Debunking Detox Diets

by Nicole Weston, Posted Jan 7th 2006 @ 12:09PM

A detox diet is almost exactly what it sounds like: a diet designed to cleanse your body of toxins. Proponents of detox diets believe that seemingly ordinary foods – from meat to processed sugar – contain toxins that build up in your body and prevent it from functioning normally.
According to new studies, though it has previously been suspected by many people, detox diets don’t work. At least, they do not work in the way that they are purported to. The general way the diet works is that you eat large amounts of fruits, vegetables and drink huge quantities of water, which will flush out, or detoxify, your system, removing toxins and improving your skin, preventing headaches, reducing cellulite, helping you lose weight and raising your overall level of heath.
Since many people do not drink nearly enough water to remain thoroughly hydrated, it is no shock that drinking much more water would help people feel better and experience fewer headaches. The high levels of antioxidants in fruits and vegetables probably improve skin and add to a general feeling of well being. And the feelings of lightness that people report after several days on such a diet are most likely from insufficient calorie intake. But the most misleading part of the diet is simply the claim that meats and fish have a large amount of naturally occurring toxins, while in fact, vegetables like cabbage and onions can have far more. The liver is the most vital organ for detoxification, and it processes meats and proteins most effectively, in addition to metabolizing carbohydrates and fats.
Substituting healthier foods, like fruits and vegetables, for overly processed junk food will make you be healthier and feel better, without having to give up cooked foods or meat.

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Filed Under: Science, Television/Film, Newspapers, Did you know?
Tags: cleansing, detox, detox diet, detox myth, did you know, diet, health, myth, toxins, vegan, vegetarian, weight loss

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-07-2006 @2:58PM Huffy said... The diet industry is one of mega-bucks coupled with junk science, an ironic partnership to be sure. As long as there are folks for whom the "quick fix" is the only answer, there will be eating plans such as the Detox Diet. Weight-consciousness fueled the Atkins Revolution; these days, one is hard pressed to find a "low carb" food product on grocery store shelves.

The forumla really is simple: Eat less, exercise more, enjoy yourself in moderation.

Huffy
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1-09-2006 @9:24PM Kim said... Thanks for the debunking. I'll go you one further and debunk the chronic-dehydration myth:

http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp

I'm amazed at how many otherwise perfectly intelligent, scientific-minded people beat the detox and/or low-carb drum. Getting in arguments over these diets tends to be futile, like arguing about religion or politics.
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