Are Detox Diets Healthy?

Are Detox Diets Healthy? Before attempting to answer that question we have to address two key issues: 1) how the body automatically detoxifies itself and 2) the main premises of detoxification diet programs. The human body is designed to detoxify itself. Every time we inhale oxygen our bodies are processing it and then exhaling carbon dioxide, which would be toxic if not eliminated. This is also true of the water we drink and foods we eat. The body is constantly digesting and circulating nutrients and excreting wastes. It does this, in large part, to maintain its delicate ph acid/alkaline base at the slightly alkaline 7.25 – 7.34 level. Most of the toxic substances that the body automatically eliminates are acidic. All the trillion or so cells that make up the human body are slightly alkaline, and must maintain alkalinity in order to function and remain healthy and alive. Our immune system helps maintain health by acting as a sophisticated cleanup service by neutralizing invading pathogens. The problem with the American diet is that we eat too many foods that produce acidic reactions in our biochemistry. The body uses oxygen, water and calcium to flush out and/or buffer acids. Calcium is main workhorse in the buffering operation. Over time our calcium stores may get depleted if we are not keeping our bodies hydrated and/or eating a diet too rich in red meat, saturated fats and junk foods. When the body’s calcium stores get depleted it withdraws this vital mineral from bones and teeth. As the above extremely brief and condensed description makes obvious, the body is designed to get rid of acidifying toxins. In fact the in-built detoxifying system is far more complex and sophisticated. Ever since Beyonce Knowles was associated with the Lemon Detoxification diet, there has been a surge of interest in this particular program. Also known as the Master Cleanse, the lemon detoxification diet has been around for almost 50 years. It was originated by Stanley Burroughs who claimed several patients had tried it and had been cured of stomach ulcers. In recent years, it was popularized by Tom Woloshyn's book, "The Master Cleanse Experience", published by Ulysses Press in 2009. The main premise of the Master Cleanse, and its many variations, is to break down and eliminate toxins that have allegedly built up in the body. The secondary benefit is to produce short term weight loss as a side effect of the process. The Lemon Detox diet is promoted as a cleansing program and encourages only the intake of lemonade made from the following ingredients: lemons, pure maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water for a minimum of ten days. Now, we have to consider what the human body requires to survive: 1) a constant supply of oxygen 2) water 3) protein, carbohydrates, fats and 4) vitamins and minerals. The lemonade detox diet fulfills the first two requirements but does not meet the last two. This means that it has to be a short term program or you will risk serious health consequences. The issues then are: what is your normal lifestyle and diet? Why do you believe you need to go on a detoxification diet? If you are eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, some fish, fowl and less frequently red meat and exercising regularly, your body should be naturally free of toxins and maintaining an alkaline base. Consider the following metaphor. Householder A runs a tight ship and makes sure that her/his house is kept clean and tidy on a daily basis. Householder B lets his/her dishes pile up and only mops the kitchen and vacuums the house when it gets dirty. When spring rolls around, A puts a little extra time and effort to really make his/her home sparkle; while B goes through a major cleaning operation. Any kind of diet that represents a radical change from your normal, everyday dietary habits can be riskier, when that diet is based upon semi-starvation. That is exactly what any of these popular detox programs are. Rather than assume that your body is not naturally detoxifying itself enough, you can find out if your ph balance is correct for starters. This can be done via a simple blood draw or even a saliva test. However, the best way to insure that your body is doing its job is to eat right, make sure drink plenty of water and to get some form of daily exercise. The truth is that detox diets are not healthy and they will not solve health problems, only a healthful lifestyle and diet can achieve that goal.