Detox Drinks Do Detox Drinks Work ?

8Aug/110

To Detox or Not to Detox?

By Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD

When I first went into private practice, detoxing was considered extreme, and for lack of a better word, ‘fringy.’ but in the past few years the word ‘detox’ has taken on a whole new meaning. Now, it seems to be a catch-all term to describe some sort of intervention that gets the junk out and helps restore the body to a better state of balance. It seems as if everyone is jumping on board!

What Counts as a Detox Diet?
Detoxes can be relatively basic, from simply cutting out alcohol, caffeine, and processed stuff (white flour, sugar, artificial ingredients, etc.), to downright extreme, like liquid-only regimes.

Simple DetoxThe main advantage of a basic detox is that it eliminates things you should be trying to limit or avoid anyway. Committing to “banning” certain foods can be a great way to allow your body to experience what it feels like to take a break from things like alcohol and sugar. while you may not drop a lot of weight on a basic detox, you’ll probably feel lighter, more energized, “cleaner” and motivated to stay on a healthy track.

Liquid DetoxMore extreme detoxes on the other hand, especially those that eliminate solid food, are a different story. Because you won’t be taking in enough carbohydrates, you’ll deplete your body’s glycogen stores, the carbs socked away in your liver and muscle tissue. That alone can cause you to shed 5 to 10 pounds in just a few days, but that loss won’t be body fat, and it can come right back as soon as you revert to your usual routine. Another big problem with liquid cleanses is they generally don’t provide protein or fat, two building blocks your body needs for constant repair and healing. Consuming too little of these key nutrients can lead to muscle loss and a weaker immune system. Psychologically, the quick weight loss can be a real high, but eventually the lack of nutrition may catch up with you, usually in the form of an injury, catching a cold or flu, or just feeling run down and exhausted.

Solid Food DetoxThe detox in my newest book is in-between. It includes four simple meals a day, made from just five whole, solid foods: spinach, almonds, raspberries, organic eggs and organic yogurt, or vegan-friendly alternatives (as well as natural seasonings to spruce things up and rev up your metabolism). I selected just five foods because I wanted the detox to be extremely simple – easy to shop for, easy to understand, and easy to do. also, these particular foods provide a combination of lean protein, good carbs and healthy fat, so you won’t deprive your body during the detox - and each has been scientifically shown to specifically support weight loss.

The Five Day Fast ForwardDuring this 5 Day Fast Forward you eat the exact same four meals a day, made from specific portions of these five foods at specific times: the first within one hour of waking up and the others spaced no sooner than three and no more than five hours apart. in my experience, a very streamlined, narrow, repetitive plan like this can provide a major physical and emotional reboot. by the 5th day, many people notice that their cravings for salty, fatty or sweet foods disappear, and they begin to appreciate the natural flavors of whole foods. and when all of the decisions about exactly what to eat, how much, and when have been made for you, you can’t act on emotional, social, environmental and habitual eating triggers. That alone can be incredibly powerful in helping you examine your relationship with food, so you can begin to transform it (e.g. breaking the cycle of eating because of boredom or emotions). by the end of the five days, you can shed up to eight pounds. It’s important to note that detoxing isn’t for everyone. For some people, even thinking about being restricted can intensify cravings or lead to rebound overeating. That’s why I made my Fast forward optional (there’s a quiz in the book to help you sort out whether it’s right for you). For example, if you’re the type of person who panics at the thought of foods being put on a forbidden list, a detox can seriously backfire.

Do What's Right for YouSo my bottom line advice on to detox or not to detox: don’t feel like it’s is something you should be doing just because it’s popular. but if you could really use a clean slate and you decide to try mine or any other one, follow these two basic rules:think of a detox as a transition period or jump start to a healthy plan. It's not a long-term “diet” or a way of making up for every overindulgence. Getting into a cycle of continuously overeating then detoxing isn’t healthy physically or emotionally. Listen to your body. You should feel light and energized, but a too-strict detox can leave you feeling weak, shaky, dizzy, cranky and headache-prone. if you don’t feel well, modify the plan to better meet your body’s needs.Ultimately, any detox should feel like a stepping stone to a healthier path, not a punishment.

