About Detox Diets

The term "detox diet" encompasses a broad range of diets which all purport to rid the body of accumulated toxins through often rigorous and sometimes bizarre dietary strategies. The thrill of the detox is in its promise of a fast track to weight loss and better health--a promise that, scientifically, detox diets seem unable to deliver. If you are planning on a detox diet, this is what you need to know.

Detox Diets Generally

Detox diets can last anywhere from several days to several weeks, depending on the particular plan. While on a detox diet, you can expect to consume a substantially restricted diet--some plans limit you to nothing but raw foods, while others, like the "Master Cleanse," force you to drink nothing but natural lemonade and maple syrup.

Detox Theory

The general concept behind nearly every detox diet is that as our bodies age, we inevitably accumulate toxins. These toxins are present in both the air we breathe and the food we eat, and they are supposedly responsible for symptoms such as lack of energy, headaches and an overall feeling of malaise. Of course, the only way to purge these toxins is through a detox diet.

Professional Opinions

Note that according to Peter Pressman, M.D., an internal medicine specialist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, there is no reason to believe that a detox diet can perform any function that is not already taking place by virtue of our own internal cleansing organs like the GI tract, the liver and the kidneys. Andrea Giancoli, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, states that there is no scientific basis behind detox diets establishing their necessity.

Risks

Not only are detox diets scientifically unnecessary, but they also pose some fairly substantial risks to your health. A British woman named Dawn Page suffered permanent brain damage as a result of water intoxication, brought on by following a popular detox diet. Any severe deprivation diet carries the risk of malnutrition and potential illness. Thus, be aware of these possibilities before you subject yourself to a prolonged "detox."

Considerations

According to registered dietitian Keri Glassman, detox diets are not all bad. She places her clients on two- or three-day detox plans to provide them with a mental head start towards losing weight, operating under the theory that dieting will seem easier if they have already survived a more extreme regimen first. Thus, under the supervision of a medical professional, a detox plan could have limited uses. But on balance, the potential cost of a detox far outweighs any real benefit.