Cleaning up inside out

Additional touch: Some detox programs includes different massage methods like the lymphatic massage. www.accidentalepicurean.com

Noodles for breakfast, a pack of artificially seasoned chips later in the day, thick lamb curry for lunch, a pack of cigarettes all day long, and drink-till-you-drop weekends. And so it goes day after day, week after week.

How much toxins have we accumulated in our body? How can we get rid of it all?

Try detoxification, some say. Choose between the array of options, from doing a three-day diet of just fruit and veggies, to drinking detoxifying herbal milk or lemon juice every morning for a certain period, or try soaking your feet in ionized water. Your body will be cleansed instantly.

Really?

While detox proponents nod enthusiastically, medical experts in general say it’s nothing but a fad. So let’s hear the pros and cons!

“I’ve tried fruit detox, and afterward I felt fresh all the time, free of constipation and even lost some weight,” pop singer Liza Natalia writes on her blog.

www.ivanloviano.com

For three days, this was her menu: a breakfast of water with lime juice and a mix of mango, watermelon, apple, papaya and lemon juice every two hours. She also drank a lot of water in between.

“It’s a safe and cheap way to get rid of all the toxins in the body.”

Need more celebrity examples? Beyonce Knowles’ 10-kilogram-lighter figure in Dreamgirls was the result of The Master Cleanse, a two-week detox diet based on a lemon juice, cayenne pepper, maple syrup and water concoction.

Well that’s nothing. Aside from the commonly known methods like colonics, enemas and widely marketed dietary supplements, detoxers have gone the extra mile, or should we say the extreme mile.

Demi Moore reportedly tried the leech detox, a method of sticking the bloodsucking animal on several spots on the body and letting them drain off the toxins in the blood.

A closer example was actually in our malls several months back, in the form of detox patches and ionized water that it was claimed could perform aqua detox.

But if one doesn’t want to get too extreme, stick with the juice fasting, nutritionist Andang Gunawan writes in Food Combining.

Like Liza says, it is the easiest and safest way.

It’s safe for everyone, although those with cancer, diabetes or kidney problems should first consult with a doctor, Andang says.

“But detox should not be aimed at losing weight. It’s a way of achieving a healthy body and getting used to a healthy diet.”

She adds there may be withdrawal symptoms while the body sheds its toxins, the most common being headaches and migraines, fever and either diarrhea or constipation during the detox phase.

www.stillpointdetox.com

But afterwards, one will feel more energized and it should be smooth sailing for the body as its immunity increases. So does that mean we can go back to our more convenient lifestyles?

This is where the detox opponents raise their concerns.

“First of all, the body, the liver, detoxifies on its own,” says nutritionist Samuel Oentoro.

“It does this naturally, without fasting, without herbal laxatives, without colon cleansing, without supplements. If all of those methods are labeled detoxification, it’s all for the sake of marketing.”

Second, he adds, alternating detox diets with one’s usual diet is like taking the body on a rollercoaster ride. Undergoing unnatural detoxification is equal to disrupting the natural system, which at best gives no benefits and at worst harms the body.

Doing what Beyonce did may lead to a nutrient deficiency. Doing what Liza, followed with the usual junk-food-loaded diet, means nothing.

But the detoxers testify to enjoying the apparent and instant benefits of detoxification. Feeling energized, losing weight.

Thank the placebo effect. And a larger portion of the benefit comes from a change in lifestyle to a healthier one, which includes healthy fruit and vegetables in the diet and excludes excessive doses of caffeine, nicotine and alcohol.

“Of course you’ll lose weight eating only fruit and vegetables,” Oentoro says.

“But the body needs more than that.”

The lack of calcium in detox diets, for instance, can lead to osteoporosis.

Does that mean detox is unnecessary? If it can lead to a healthier lifestyle, then go for it, experts say. But don’t fall victim to the on-and-off healthy lifestyle, or even worse, to several products on offer.

“The liver, lungs, kidneys and skin are natural detoxification agents,” Oentoro says.

“Just eat right five days a week and enjoy life for the weekend feasting moderately. The body can handle that perfectly well.”

And working on its own clock suits one’s work and rest schedule; the body knows when it can work hard to detoxify.

That’s where the advice of not staying up late at night comes from, as between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. the kidney, lungs, liver, bladder and colon are doing their thing.

So, to detox or not? It’s now up to you.

CLOSER LOOK

Supposed benefits of detoxification: Regenerate cells; Lose excess weight; Increase energy; Improve blood and lymphatic circulation; Increase immunity.

A good detoxification process should: Normalize acidity in the digestive system; Reduce enzyme production load of the pancreas; Reduce fat; Increase digestive flora in the intestines; Trigger peristaltic movement in the intestines.

Source: www.foodcombiningways.com


Types of Detox Diets

The Raw Food Diet advises that three-quarters of the food eaten should be raw and plant-based. It relies on the premise that raw vegetables and fruit contain more enzymes.

The Diuretic Diet suggests eating food with diuretic effects.

The Liquid Diet and Juice Fasting advise replacing every meal with fruit and vegetable juice. The result? Fast weight loss that critics say is a result of the fluids released by the body, much like in the diuretic diet.

The Cons of Detox Diets: A liquid-only diet can cause the loss of muscle mass. Lack of protein can inhibit the repair and buildup of muscle tissue. Starving oneself can lead to a metabolism decline as the body conserves energy. Furthermore, depriving oneself for a certain period can cause one to eat more afterward. The main thing is to keep a balanced diet and exercise.

The Pros of Detox Diets: Since the detox diet encourages the consumption of raw foods, one should be able to skip simple sugars and harmful fats that are combined with the food when it is processed. At the same time, one gets to take in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals needed by the body. Of course the advantages of the detox diet may vary depending on which type of diet is chosen.

Source: www.suite101.com


Temporary side-effects of a three-day detox fast: Headache (especially for smokers and caffeine addicts); Nausea followed by diarrhea-like symptoms, bloating or constipation; Fever and influenza; Sore muscles; Acne; Emotional instability; Change in urine color; Bad breath.

Tips to overcome the temporary side-effects: Tone down on energy-consuming activities; Avoid going out in the sun; Lie down occasionally; Drink a lot of water or fresh juice.

— Source: Food Combining by Andang Gunawan