy and sustainable way than about some miracle way of eating that will “unlock the secret to losing weight.”
Why then, do I find myself so drawn to the idea of detox diets? (Oh, not so drawn that I’ve actually ever tried one. Baby steps here, people.) There are endless variations on the detox diet out there, but the basic idea is simple: modern living, with its processed foods and environmental toxins, has left our bodies in a sorry state, burdened with chemical deposits that we have no way of ridding ourselves of and which may be harming our health. The detox diet generally emphasizes the consumption of only organic food (and often eschews solid food entirely and relies only on liquid nutrients), promotes foods high in vitamins and antioxidants, and emphasizes the consumption of large quantities of water and fiber in an attempt to rid the body of these toxins through the elimination of waste. The recommended length of the diet is usually somewhere between seven and 30 days. Advocates believe that we can “clean out our systems” by following one of these detox diets.
This ignores the fact that the body already has organs (the kidneys and liver) that function as filtering systems. But what about the people who report great results – increased energy, better skin, cessation of headaches – following a “cleanse?” Well, it may be that these people are regularly consuming things such as alcohol, caffeine and greasy foods in quantities that aren’t good for them. When they start a detox diet and eat and drink the stuff they should be eating and drinking all along, they feel better. There’s no mystery there. It’s not “toxins” leaving your body; it’s akin to ceasing to bang your head against a wall. Of course you’re going to feel better. Once you go back to your old bad habits, the negative side effects will return.
Are these detoxes harmful? Well, it probably depends on the specific plan one follows and how long they follow it for. Certainly, many of them seem to be missing some of the nutrients needed for optimal health. Some, with a few tweaks, could actually serve as a blueprint for how to eat healthy on a regular basis. Others are little better than starvation plans and can certainly do damage if followed for too long or too frequently. None of them, from a scientifically-proven standpoint, actually cleanse or detox your body in a significant way.
What’s the appeal? For me, some of the terminology is attractive – words like “flush” or “reset” suggest that I am actually going to be able to clean my insides, rendering them as pristine as a toddler’s. I just don’t like the idea of organs sitting inside my body, yet not really under my control. It’s a little upsetting for a worry-wart, slightly controlling, semi-clean-freak like me. It’s as if I knew there were dust bunnies under my bed but I had no capacity to access them, ever. So being told that I can, in fact, sweep up the dust bunnies, so to speak – well, it’s really an attractive notion. Even if I know better.
The other aspect that I think gets to some people – me included – is the idea of a quick fix. Sure, I may have made a mess of this body – drank too much, ate the wrong foods, lived in the city and breathed in the carcinogens lurking in the air. But there’s hope for me yet. I just need to detox and get all of the detritus of my bad choices out of my body, and then, when I’m as good as new, I will change my ways. If not, there’s always another detox!
Have you tried a detox diet? If so, how did it work for you?
Tags: cleanse, Detox diets, diet fads, Healthy eating
I have never tried a detox diet but I have sure have read enough about them. I don’t really believe in them and also think that if you decrease your intake on the sugar, alcohol and caffeine and increase your exercise level you will probably get a greater benefit than starving yourself.
I believe that detox regimens are pointless and can be dangerous. They can also be expensive. Possibly one positive side effect or outcome of a detox diet would be that they usually encourage one to drink more water and eat more fruits and veggies (depending on the diet.)
If the end result of a detox diet is getting one to rid their caffeine or sugar habit, then I guess I could see a benefit. But from everything I have read, most people quickly go back to their bad habits after finishing such a diet.
I would however, love to hear from someone that has had success with a detox diet.
By the way, I love the picture that accompanies this article and it is causing me to crave a good piece of watermelon.
Some of them just make me shake my head. One of the most famous is the maple syrup, cayenne pepper and lemon juice “cleanse” – which is pretty much what it sounds like. You drink those ingredients, mixed with water, and nothing else for the length of the cleanse. These ingredients sound so random to me; I wonder how someone came up with them.
I admit I’ve always wanted to try a cleanse, not necessarily for weight loss but bc of the “Feel good” claims. I haven’t yet and probably won’t….. But if I do and have miraculous results I will be sure to let you all know.
Yuck, maple syrup and lemon juice? Yuck. I have never tried a detox diet and probably never will. I would hate to have a mostly-liquid diet in any case. How exactly are you supposed to get fiber drinking water? Why give up chewing? I love chewing!
Jennie, the secret to weight loss is as you say: more calories burned than consumed. I don’t believe there is an American alive who doesn’t know that down deep. We’ve been bombarded with the food pyramid and food groups and super foods and good fat/bad fat data. We KNOW to eat our vegetables, eat colorful foods, limit fats, eat unprocessed foods, and exercise. Knowing is not doing, alas!
I am so leery of these. I was in my 20’s during the 80s and obsessed w/my figure. I remember the one fad diet that everyone was selling and everyone was trying. Nutra??????Weight???? something something. I can’t remember the name. It was a powder drink ;mix and probably some supplements. Going off caffeine and sugar all at once was the worst headache every time I tried one of those type of diets. It wasn’t for the cleanse, I was interested in the weight loss. I have never had any intention of giving up chocolate.
I haven’t done anything like that in many years. I try to eat healthy and have a healthier image of what we’re really supposed to look like. Oh, I just remembered the <em>Woman’s World </em>vegetable soup diet. Ugh.
I do like the idea of a cleanse. Not that I expect it to get rid of everything toxic in my body, but a “wash” would be nice. I know there are herbs to help with this, but it’s a regimen, not a “all at once” thing. Hope to hear something positive and possible.
Pam, I agree, that picture makes me hungry.
I have never had any intention of giving up chocolate.
I have always thought you are my twin, Lily. I am convinced.
By the way, I love the picture that accompanies this article and it is causing me to crave a good piece of watermelon. – Pam
I know – me too.
I think we can all just skip the cleanse and concentrate on eating a lot more of what is in this picture and we will all be the better for it. I believe there is a nice piece of anti-oxident chocolate right behind the smoothie there – yep on the right – don’t you see it?!?
Ann, yes, I think our biggest difference in pov is that you think black jelly beans are real candy while I think they taste like nasty medicine.
Tis the season for you to be enjoying them again.
Ah, Lily, I forgot about the black jelly beans! I’ll forgive you, if you save all yours for me.
You can have mine too, Ann. Yuck.