KZN#14.indd

Detox
Detox’ or detoxifi cation diets are
becoming incredibly popular,
largely due to their promises
to ‘cleanse’ your body,
eliminate toxins, make you
feel more energetic and most importantly
lose weight. Although they are not always
designed for dropping pounds, detox diets
often promote weight loss as one of the
main benefi ts of following such a diet.
However whilst following a
detox diet may be effective for
short term weight loss, it is by no
means a long term solution and
is often accompanied by risks
that far outweigh the benefits.
What is a detox
diet?
Detox diets come in various
shapes and forms, but most
are short term plans that are
designed to eliminate dangerous
chemicals and toxins from
the body, often with the added
bonus of weight loss thrown in.
The need to detox stems from
the idea that in our everyday life
we are exposed to a huge amount
of poisonous toxic substances in
the forms of pollution, processed
foods and other chemicals.
It is thought by some that this
build up of chemicals needs to
be removed from the body and
when this is achieved the bodies
systems will be more effective
and your metabolism will
increase, promoting weight loss,
as well as a general feeling of
energy and wellbeing.
Some detox diets take a natural
approach, promoting very low
calorie fasting, along with large
quantities of water, supplements
and varying amounts of fruit and
vegetables.
Others have their own supplements
and food replacement
ranges or suggest pills, enemas
and other intestinal or colonic
cleansing methods.
Whatever the method, detox
diets generally promote a very
low calorie diet that is unsustainable
and can even be dangerous
in the long term.
Experts agree that there is
generally very little evidence
supporting these types of diet,
and suggest that there is no real
need to limit food intake in this
way.
The body itself consists
of many systems, such as the
liver, kidneys and intestines
that are very efficient in removing
unwanted substances from
the body, leaving no need to use
such extreme methods.
Do Detox Diets
work for weight
loss?
You can lose weight in the
short term
The idea of a detox diet as a
weight loss tool has been widely
embraced, but whilst such a diet
may cause initial weight loss, it
is certainly not a long term solution.
As a general rule, if your
energy intake is less than the
calories you burn, you will lose
weight. Due to the extreme calorie
restriction when on a detox
diet, you are bound to drop at
least a few pounds. However,
as a detox diet is very low in
energy, during the initial stages,
this is likely to be due to a loss
of water.
Not a long
term solution to
weight management
Detox diets are generally
followed for short periods of
time, therefore any true weight
loss that is achieved during this
period is likely to be regained as
soon as the diet finishes and the
follower returns to their normal
eating pattern.
There is also the risk that
due to the extremely low calorie
intake, the body’s metabolism
has slowed down.
This occurs when the body is
not receiving enough energy and
goes into starvation mode, conserving
as much energy as possible.
If this occurs, when the dieter
returns to their normal pattern of
eating they are likely to gain not
only the weight they have lost
but also a few additional pounds
due to their decreased metabolic
rate.
In addition to this detox diets
are generally not nutritionally
complete and it is risky to follow
them for longer than the specified
time, meaning they are not
a long term solution to weight
management.
Whilst dieticians generally do
not support detox diets, seeing
them as unnecessary and in many
cases unsafe, there are some positive
aspects of these diets that
can be adopted in a healthy eating
regime.
A high intake of fruit and
vegetables, and good hydration
through drinking plenty of water
are all beneficial as part of a low
fat, high fibre eating plan for
weight loss.
There is also no harm in eating
less processed foods which
contain chemical substances,
a principle advocated by most
detox diets.
Are detox diets
safe?
There is a distinct lack of scientific
evidence when it comes to
the benefits of detox diets, with
most positive results reported
from testimonials of followers
rather than controlled studies.
There is also a potentially
dangerous aspect of diets that are
this low in calories and nutrients.
When on a detox diet it is
common to feel a lack of energy,
muscle aches, tiredness, low
blood sugar levels, dizziness and
nausea.
If a very low calorie detox
type diet is followed in the long
term this can lead to even more
serious health problems, such
as vitamin and mineral deficiencies
and electrolyte imbalances,
which have the potential to cause
the body serious harm.
Fasting diets are generally
safe for a few days in healthy
adults, but are not suitable for
those with underlying health
conditions, pregnant women and
children.
All detox diets should be done
under the supervision of a health
professional such as a registered
dietician or doctor and should
only be followed for a short
period of time.
Intensive physical activity
should be avoided when on this
type of diet.
A healthier way
to lose weight
There is no one diet that is
suitable for everyone, so it is
important to discuss with a dietician
or doctor before embarking
on any extreme or unusual
weight loss regime.
In general, a healthy weight
loss of about one to two pounds
per week can be achieved simply
by reducing your calories
slightly and increasing physical
activity levels.
A healthy diet that is low in
saturated fat and refined carbohydrates,
as well as high in whole
grains, unsaturated fats, fruit and
vegetables is ideal for optimum
health and well-being.
Kzn Lifestyle Magazine • Issue 14
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