Hi! I'm Melanie. A little birdie told me that possibly you aren't subscribed to this site. Are you nuts?
Subscriptions are totally free, and you can sign up either for Emails or the RSS feed. It's so easy, so do it now, and welcome to Dietriffic!
The theory
Advocates of detoxing suggest that our bodies can become overloaded with toxins from the substances we put into them, and also from the environment we are surrounded by. It is claimed that a detox plan can improve sluggishness, lethargy, headaches, bad breath, spots, and allergies, amongst other things. They suggest that cutting out certain foods and substances, for a specified time, will aid the liver and kidneys to cleanse itself from the inside, and as a result boost the immune system.
The science behind their claims? In short: none! However, this doesn’t stop manufacturers and various “practitioners” making ridiculous claims to the numerous health benefits of detoxing!
The BBC have recently covered a fascinating series called “The Truth About Food.” The series investigated 500 volunteers, and exposes the real science behind the food we eat. Want to know what food really does to your body? You can check out their website, Science & Nature: The Truth About Food, for numerous video clips from the series.
I came across a great clip on the site, “Does Detox Work?” This is a question many people ask, and unfortunately many believe there are health benefits to be gained from detoxing. However, this is far from the truth, and detoxing is merely a money making, marketing ploy! If you want to throw away good money - go on a detox plan!
The truth
Our bodies are extremely well designed, and they do a fantastic job of “cleansing” themselves. Our liver, kidneys, skin, lungs, and gut, are constantly processing and eliminating these nasty toxins. Meticulously flushing with copious amounts of water and fresh juices will do nothing to speed up the process. If you require further convincing, check out this amazing trial:
My advice: drink more water, and get an early night. Your body will love you for it!
Never want to miss a single article on Dietriffic again? You can stay in touch for free by subscribing to my most recent articles via email or RSS feeds.
Get future updates sent to you for free! Join by email or RSS.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Are you telling me there are no benefits to detoxing? I think this article is very one sided. Not everyone looking to detox goes out and spends money on some fad diet.
You can detox your body by eliminating alcohol, cigarettes, caffiene and refined sugar.
Vitamin C flushes out the body by making toxins water soluable, making it easier to flush from the body.
Detox has been used for thousands of years by many cultures, and all of them know there are bodily benefits from it.
Its not just a money maker. Be smart about what you’re doing, and make healthy choices.
Reply
Hi Meghann,
This article was an attempt to discuss detox diets, not what I would call “lifestyle changes” such as giving up smoking or cigarettes as you mentioned - obviously I am in complete favour of that.
What I disagree with is those who push their products, claiming they can “detox the body”. These are unnecessary, and completely unproven scientifically.
Reply