Detoxes and cleanses…are they really necessary?
More likely than not, you have all fallen victim to the amazing marketing techniques employed by detox products…I know that I personally have tried a juice cleanse once or twice in my lifetime. They claim to rid your body of toxins that are sapping your health, aid in weight-loss, boost energy and mood, and improve appearance of skin and hair…but do they really?
While the notion of detoxifying your body has some scientific truth, the detox programs you see on the market unfortunately are likely gimmicks focused on making money. A 2009 investigative report of 15 different popular detox programs found that none used the same definition of “detox” AND none could offer evidence to support their claims.
There is little to no research on the efficacy of detox programs, and most of the popular programs that you see advertised have gone untested. There have actually been case reports documenting kidney damage and liver failure after following detox programs and using their supplements.
The perceived benefits of detoxes and cleanses can essentially be attributed to the extreme caloric restriction…of course you are going to lose weight when you’re consuming 1/3 or less of your normal daily caloric intake.
So what’s the truth?
The human body has its own natural ability to detoxify…it literally does this on a daily basis to help keep you alive and well. Toxins are metabolized in the liver and then excreted via bile or the kidneys.
You can support your body’s own ability to detoxify by eating nutrient-dense foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that aid the liver in completing its job.
What about juice cleanses? Juice is good for you… right?
Juices do offer wonderful nutrients, but the process of turning whole fruits and vegetables into juice actually strips them of some nutrients and phytochemicals as well as all of the fiber. The better option would be to blend your fruits and vegetables into smoothies which allows you to retain all of the health benefits.
If you are someone that really enjoys drinking juice, just be sure to incorporate the juices into a whole-foods diet in order to meet all daily food group needs….and be mindful of the amount of sugar each juice drink contains (it can add up quickly without you even realizing!)
Questions? Contact us!
Email: courtney@plusforte.co
Phone: 978-590-6951
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Reference: NASM. (n.d.). Lesson 4 Detoxes and Cleanses: Nutrition Hot Topics and Controversies. In Nutritional Science: Nutrition Certification.
