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Detox diets: Here's what the experts say
If losing weight is on your list of resolutions, read this before trying one of these latest fads.
by william lobdellPublished: January 01, 2011
Which New Year’s resolution would be a waste of your time?
A: Organizing your business day the night before
B: Finally cleaning out the junk drawer of your desk
C: Updating your resume (just in case)
D: Going on a detox diet to look your professional best (and, as an added bonus, be ready when swimsuit season rolls around)
You get partial credit if you selected “B” (because the junk will return within days), but the more solid answer is “D.”
Detox diets are the latest in a long line of weight loss fads that are questionable for your health and long-term goal of shedding pounds. The diets – which include eating raw foods or only drinking juice concoctions for up to three weeks – are promoted as a way to rid your body of unwanted, built-up toxins and fire up your metabolism.
Detox backers also claim the diets can clear up your skin, boost your immune system and increase concentration and energy.
Fueled by these promises, “detox” has become a sexy adjective in the $60 billion diet industry over the last few years, drawing praise from celebrities such as Beyoncé Knowles, Gwyneth Paltrow and Oprah Winfrey.
Though no figures exist to quantify the growth of the detox trend, several books promoting the diets have been best-sellers, and people at work or at the gym sing the praises of diets with names such as Master Cleanse, Ritual Cleanse, Martha’s Vineyard Detox Diet, the Liver Cleansing Diet, Hallelujah Diet and the Raw Food Diet.
And the only sour note in the symphony of hype is that there’s scant evidence beyond marketing claims and anecdotal stories that the detox diets provide long-term benefits.
“This cleansing is not supported by science, and there are no known medical benefits,” says Linda Gigliotti, director of the UCI Weight Management Program and a licensed dietician.
Gigliotti, the American Dietetic Association and researchers at leading medical research facilities such as the Mayo Clinic have come out strongly against detox diets, pointing out there’s no need for “detoxing” because the body does a wonderfully efficient job of getting rid of toxins through the kidneys, liver, digestive tract and lungs.
Sari Greaves, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, also points out the potential side effects of a detox diet, including liquid bowel movements that can lead to losses of zinc, protein, vitamin A and B, and electrolytes; dehydration and abdominal pain; hair loss; brain damage; muscle breakdown; cardiac arrhythmia; gallstones; anemia; a reduced immune system; and depression.
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A: Organizing your business day the night before B: Finally cleaning out the junk drawer of your desk C: Updating your resume (just in case) D: Going on a detox diet to look your professional best (and, as an added bonus, be ready when swimsuit season rolls around) You get partial credit if you selected “B” (because the junk will return within days), but the more solid answer is “D.” Detox diets are the latest in a long line of weight loss fads that are questionable for your health and long-term goal of shedding pounds. The diets – which include eating raw foods or only drinking juice concoctions for up to three weeks – are promoted as a way to rid your body of unwanted, built-up toxins and fire up your metabolism. Detox backers also claim the diets can clear up your skin, boost your immune system and increase concentration and energy. Fueled by these promises, “detox” has become a sexy adjective in the $60 billion diet industry over the last few years, drawing praise from celebrities such as Beyoncé Knowles, Gwyneth Paltrow and Oprah Winfrey. Though no figures exist to quantify the growth of the detox trend, several books promoting the diets have been best-sellers, and people at work or at the gym sing the praises of diets with names such as Master Cleanse, Ritual Cleanse, Martha’s Vineyard Detox Diet, the Liver Cleansing Diet, Hallelujah Diet and the Raw Food Diet. And the only sour note in the symphony of hype is that there’s scant evidence beyond marketing claims and anecdotal stories that the detox diets provide long-term benefits. “This cleansing is not supported by science, and there are no known medical benefits,” says Linda Gigliotti, director of the UCI Weight Management Program and a licensed dietician. Gigliotti, the American Dietetic Association and researchers at leading medical research facilities such as the Mayo Clinic have come out strongly against detox diets, pointing out there’s no need for “detoxing” because the body does a wonderfully efficient job of getting rid of toxins through the kidneys, liver, digestive tract and lungs. Sari Greaves, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, also points out the potential side effects of a detox diet, including liquid bowel movements that can lead to losses of zinc, protein, vitamin A and B, and electrolytes; dehydration and abdominal pain; hair loss; brain damage; muscle breakdown; cardiac arrhythmia; gallstones; anemia; a reduced immune system; and depression. |
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