There are
hundreds of detox diets and programs out there that promise the consumer quick
fixes for weight loss, improved energy, better digestion, and other
reasons. For many of these people, they
may have been indulging in an unhealthy lifestyle for too long and want a fast
way to reverse it.
If you have
been wondering if a detox is something that you should do, this may actually be
the worst time for it because it is a sign that the body is in a weaker state
and needs nutrient support. The body
naturally detoxifies itself every day through the liver, the colon, kidneys,
skin, and the lymphatic system. If, for
example, the liver is already sick, and you do an extreme cleanse, you may end
up with serious side effects or even a hospital visit.
Avoid
crash diets for weight loss
Aggressive
detox diets promoted by some celebrities like the Master Cleanse, which is
basically a 10 day starvation diet where you only drink a lemon juice
concoction and take a laxative, can be extremely harmful to the body. Cardiologist Isadore Rosenfeld specifically
singles out the Master Cleanse Diet as an example of a detox diet that can
damage your heart. “A crash diet once won’t hurt your heart. But crash dieting repeatedly increases the
risk of heart attack.”1 Nutrition professor Linda Bacon states
that such calorie restrictive diets can lead to heart muscle loss and damaged
blood vessels. “All that shrinking and growing causes micro tears that
create a setup for atherosclerosis and other types of heart disease.1” Shortages of potassium, magnesium,
and copper have been suggested as possible causes of the arrhythmias seen in
crash dieters, and studies have also found that the diets can cause a drop in
blood pressure and sodium depletion.1
If you
restrict calories for a longer period of time your body may eventually switch
over to breaking down muscle for energy in which can actually slow your
metabolism. This is why skipping meals
is not a good idea. Some people might
say that headaches are a sign of detoxing but in most cases it’s probably
because you are hungry. It is a
documented fact published in the journal of the American Psychological
Associationthat the majority of people regain all the weight they
lose on any diet,
especially the highly restrictive varieties.2 Wouldn’t it be better
to think long term? Not just for weight
loss, but for the health of your body as a whole?
Do you
really need to detox?
The body
detoxes on its own on a daily basis. The
liver does most of this but the kidneys, digestive tract, lungs and the skin
also play a role. Most experts agree
that quick detoxes can actual cause more damage than good, especially if one of
these organs has a pre-existing condition that a person may be unaware of. “Detoxification” occurs around the clock
naturally, but there may be symptoms that show up over time which may suggest
that these organs need support.
Warning
signs that may be present if your body has accumulated too many heavy metals or
toxins are:
- Inability
to lose weight - Difficulty
concentrating - Attention
disorders - Tremors
- Hormonal
imbalance - Depression
or anxiety
Many people think they need to do a detox because they believe it is a quick fix or a jump start for whatever they are looking to improve. However, there are many commercial products consumers purchase that may be affecting your overall toxic load. Take a look around the house and see if you are using products with a lot of chemicals. Common chemical-based products that can be switched for something safer include:
Household
cleaners, laundry detergents, dishwasher detergents, soap, lawn care, make up,
shampoos and conditioners, air fresheners, even your water! It is recommend drinking Reverse Osmosis
filtered water
If you work
in a field where you are exposed to chemicals, or live is an area that is
heavily sprayed with pesticides, even in our industrial society and with the
very real problem of pollution, it is well understood you will get exposed to
many toxic elements over our lifetime.
Our bodies do its best to eliminate these toxins; however, excretion
rates will vary from person to person.
Consider
your mineral status
Optimal nutrition is essential when dealing with metal toxicity because if you are deficient in essential minerals, your body will use toxic metals as “stand-ins” instead.3 For example:
- Calcium is replaced by lead, which deposits primarily in bone. Lead contributes to poor bone health such as osteopenia and osteoporosis.
- Zinc is replaced by cadmium, which tends to accumulate heavily in your kidneys. Cadmium overload is associated with peripheral neuropathy.
- Magnesium is replaced by aluminum, which, among other things, induces neurochemical changes and has been identified as a contributing factor to developing Alzheimer’s.
- Manganese is replaced by nickel, which is carcinogenic.
Dr. Kaayla
Daniel et.al. also explains in the article with this information that another
component that is important for the body’s ability to detox is the healthy gut
flora.3 People with healthy gut flora are better able to handle the
inevitable exposure to toxic metals. In
contrast, people who do not have healthy gut flora are more prone to candida
and other fungal overgrowth.3
Toxic metals
exposed
Hair mineral
analysis offers a valid and inexpensive way to test someone’s toxic metal
status. The blood vessels that support
hair follicles transports both toxic elements and essential minerals which are
then stored in the hair proteins. Hair
tests can evaluate someone’s toxic metal and nutritional status over the past
three months.4
Plan of
action
It is
important to note that no form of detoxification or extreme diet should be done
prior to consulting with your physician or experienced nutritionist. Appropriate treatment regimens vary
significantly from person to person, depending upon multiple dietary and
lifestyle factors, specific medical conditions.
If you are looking into ways to get your body healthier to function at optimal levels, truth be known that it doesn’t happen overnight. The best way to improve digestion, lose weight, improve concentration or whatever it may be, is to test the foundation of the body by doing a comprehensive blood test and hair tissue mineral test. By figuring out exactly what your body needs and the direction you need to go, you’ll start seeing improvements in no time. Take out the guessing. Take out the dangers of unreliable treatments. There is no “one size fits all”. By getting the body healthier as a whole, the ability to “detox” will occur naturally and you can live a healthier life.
References
1. Miller, Bryan. “How Crash Diets Harm Your
Health.” CNN, Cable News Network, 20 Apr. 2010, www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/04/20/crash.diets.harm.health/index.html.
2. Moores, Susan. “Experts Warn of Detox Diet Dangers.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 18 May 2007, www.nbcnews.com/id/18595886/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/t/experts-warn-detox-diet-dangers/.
3. Daniel, Kaayla T. “Mad As a Hatter.” The Weston A. Price Foundation, 2 Apr. 2009, http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/environmental-toxins/mad-as-a-hatter/.
4. Eck, Paul C. Wilson, Larry. Toxic Metal in
Human Health and Disease ( Phoenix, AZ. Eck Institute of Applied Nutrition and Bioenergetics, 1989).
The post Crash Diets and detoxes: are they necessary? (February 2019) appeared first on Dr. Steve Ventola.