Cynthia Sass is a registered dietitian with master's degrees in both nutrition science and public health. Frequently seen on national TV she's a SHAPE contributing editor and nutrition consultant to the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays. Her latest New York Times best seller is Cinch! Conquer Cravings, Drop Pounds and Lose Inches.

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6Aug/110

Detox Diet: Things You Need to Know

With the increase in the number of people who are turning to diets and treatments to purge their bodies of harmful substances that may cause damage to their bodies, a lot of dietitians and healers have also came out to claim that they can provide what these people are looking for. perhaps the detoxification and the flushing out of these unwanted substances from your body is really a good idea, because then you may feel better and feel healthier. But when really is the right time to commit yourself into this kind of cleansing? When is the proper time to undergo a detox diet?

Studies show that if you are the type of person who wants to lose weight in an instant, then you may try the detox diet. this diet may consist of just drinking a concoction of lemons and other herbs in lieu of your meals for several days. thus, as a result, you are like fasting for several days. Who would not lose weight if they only ingest juices and liquids? Within a few days, you surely will lose a few pounds and your curves may be more visible than ever.

However, many professionals believe that the detox diet should not be continued for more than three days. this is because you may actually deprive yourself of other vitamins and nutrients because you are not eating a balanced meal. if you really feel like trying this diet, you may want to ask for supervision of your physician or other health professionals.

You really do not need to starve yourself to cleanse your body. You should know that your body is designed and equipped with organs that perform the filtration for your body. this is the reason why every now and then, you find yourself frequenting the comfort rooms. You may think that your organs would need a little help from you, so you want to go on with the detox diet. But this is just a myth.

If you are healthy, your organs should be well enough to perform their functions well. if you really want to give a hand to your organs, you may want to avoid drinking too much alcohol, or smoking too much nicotine. Or in short, you may want to change your way of living.

You Have your Reasons

A well-planned detox diet can be helpful to your health, as believed by some professionals. They emphasize on the correctness of the method to be used and the suitability of such method to the dieter’s health condition. if you are someone who is willing to try detoxification, your reasons should be the right one.

Many professionals believe that detoxification is not really a proper technique to lose weight. its goal should really be the elimination of toxins. this is why they do not recommend this regimen to last for more than three days. thus, if you want to try this diet because you have heard that your favorite stars have used this therapy to lose weight, then this diet will not work for you.

So, you may want to think twice before committing yourself into this kind of program. though it may seem easy and fast, it is not as convenient as expected. the effects are just temporary and you may even endanger your health if you are not properly supervised by professionals.

Before undergoing a detox diet, you should learn all the things you need to know.

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20Jul/110

Facts about Detox Diets

Detox diets are designed to clean out your system. If you are considering this method, here are a few facts you should know.

First, detox diet programs are not designed to help you lose weight but merely helps cleanse your system. For the next few days, you will have to give up certain foods and take some laxatives to help clean out the intestine and liver.

During that time, you will eat lots of fruits and vegetables. in most cases, these are unprocessed and raw since cooking will remove essential minerals and vitamins. People who are able to successfully complete the program say they feel healthier and have increased levels of energy.

Detox diets are not recommended for people with certain health conditions especially patients suffering from diabetes, eating disorders, heart disease and other chronic conditions. This should also not be done by pregnant or nursing mothers.

Teenagers should not also try the detox diet because this will rob them of vitamins and minerals which are important for their rapid growth and development.

Detox diets should only be done once or twice a year because it can become addicting. some have compared regular detox diets to smoking or drugs where it is hard to give up and this could lead to health programs like eating disorders, heart condition or even death.

If you think going on a detox diet does not have side effects, think again because there are a few namely acne, headaches, fatigue, hunger and irritability.

You may also experience these when you decide to take detox supplements as most of the ingredients are actually laxatives. This means going to the bathroom frequently and as we all know, this could be messy. When this happens, you should drink lots of liquid to prevent dehydration, mineral imbalances or any other problems associated with the digestive system.

Since the detox diet will only last several days, you may feel that you lose weight but in reality, you only lost water and some muscle. You will regain what you lost when you end the program and begin eating regular food.

There have not been any studies which prove the effectiveness of the detox diet. in fact, there is no evidence which proves that such toxins were removed especially when your liver and kidneys are working properly even way before you started the program since you are able to excrete urine and stool regularly.

