You know when it’s time to clear out clutter and streamline your closets. But do your liver and lymph nodes need a good purging, too? It’s true that some detox regimens—like herbal supplements, spa treatments, and special diets that are designed to mop up pollutants, chemicals, dietary waste, and even unwanted pounds—can actually do you some good. But how to know whether you should be trying any of them? Health checked with traditional and alternative medicine experts to find out which regimens might be worthwhile—and which ones just aren’t.
Detox? Maybe for a day
Pop music icon Beyoncé reportedly chugged a maple syrup mix to cleanse her famous curves and shed some weight for her role in Dreamgirls. (Read about her fasting diet and other celebrity stay-slim secrets here.) No doubt, she skipped the pancakes, and that’s the point. Detox diets—whether syrup (which goes by the name Lemon Detox or Master Cleanse), juice (Martha’s Vineyard Diet Detox), or protein shakes (Fruit Flush Three-Day Detox)—often revolve around a fast that’s heavy on liquids. Almost all pack a wallop of vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber that nutritionists agree delivers full-body benefits. But if you’re tempted, think short-term. Victoria Maizes, MD, executive director of the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona in Tucson, suggests a one-day fast of fresh-pressed juices. (Not juiced about DIY elixirs? Many health-food stores and juice bars press their own for $3 to $7.) Definitely consult a nutritionist if you want to live la vida liquid for longer. Extended detoxing (more than three days) can actually rob your body of vitamins and nutrients.
Another option: Skip liquid diets altogether, and try a gradual approach to detoxing. Cindy Moore, MS, RD, director of nutrition therapy at the Cleveland Clinic, recommends adding one fruit and one vegetable a day until you reach the recommended daily allowance (check mypyramid.gov for customized guidelines). You’ll reduce the gassiness and discomfort that can accompany a sudden rush of roughage from liquid diets. Plus, by avoiding a quick fix, you’ll up your chances of sticking with a healthy diet over time. After all, it’s common sense: If you put lots of good things into your body, you won’t need to worry about clearing bad things out.
Next page: Show your liver some love
Comments (6)
I disagree with the liver detox. I had no use of my right arm and hand; pain in shoulder muscle, muscle below and above elbow. My MD wanted me on still a third med and my chiro was lost to be able to help me. This went on for 3 weeks. I enlisted the advice of a naturopathic and he told me my live was on overload. I did a liver detox with natural supplement and my first day the discomfort started to go away because I immediately stopped all those pain drugs and within a week I am back doing everything I always did with my hand.
I agree that extreme cleansing & detox programs can be too hard on the body. It is better to start slowly by cleaning up the diet and doing a mild cleansing program at least to start. I recently did a 10-day gentle cleanse program called Perfect Cleanse by Garden of Life. I was able do the cleanse while keeping my normal daily routine. I cleaned up my diet and followed the easy to do evening herbs and fiber. I started feeling much better within a few days! I also found a good cleanse food book called “The Cleanse Cookbook” for good ideas for cleanse food recipes.
This article, while it seems to enlighten people, is actually just a form of fear mongering. Things like detoxes exist now because pesticides, heavy metals, and pharmaceutical pollute every part of our society and it overloads our body. We didn’t have to deal with this several decades ago but our medical advice has not caught up with the times.
Furthermore, colonics are done under the care of a licensed professional and with clean medical grade equipment. And they usually provide you with supplements of acidophilus to replace the good bacteria that you remove. If they’re not then you’re in the wrong place.
But don’t take her word for or it, or even mine. Research these things further and then you can make a more educated decision.
when detoxifying the body, i find it much better to use natural products rather than those synthetic detox products. that is why i always go after the natural detox way.
I had bleeding hemorrhoid the Dr wanted to “rubber band” or cut me I thought THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY
I head of the Master Cleanse from a trainer 5 years ago did M C for 21 days ( no food ) and I have did M C every year and those bleeding hemorrhoid are GONE!!!
After the first time 21 days I only do 10 days 2 times a year Oh and I lost weight !!!
Your comments on Colon Cleansing are actually quite misleading. The proceedure done by a “qualified professional” rarely carry the risks of infection, perforation, etc. unless there is some sort of pre-existing condition, and the amount of “good bacteria” washed out of the colon is replaced quite efficiently by the body or after the treatment if needed. As long as the use of colonics is not abused and done responsibly by a professionl it is quite safe and can be quite helpful. Colonics have been around a long time and are quite often misrepresented. I suspect due to the fact that there are alot of unqualifed people out there administering them and those not doing their homework in thourougly and acurately researching them