By Susan Burke MS, RD, LD/N, CDE
It’s hard to miss the advertisements for detox diets, and dietary supplements claiming to “cleanse” you of “built up toxins." Manufacturers claim that these diets and products can give you new energy and you’ll lose weight, sometimes "overnight."
I typed “detox diets” into my Google browser, and on the right side margin (where paid advertisers display) ads invited me to “cleanse," “look younger," and “defy the aging process." There are more than one million (that’s MILLION!) websites associated with detox diets.
Many find it hard to resist the claims, because it sounds like nirvana. You’re feeling sluggish and bloated, you hate to diet; so, hey, let’s give it a try! They say you can feel better and look younger and slimmer, in just days. So, what’s the scoop on detox diets?
Save your money…and your health. The human body is a “detoxifier," naturally. Your liver, kidneys, respiratory and gastrointestinal system all work together to detoxify your body daily. The average person does not need a “neutralizing” diet. He or she needs a healthy diet, but most detox diets are not healthy.
Eliminating unhealthy foods is a great idea, but eliminating all food is not. If the detox diet asks you to restrict yourself to only a select few foods, such as fruit or fruit juice or vegetable juice, you will certainly lose weight, but you’ll also lose lean muscle mass. If you resume your regular diet after “detoxing," you’ll regain the weight and more.