Detoxing...

I've done kind of a week long detox before, like exclude grains and dairy type of thing, and I really didn't notice much of a difference, tbh. I've actually excluded grains from my diet for around ~4-5 months, and while I lost weight, it was no more normal than usual. In fact, when I added them in again, I lost weight faster. (Now I can't seem to lose anything at all, haha).

If you're talking about none of those lemonade type cleanses, I would advise against it. You'll prob lose, but you'll be starving and there's no proven science to that kind of detox.

If you're feeling gross or sluggish and feel the need to "detox and cleanse", just try to skip out on packaged foods and focus on fruits, veggies, protein, and healthy fats. Drink a ton of water (with lemon or cucumber, it makes it extra detox-y feeling lol).

"“But when it comes to dieting, there is no real scientific basis for detoxing,” says Gerbstadt, author of Doctor’s Detox Diet (Nutronics Publishing 2012), a clean-eating plan in which she tries to salvage and redefine the term. A quick Medline® search of peer-reviewed medical journals shows no studies proving that a diet can “cleanse” or “detoxify” the body."


http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/detox-diets-myths-vs-reality

Why do you think you need to detox?

Are your liver, kidneys, intestines, and stomach not working?

This.

They are silly and a waste of time/money.

I do detox's from time time, nothing crazy I always do the Jillian Michaels 7 day detox, Google it for the recipe. It's really easy to follow there is no starving yourself just drink the detox in-place of water and your good to go. Best done with healthy eating of course! I notice I feel so much better about myself after I do it, it really helps get ride of bloat and it cleans out all the bad toxins that you may have eaten. I think it's a really great detox. But you should never do a drinking detox thinking your going to lose 5-10 pounds and then keep it off, not really possible. But good luck with what ever you decided to do

I'm doing this detox right now and have also done it around christmas time. For me, its really a jump start to eating healthy and getting back on track if I have strayed or something. It actually tastes good and just replaces the water you already should be drinking and you dont have to starve yourself...just eat healthy like you normally would.

Your body has a liver and kidneys already in place for cleaning impurities from your system
No need to try funky fads
If it ain't broke, don't fix it
I'm going with NO :noway:

A yes or no go?

Ive read the benefits of it and it seems to be good. Ive just never done one before!


Help!

Were any of these benefits backed up by references to peer reviewed science? [Answer: no]

Is there any evidence whatsoever that these detoxes removes toxins (which? Be specific!) at a rate faster than your body normally removes them at? [Answer: no]

Are any of these benefits available in other ways (say, by eating properly, exercising and having normal liver/kidneys)? [Answer: yes]

So why bother?

Detoxing is necessary if you constantly eat fast food and chemicals on a regular basis, but for most people trying to eat better, more natural foods, the body can detox itself. It is usually when people have eaten so much processed food and their organs are over burdened is when you should

Detoxing is necessary if you constantly eat fast food and chemicals on a regular basis, but for most people trying to eat better, more natural foods, the body can detox itself. It is usually when people have eaten so much processed food and their organs are over burdened is when you should

Utter fiction

Why do you think you need to detox?

Are your liver, kidneys, intestines, and stomach not working?

Occasionally you need to take your liver out and rinse it out really well in the sink. Use lukewarm water and a gentle detergent like ones you see in the commercials where they clean the oil off of baby ducks and birds..

Detoxing is necessary if you constantly eat fast food and chemicals on a regular basis, but for most people trying to eat better, more natural foods, the body can detox itself. It is usually when people have eaten so much processed food and their organs are over burdened is when you should

Yay for the daily detox thread!

My disdain for humanity is renewed once again.

You're going to get a lot of sarcastic responses, but really the answer is no.

There is absolutely zero evidence that a "detox" will do anything for your body that a balanced diet can't do.

However, I say if you've got some bad habits you want to break, do whatever you've got to do to get that done.

See, I actually like that even less.
Forgive me if I'm taking this wrong, but I've seen people here before recommend detoxes basically because they were so unpleasant that they would serve as a form of self-punishment and deterrent against more bad habits.
That's just a bit sick.
Self-flagellation is no way of achieving a healthy relationship with food.

I think for me that doing something like a detox would be akin to self-flagellation and punishment, but I realize that not everyone has the same personality as me. A lot of people do better quitting things cold turkey or practicing periods of abstinence than trying to practice moderation like I would.

I think people should do what works for them. 5-7 days of a very restricted diet isn't necessarily unhealthy physiologically and if it helps you mentally I don't see the harm.

Yes, I think a 'cleanse' can be positive if done correctly and for short periods of time. I prefer fresh juice cleanses. Gives the digestive system, especially the liver, a rest period. Digestion takes a lot of energy and giving the liver a rest means it can focus on functions such as cleansing blood, etc. While there is no right or wrong answer to this question, my opinion is that whether it is cleansing or our eating habits, it is very personal thing and best to do what we think is best for ourselves. I make no claims to be an expert on this, but I'm a nurse and have education in human anatomy and physiology and it makes sense based on what I know.