Many products and practises promise to purify and detoxify us to help us feel re-energised, revitalised and help us lose weight. Detox diets have become so popular that anyone from Hollywood stars to your next door neighbor are doing them. Programs include anything from a fruit and vegetable diet, elimination of alcohol, saturated fats, processed food and high sugar/salt to consuming nothing but a lemon drink. Sounds good in theory – but how beneficial is it for us? What’s wrong with an early night and a cup of tea?
Sure, detox programs encourage some healthy eating practises by eliminating the so called ‘bad foods’ such as saturated fats and refined sugars yet there is no evidence to suggest that these diets remove toxins from our bodies. In actual fact, dieticians and toxicologists put forward a warning, detox diets may result in serious health consequences and actually slow down our metabolism. Weight loss results due to a reduced calorie intake. Yet here come the terrifying news…it all comes back straight after you started eating properly, and that’s not all, it may come back as fat!
So you have just wade through over a week’s worth of raw veggies, gulped down litres of thistle milk potions and in addition, ripped a hole in your wallet on supplements claiming to rejuvenate your liver, kidney and bowel health. All this for losing a couple of pounds, in return for 7 pounds in fat.
How? Your body loses muscle due to the restricted energy intake and lack of protein. When you start eating regular again, that lean body mass has been lost and is being replaced with fat and a reduced metabolism. Not the idea most women have in mind for permanent weight loss. Adopting a healthy lifestyle through a balanced diet and regular exercise seems less toxic and worth your efforts. Your liver will love you for it!
About the Author
Australian Lifestyle & Fitness is an online weight loss company that provides its members with interactive Weight Loss programs. The program is based on a unique diet profile and your weight loss goals and food choices. Visit weight loss for more information.
