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cessing. That's good for you and more likely to give you results that last, especially if you make exercise a habit. Limitations: You're going to go without a lot of the foods you usually eat. Detox diets are typically very rigid and involve eating the same few things over and over. Cooking and shopping: Depends on the detox plan you're following. Because there's not a lot you're The Truth About allowed to eat, you won't have a long shopping list and prep work Detox Diets should be minimal. Packaged foods or meals: Some The Promise detox plans recommend herbs, They're popular, but they aren't proven to do what they say they'll pills, powders, enemas, and other do: flush toxins out of your system. forms of colon cleansing. Methods In fact, they may be risky and even vary and often include products that are only available from the backfire. Still thinking about it? You should author’s web site. know this first. In-person meetings? No. What You Can Eat and What You Exercise : Not required, and you Can't That depends on the particular de- may not have the energy for it, betox diet you're following. There are cause you're not getting that many calories. many of them. Some involve fasting, or just drinking liqWhat Else You Should Know uids. Others allow some foods, like fruits and vegetables. They typ- Costs: Besides your grocery shopically are short diets -- they're not a ping, a detox diet may also call for way of eating you can stick with in some supplements and other products, which vary in cost. the long run. Level of Effort: High You'll be hungry and may feel weak. Whether or not a detox diet is safe depends on the plan and how long you stay on it. Most people don’t feel good on low-calorie, nutrient-poor diets. Potential side effects include low energy, low blood sugar, muscle aches, fatigue, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and nausea.
Support: None, except for resources you may find online. What Dr. Michael Smith Says: Does It Work? If your goal is weight loss, a detox diet might help you drop a few pounds, but you’ll likely just gain it back. In the end, you haven’t accomplished anything, and it’s certainly not a healthy approach.
If your goal is to detox your system, don’t waste your time If the idea of detoxing appeals, you or money. Your body is an expert might try "clean" eating that focus- at getting rid of toxins no matter what you eat. Toxins don’t build up es on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein -- basical- in your liver, kidneys, or any other ly, whole foodswithout a lot of pro- part of your body, and you’re not going to get rid of them with the
latest detox wonder. Especially avoid diets that promise to detox your liver with supplements or “cleanse” whatever the diet determines needs washing out. The only type of detox diet that is worthwhile is one that limits processed, high-fat, and sugary foods, and replaces them with more whole foods like fruits and vegetables. That clean-eating approach is your best bet to getting your body in tip -top shape. Is It Good for Certain Conditions? Not only are detox diets not good for people with certain medical conditions, they could be harmful. There is no research showing they improve blood pressure or cholesterol or have a positive effect on the heart. For people with diabetes, they may be quite dangerous. Any diet that severely restricts what you eat could lead to dangerously low blood sugar if you take medicine for diabetes. The exception would be a detox diet that just focuses on clean eating. This approach could be great for anyone living with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even heart disease. The Final Word We’ve heard a great deal about detox diets in recent years. But it’s all hype with no health benefits. There are many ways to get your body clean and healthy. This isn’t one of them. Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, DO, MS
