Detox Diets: What's In It For Me?

For many centuries, the spring rituals of many societies have included a detoxification diet of some sort. These diets detoxify by incorporating some kind of fast and are used to cleanse the body and the soul. "Almost every religion has some type of fasting ritual - Lent, Ramadan, Yom Kippur...the Hindus and Buddhists fast, too" is an excerpt from "Alternative Medicine for Dummies," authored by James Dillard, MD, an assistant clinical professor at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City.

So no 21st-century diet guru invented the idea of fasting to detoxify the body. It's been done for many, many centuries. The methods vary, but the objective is always the same. The idea is to clean out the system, rid the body of waste, and get rid of the junk so that the entire body operates more efficiently. To start completely fresh, you rinse your body from the inside out. You should ask a guru how long any particular detox diet should be followed, before its effects are complete.

Following its natural programming, the body attempts to remove waste and toxins daily. Organs that aid the body in this natural cleansing and detoxifying process include the skin, liver, colon, and kidneys. A detox diet is designed to speed up the process and perhaps do a little better job of cleansing. Some detoxification diets consist only of water. You can only consume water, no solids, in this diet. Other diets also incorporate fruit and vegetable juices along with water. Even others only allow liquids for the express purpose of taking a diuretic, laxative, or nutrient-filled capsule to help speed the detoxifying process. These are typically the more extreme programs. Fortunately, a more normal meal plan can coexist with a supplement-based program. Your regular diet can continue as normal, while you take vitamins and supplements to aid in the cleansing process.

For healthy people, detox diets are not shown to be harmful. Of course, there is little scientific evidence to support that it is helpful, either. Written accounts from the users of detox products are the main source of health benefits that detoxifying companies claim of their products. These testimonials detail interesting restroom experiences followed by absolutely no gastrointestinal issues, bouts of tiredness followed by huge increases in energy, periods of skin breakouts followed by flawless, glowing skin. With final results so fantastic, it is easy to see why many people use the programs, knowing they may encounter some short-term distress. Discuss any concerns with a doctor or dietitian before jumping into any detox program. You may even need a prescription before you are able to begin..

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Adam Porter is a fitness enthusiast, and has been keeping fit and healthy with easy diet and exercise for over a decade. He is the co-owner of www.WhipWeightLoss.com, where he teaches you how to keep your diet healthy and fit through a free newsletter.