As you can see, there are some positive and negative statements when it comes to detox diets. Now that you know what these are, you can decide for yourself whether this is something you want to try or not. Don’t forget to consult your doctor should you decide to go through with it because like it was mentioned before, there are certain people who should not try it based on their age and health condition.

Just remember that aside from using this method, the body has a natural way of doing it so you can let nature take care of it or force it out of your system. There are also other diet programs aside from the detox diet that can do some good even if there is not guarantee that what worked for someone you know will also have the same effect on you.

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10Jul/110

nutritional benefit

Every time you turn around there is another fad diet staring you in the face. they make all kinds of promises, but you never know whats true and what is a load of junk. With anyone and everyone writing on the internet, you cant even tell if the person talking has a clue what is going on.

The best thing to do seems to be the oldest practice there is. Talk to your doctor or dietitian. they are the ones best qualified to give you accurate and helpful information about how to lose weight and the best weight loss program for you. they will also protect you from scams and unsafe fade diets. most likely, they will encourage you to eat healthy foods, exercise and get plenty of rest. Its the trifecta of safe weight loss.

If you arent convinced, check out these two more recent fad diets that are plastered all over the internet.

LEMONADE DIETThis is a detox diet aka a fast aka starvation. It is a two-week program where the participant drinks lemonade everyday and eats no food. aside from the obvious health risks involved with lack of food and nutrients, there are the absurd ingredients in the lemonade. It is made of lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. While the lemon juice isnt bad, the maple syrup is a poor choice especially when you arent eating anything else. they cayenne pepper is a seemingly random ingredient which adds no nutritional benefit to the mix.

AFRICAN MANGO DIETDiet pills are always a concern when it comes to safety and reliability. they do not require the same amount of scrutiny and other forms of medication and are, therefore, less likely to be safe. Also, the African Mango Diet allows participants to eat anything including unhealthy foods.

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10Jul/110

Three Reasons why you should Detox Your Body

For a while now, a lot of attention has been given to body detoxification, which is also known as cleansing. in fact, the topic is so popular that you may have heard of it before. while some individuals may jump right on the detox bandwagon, you may be looking for more information. For example, what reasons call for a detox diet? Continue reading on to find out.

1 – Lack of Energy

Millions of Americans suffer from a lack of energy or fatigue. There are many reasons for this, one of which being deprivation of sleep. Another reason could be medical. For example, some thyroid conditions can leave you feeling fatigued and energy-less. once these issues have been ruled out, it is time for a body cleanse or body detox.

Many of the foods and drinks we consume are ridden with unnatural chemicals and other additives. by many standards, they are safe, but it is the accumulation that needs to be considered. Even healthy bodies do not fully expel all toxins; therefore, a cleanse is advised. When your body starts to feel like new from the inside, you will notice a significant change in your energy levels. When your energy levels are optimal, everything you do just goes better.

2 – Skin Problems

The buildup of toxins in the human body not only impacts energy levels and our internal organs, but the skin as well. some individuals with acne problems have tried various different forms of over-the-counter medications, only to be met with defeat. however, many of those same individuals noticed an improvement with a full body cleanse.

While on a full body detox, many fast or consume all-natural foods. If you are looking to improve the overall appearance of your skin, go a step farther. Switch to organic or natural skincare products, including lotions, creams, shampoos, and soaps.

This article has been provided free of charge because of the relationship to philips imageo led which covers topics related to food, hobbies, relaxation and other modern issues. If you’d like to read more about any of those things, just click on the link.

Please note:We’re not making any specific recommendations here and we don’t offer medical advice. you should certainly speak to your doctor for his professional opinion before changing anything about your diet, or health care regime.

3 – the Consumption of Unnatural Foods

When it comes to unnatural foods, there is some confusion. many view unnatural as safe. since there are millions of foods currently available for sale in department stores and grocery stores, these products are often viewed as safe. yes, technically they are, but many are ridden with unnatural chemicals and additives. some of these stay and buildup inside our bodies. that is why a body detox or cleanse is recommended.

An easy way to cleanse your body, without fasting, involves consuming all-natural, organic foods. some recommend doing so for a week to a month. On that same note, after a detox, your body is clean and “pure,” again. so, it is advised that you be careful with what you resume consuming, otherwise the buildup process will begin again.

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