At the start of the New Year, detox diet plans are commonplace. Let’s face it, who hasn’t heard of the lemon detox diet? But do we really need to go on a detox diet? Do they help you lose weight, or are you placing your health at risk?
Some traditional detoxes follow a strict program of elimination aimed at ridding your body of impurities, by cleansing your liver and kidneys, and flushing your bowels.
But detox kits that contain laxatives, diuretics, or that encourage you to fast could potentially do more harm than good. Laxatives speed up your bowl motions, but also prevent the absorption of nutrients, while diuretics can results in partial dehydration.
The fasting component of some detoxes can also have a negative impact on your health. By eating next to nothing, you may struggle to get enough nutrients for the essential functions of your body.
Fortunately, our liver, lungs, kidneys and skin are perfectly capable of filtering and removing waste products from our bodies. But they do it best when our diets include plenty of nutrient-rich foods.
There is no debate about the fact that eating less fast food and cutting back on packaged foods will benefit your health and help you lose body fat. In fact, I believe so strongly in the importance of eating a diet rich in unprocessed foods, I have written a book about it. The Fast Food Detox* is a 14 day plan to on how to eat clean to get lean.
When making lifestyle changes, it can be helpful to have a formal plan to follow, even if it’s only for a short period of time. Starting a structured regimen can also provide a form of psychological comfort, because action is being taken and changes are being made to improve your health. Having a plan is often enough to get people motivated to eat better and initiate change.
Have you had success or otherwise following a detox diet plan?
* The Fast Food Detox by Andrew Cate is available now at www.andrewcate.com (ABC Books – RRP$19.95)