Cleansers are not a good idea, experts say

Aug 31, 2009 19:11 GMT  ·  By
A detox diet of fruit, vegetables and water alone is highly recommended against
   A detox diet of fruit, vegetables and water alone is highly recommended against

Summer, although the perfect season to gorge on fruit and veggies, often turns out to be quite the contrary to that. Summer means holidays and visiting exotic places with exotic foods, but also the season of barbecues, ice creams and nights out in town. It’s no wonder, then, that we have days when we feel completely under the weather, lacking energy and overall bat. Detoxing by means of a cleanser is not the answer, though, as FitSugar points out.

Celebrities can’t stop singing the praises of the so-called detox diets, which are actually programs that consist of only very few items believed to help the body rid itself of the toxins and wastes. Their effects are still subject to debate, but their negative consequences are immediately noticeable, which is why nutritionists recommend against them, no matter the celebrity promoting them or the form they may come under. The best way to detox after several months of indulging, as FitSugar also puts it, is by making sure we cut out all those things that are damaging for our health.

“Instead of a detox, what I do recommend is eating a diet full of all the healthy foods you can find including fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean protein, lowfat dairy products, and nuts. Omit or limit the foods that are high in saturated fat, sugar, and alcohol, and you’ll instantly feel better. There’s no need to shock your system and go raw for two weeks. Just make the commitment to eat healthy, but be sure to allow yourself small indulgences every once in a while. If you deny yourself the things you crave completely, it can backfire and set you back to your summer ways.” the fitness-oriented e-zine says.

A good detox doesn’t mean cutting out everything and surviving only on, say, fruit or lemon juice – as a matter of fact, this is one of the biggest misconceptions that cleanser diets operate on. A sound idea behind detoxing would be cutting out only those things that are bad for us and that we have been abusing, like alcohol or too much red meat, or whatever happens to be our “sin” this summer. The truth of the matter is the body needs nutrients and cleanser diets are rarely able to offer them, so we might actually be doing ourselves more harm than good with one such cleanser program.

“A detox is not what you need. Raw fruits, veggies and water are healthy, yes, but you can’t live on those alone for two weeks.” FitSugar recommends when one reader suggests a two-week cleanser diet on fruit, vegetables and water alone. “You want to make sure you’re getting enough protein, healthy fats, and other essential nutrients. If you don’t, you’ll experience symptoms such as loss of energy, headaches, muscle aches, irritability, and digestive issues.” the publication further points out.