Put down the 7-day magic tonic, your body is perfectly capable of detoxing itself
Have you heard of this amazing organ in your body? It’s called the liver. Your liver, along with your kidneys and other organs, does an incredible job of keeping your body free from harmful substances. There’s no need for detox diets, cleanses, or 7-day tonics – you have a built-in body system that works efficiently to flush out toxins every day.
Quick Read:
- It’s true that as we get older, it can be difficult to lose or maintain a steady weight.
- Unless your kidneys and liver are in bad condition, detoxes aren’t necessary.
- Focus on eating well, drinking plenty of water, and getting enough rest.
“But I need to eliminate toxins!”
Okay, first, let’s understand how the kidneys work. If you could peek into your body, you’d notice these organs that look like beans. These are your kidneys. They’re found in the lower part of your back. Each one takes up space on either side of your spine.
Getting back to toxins. Yes, we all absorb many toxins each day. These toxins come from food, substances in the air, pollution, chemicals from medication and other elements in the environment.
This is where your kidneys play an important role. Their job is to basically clean your blood and filter out waste products and extra fluids. Kidneys also act like managers of your blood pressure. When your blood pressure is low, the kidneys release a special substance called renin. This helps your body hold onto water and makes your blood vessels tighten up a bit, ensuring your blood pressure stays in the right range.
At the same time, you have your liver, which is also an industrious organ. Think of your liver as a filter. It breaks down toxins from things like food additives, medications, and alcohol, converting them into substances that can be safely removed.
So, what about detoxing?
As you can see, we have these major organs in our body that are already tasked with “detoxing”. Of course, many people try detox diets to lose weight quickly, clear up acne, and get a boost of energy. These are the general promises of detoxes, but detoxes trade on the idea of restricting something from your normal eating plan.
Detoxes vary, but the most common ones focus on fasting – either for hours or days. Popular detoxes include fasting for a week to 10 days, eating only fruit and vegetables, and drinking water. The logic goes that detoxing eliminates toxins from your body, resulting in weight loss.
Common detoxes
- Fasting
- Water or juice-only diet
- Eating only specific foods
- Herbal medication diet
- Using laxatives to cleanse the colon
When detoxes become dangerous
- Take a juice-only detox, for instance. In theory, it sounds great, but your body can’t survive on those ingredients alone. To function effectively, your body AND brain need protein, fibre and healthy fats. Going on a juice fast for a week can lead to losing muscle mass, periods of low energy and fatigue, and even digestive problems.
- What about a detox if you have a chronic condition? For example, if you’re diabetic, you know how important regular meals and snacks are to keep your blood sugar level healthy and balanced. Any form of restricted detoxing can severely impact your condition.
- Colon cleansing procedures may have side-effects. Harmful effects are more likely in people with a history of gastrointestinal disease, colon surgery, severe haemorrhoids, kidney disease, or heart disease.
- Some people detox by using laxatives, which can cause diarrhoea severe enough to lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
- Not eating food for days could lead to migraines, low blood sugar, fainting, and other serious health problems.
Help at hand
The bottom line is that detox diets sound great on paper. Understandably, many people who are looking to lose weight may be swayed by the amazing promises to shed kilograms overnight, or get rid of harmful toxins.
Instead of trying these radical fads, what you should do is focus on a good diet at least 80% of the time. Your organs are well-equipped to handle toxins, but you can certainly help the cause by drinking plenty of water, adding more fruit and vegetables to your meals, and getting enough rest.
Images: Freepik
