| The quest for great health, WEIGHT LOSS or FAT LOSS, quick and easy fixes and an almost fetish desire to get rid of toxins in our body has led to the explosion of a juice detox diet industry. The questions keep coming at me at high speed and I am privileged to have Salomey Kokoro a terrific registered dietician to help us make sense of this new trend. Salomeywrites; · A juice to clear toxins and melt your tummy fat? · A juice to clear the colon and reduce bloating? It sounds good huh? But is it entirely true? Juice Detox diethas been one of the popular dietary quick fixes that has stood the test of time, century after century people are still glued to this notion. It has been sold as “a remedy to stay young, slim and healthy”. But how effective is this “diet”, does it truly offer the dreams it sells or is it yet another dietary myth which has no scientific basis? Hopefully as you read on, you will have answers to these burning questions. What Is The Juice Detox Diet In recent times, our Daily lives are usually marred by either one of the following. · Breathing in heavily polluted air in the city · Eating ultra-processed food items filled with artificial additives · Or a consistent application of cosmetics on our bodies which fills us with more toxins We are constantly exposed to harmful toxins when we breathe, drink or eat. This compels many people to resort to using quick remedies to “clear out” all the harmful chemicals from the body, and that is where the juice detox diet comes in. The Juice Detox diet is a short-term cleansing diet which spans a duration of 3 – 7days during which Dieters consume ONLY Juice blends(homemade or commercial). The blends are made from either fruits or a combination of fruits and vegetables. Many have reported to follow such restrictive diets for the purposes of cleansing, debloating or weight loss. Does It Work? From A Scientific Perspective The logic behind the “Juice Detox Diet”is giving your overworked systems rest for a period and aid with the clearing of toxins from the body. After days of following such a diet, most dieters associate the side effects like the clear urine and diarrhea to a complete elimination of toxins from the body. Unfortunately that is not the case, your juice blend did not clear out all the toxins. • Your body was overloaded with water and juices which led to an electrolyte imbalance – so you urinate a lot. • Your body was exposed to the laxative effect of your medication, tea or large doses of juice – so you poop a lot. • You pooped so much, dehydrated because you are peeing a lot – so you feel light and “De bloated” Long periods on the juice detox diet may result in side effects such as headache, low energy, dizziness, dehydration or even muscle cramping. If your aim is to stay healthy, the detox diet is NOT your best shot. This is because you cannot rely on it for a sustained long term health. Detox Diet and Weight loss Most weight watchers praise the detox diet for its speedy reduction in just a few days. The weight numbers on the scale reduces after going on a 3days cleanse or detox. Yes, there may be a reduction in total body weight which comprises of your Body Fat, Muscle mass, bone density and BODY WATER. Your weight reduces because you lost some kg through urine and diarrhea. It is called Body Water Weight. And it can easily be regained after a day of regular eating. So again, the detox diet is not your best shot at staying healthy and losing excess body fat. So What Is The Best Way To “Detox” My Body? Do you do any one of these? • Breathe in and out • Urinate during the day? • Sweat on the skin and armpits? • Poop regularly? If you said YES to any of these…then Good News! Your body is detoxifying itself. SIMPLE The human body is equipped with its own powerful detox systems, not only one but multiple ways of getting rid of harmful substances that get into it. Carbon dioxide, ammonia, urea, alcohol, drugs, junk food etc.….your body flushes all these toxins out through the Liver, Digestive System, Kidney and Lymphatic System. The reason why you still feel bloated and ill is not because your systems are not functioning well, it is simply because you are constantly exposing yourself to the toxins and unhealthy lifestyles! If you are truly committed to reducing toxins in your body you need to reduce exposure to such toxins. And one tried and tested way of reducing toxins is HEALTHY EATING. Try it and you will be amazed. If you struggle with eating healthy, simply sign up for a personalized meal planor Speak to A Licensed Dietitian for Dietary Guidance based on your body composition and medical history. Source: Salomey -Kokoro, Registered dietician (RD). hello@rdsali.com Founder:RdSali Nutrition RdSali is a for – purpose company looking to better the lives of individuals, families and communities by providing credible and relatable healthy eating services. |
