The detox diet seeks to eliminate stored toxins from our system. Toxins are poisonous substances, specific products of metabolic activity. They induce antibody formation. Toxins, believed to be the cause of disease, might result from the environment and diet.
Sources of toxins: chlorinated water, additives, colourings, preservatives, food alteration, alcohol, tobacco, pesticides, gene-manipulated foods, processed foods, texturized foods, irradiated foods, synthetics producing gas, moulds, cosmetics, deodorants, cleaning products, drug side-effects, treatments, vaccinations and immunizations.
Toxins interfere with biological processes. Illness results when the load of toxins exceeds the body's ability to remove them.
Besides expelling toxins from our bodies, detox diets will strengthen the organs involved in toxin elimination: the skin, intestines, liver, lungs, kidneys and the lymphatic system. The diets promise to cure and prevent disease and give more energy.
Diet Plan
There are several variants of detoxifying diets, involving typically one or two days of liquid diet, especially a water diet. For the following four to five days, non-toxic foods, such as brown rice, fruit and steamed vegetables, are reintroduced into the diet. After a week or a maximum of ten days you start gradually reintroducing all the other foods.
Permitted Foods
Recommended foods: plenty of fruit,for example, fresh apricots, berries, kiwi, lemons, papaya, peaches, mango, grapes and melons, plenty of vegetables, such as artichokes, beets, all leafy green vegetables, carrots, capsicum, cauliflower, cucumber, pumpkin, sweet potato, watercress, bean sprouts, and broccoli.
Eat moderately(one or two portions a day): grains (brown rice, corn, millet and quinoa), oily fish (wild salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna), nuts and unsalted seeds (almonds, Brazils, hazelnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and flax seeds), oils (prefer extra virgin olive oil), potatoes, bananas (which have a high GI and raise blood glucose levels).
Drink plenty of water, which helps flush waste. You can also try herb teas.
Avoid: red meat, wheat products, sugar, eggs, processed/prepackaged foods, dairy products (milk, cheese, butter, cream), salt, sugar (cakes, candy and cookies), artificial sweeteners (such as aspartame, saccharin), foods with additives and preservatives, hydrogenated fats, alcohol and caffeine (as well as tea and sodas).
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
Detox diets encourage a low-fat, high-fiber diet, cut back on caffeine and alcohol and promote a healthier way of life.
Disadvantages
There is no scientific evidence that these diets help rid the body of toxins faster. Besides, detox diets are restrictive and can lead to nutrient deficiencies and lowered immunity.
Conclusion
Detox diets were created with the main purpose of freeing the body of stored toxins and not for the purpose of losing weight. The fasting days along with a healthy diet will also help get rid of some excess weight. This can be also turned against the weight-loss process, as the weight will usually come back when you return to the old eating habits.
Diets of this kind may be beneficial. They may constitute a great starter for a healthy way of life on condition that they are not abused. There must not be more than two fasting days. Nor should there be more than 10 strict diet days. This will reduce the risk of depleting the body of essential nutrients.