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Why You Shouldn't Follow A Detox Diet?

By Tanushree Kulkarni

Detox diets – these diets are in fad, they promise rapid weight loss, flush out toxins, provide better health plus they come with a heavy dose of celeb endorsement.

These detox diets have been around for some time now and every day or the other there is some news about them in the magazines or newspapers eulogising them.

Also Read: What's A Mono Diet?

Detox diets promote eating lots of natural food substances like veggies and fruits, drinking loads of water plus, we hear our celebs going on detox diets every now and then and come out looking like a million bucks.

So, nothing could possibly go wrong with detox diets, right? Wrong. Like out of those gazillion fad diets out there, detox diets too have their fair share of side effects.

The basic rationale behind this diet is giving up on certain types of food temporarily to get rid of the toxins in our body and regain good health.

Toxic element is the bogeyman behind weight gain, poor digestion, lethargy, fatigue, constipation and gas. Detox diets claim to flush out toxins from our body and help us regain better health and weight loss.

Also Read: 10 Home Remedies To Flush Fats Fast

Our body has an amazing process to cleanse out the toxins from our body. Our body flushes out these toxins through the liver and kidneys in the form of urine, faeces and sweat.

Agreed there are upsides to detox diets, such as they promote good habits like eating lots of fruits and veggies, drinking more of water and cutting down on alcohol and junk food, but they do come with their share of side effects too.

Here’s the truth behind it, why don't you have a look at it:

Not Good For People Having Ailments:

Not Good For People Having Ailments:

Detox diets aren't good for people suffering from health ailments. People who are suffering from any kind of ailments such as diabetes, heart diseases or eating disorders should strictly stay away from it. Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers should strictly refrain from it.

They Can Be Addictive:

They Can Be Addictive:

Yes! The feeling that you get when you are fasting is similar to the one you get from alcohol or nicotine for some people. This can lead to severe eating disorder, heart issues or can even prove to be fatal.

Doesn’t Help Lose Fat:

Doesn’t Help Lose Fat:

Yes, contrary to the popular opinion, these detox diets don't actually help you in losing weight. The rapid weight loss during the diet is due to the loss of water. People gain weight as soon as they go back to their normal eating plan.

Can Have Side Effects:

Can Have Side Effects:

They have side effects if done for a longer period of time. If continued on a long-term basis, these detox diets can slow down the metabolism and cause difficulty in losing weight.

Can Promote Binge Eating/Drinking:

Can Promote Binge Eating/Drinking:

Detox diets can promote the "It is ok to binge eat and drink" thought throughout the year, and the harm can be done in just a few days by following a detox diet. A healthy body and weight loss come from a regular healthy lifestyle.

Liquid Diet Is Not Good For The Body:

Liquid Diet Is Not Good For The Body:

Some detox diets are very restrictive and involve going on only liquid diets or juices, which is not a healthy way to lose weight.

Can Cause Nutrient Deficiency In The Body:

Can Cause Nutrient Deficiency In The Body:

If these detox diets are done improperly or for a very long period of time, it could result in a severe nutrient deficiency in the body.

Don't Hold A Specific Advantage:

Don't Hold A Specific Advantage:

Detox diets don't hold any specific advantage over following a healthy diet over a long period of time.

Not Good For Teenagers:

Not Good For Teenagers:

Growing children need enough calories and supplements, so a diet which involves fasting and has severe dietary restrictions isn't good for young growing adults.

Can Cause Stomach Troubles Initially:

Can Cause Stomach Troubles Initially:

Those going on detox diet may experience severe stomach upset for the first few days.

Can Cause Lethargy Or Fatigue:

Can Cause Lethargy Or Fatigue:

Those on detox diets can experience lethargy or fatigue in the initial days.

Our Body Already Has A Natural Detox System:

Our Body Already Has A Natural Detox System:

Our body has a natural system for cleansing out toxins from our body through the process such as sweat, pee and poop. So, we don't need to be on liquid diets or follow any extreme detox plans for detoxifying.

Better To Eat Whole Fruits Than Drink Juice:

Better To Eat Whole Fruits Than Drink Juice:

Drinking juice during these detox diets is not better than eating fruits that are full of fibres. Plus juice also contains lots of added sugar.

May Not Exactly Eliminate All The Toxins:

May Not Exactly Eliminate All The Toxins:

The feel-good effect that you face after going on these diets has little to do with the "supposed elimination" of toxins from the body.

Better To Opt For A Healthy Balanced Lifestyle:

Better To Opt For A Healthy Balanced Lifestyle:

Rather than going on these quick-fix detox diets, one should go for a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies and reduce alcohol, trans fats, saturated fats, excessive sugar from the diet, etc.

Story first published: Wednesday, May 4, 2016, 17:14 [IST]
Read more about: diet detox health