Tuesday 7 May 2019

Should you "go on a detox"? Read this first.

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We can be inundated with messages telling us to "detox" and "cleanse our bodies". So we have done some internet research. This is our take on the information available - and we put it here just for your own knowledge - you can make your own minds up.

"Going on a detox" does not actually make medical sense, and can just be a clever gimmick for selling diets and associated products. Be very careful and research. There are all kinds of products out there, from pills to teas, and all make wild claims about how it is making your body healthier.

The public are are constantly told they need to be buying these things, or adhering to these diets, to try and get rid of "toxic waste" that builds up inside the body. However, our bodies are perfectly capable of detoxifying themselves.  Our kidneys, liver, skin and guy do this constantly, and there is no actual evidence that anything can actually help you detox.

It's not that toxins do not exist. They do, particularly in alcohol and medications, but the liver and kidneys work to break them down and excrete them. Your skin helps by sweating. Unless you are very ill, your body does this every day. We do not gave to do anything to stimulate the process.

So why do we do it? Maybe it is seen as fashionable, and of course we can feel we are actually doing something ourselves. Also, we are at a time where people want instant success and quick fixes. But a lot of the claims made by companies are either exaggerated, fabricated, and not based on science.

There are things we can do naturally to make our bodies function better. Improve our vegetable and fruit intake, and watching our caffeine, alcohol and smoking.  And a lot of these so-called detox products contain a laxative called Senna. This should be for people who are constipated, not for the healthy. It can leave you dehydrated because it makes everything, including water, move faster through the body.

Psychologically, detox can be damaging. People do relate it to weight loss, but that is not what it is going to do.If you are still eating the same amount of calories as normal, then laxatives will not promote weight loss.

Enjoy your food. Let your body clean itself. Ensure you have a healthy diet, with treats.


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