Fast Fixes?
Nov 30, 2008 04:00PM ● By Super Admin
Detox diets are also referred to as fasting and cleansing, but are they safe? Detox diets are designed to help rid the body of toxins by fasting with juices or water and slowly reintroducing foods. There are conflicting opinions from experts regarding the effects that detoxification has on the body. Proponents believe the body should be occasionally cleansed to rid it from the toxins in the vegetables we eat, the air we breathe and water we drink. They claim detox diets help with weight loss, increase energy, assist with clarity of thought, and aid in disease prevention.
Author of the book Detoxification and Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, Linda Page, N.D. (naturopathic doctor), Ph.D., believes that the modern day toxins we are exposed to are more than the average body can handle, even though our bodies naturally eliminate toxins that we ingest or inhale. Detoxification is a normal body process of eliminating or neutralizing toxins through the colon, liver, kidneys, lungs, lymph, glands and skin. Dr. Page says, “The body doesn’t know what to do with foreign substances, so it will store them outside of the regular elimination system in our fat, so we don’t get poisoned.” Her detox program involves drinking fruit juice, taking cleansing boosters such as herbal laxatives and colonics, as well as probiotics, which replenish healthy bacteria and antioxidants during the weekend-long program.
Richard DeAndreas, M.D., N.D., believes in a 21-day detox program during which you follow a strict plant-based diet, which means no meat and no dairy. However, Chris Strychacz, Ph.D., a research psychologist believes that a once-a-year, week-long water fast is the answer.
However, Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D., Director of Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona in Tucson says, “There is no scientific evidence to support claims made for detox diets.” He believes [that] the best thing you can do is [to] stop putting harmful toxins into your system, eat organic foods, drink purified water and avoid second-hand smoke.
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For more about safely detoxing and cleansing, be sure to pick up this month's copy of Style-Folsom El Dorado Hills edition. Click on the "Get Your Copy" link on the bottom of this page for some of our newsstand locations. Or, to order a copy of this issue, please email Gloria Schroeder at [email protected], or call her at 916-988-9888 x116.
Author of the book Detoxification and Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, Linda Page, N.D. (naturopathic doctor), Ph.D., believes that the modern day toxins we are exposed to are more than the average body can handle, even though our bodies naturally eliminate toxins that we ingest or inhale. Detoxification is a normal body process of eliminating or neutralizing toxins through the colon, liver, kidneys, lungs, lymph, glands and skin. Dr. Page says, “The body doesn’t know what to do with foreign substances, so it will store them outside of the regular elimination system in our fat, so we don’t get poisoned.” Her detox program involves drinking fruit juice, taking cleansing boosters such as herbal laxatives and colonics, as well as probiotics, which replenish healthy bacteria and antioxidants during the weekend-long program.
Richard DeAndreas, M.D., N.D., believes in a 21-day detox program during which you follow a strict plant-based diet, which means no meat and no dairy. However, Chris Strychacz, Ph.D., a research psychologist believes that a once-a-year, week-long water fast is the answer.
However, Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D., Director of Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona in Tucson says, “There is no scientific evidence to support claims made for detox diets.” He believes [that] the best thing you can do is [to] stop putting harmful toxins into your system, eat organic foods, drink purified water and avoid second-hand smoke.
...
For more about safely detoxing and cleansing, be sure to pick up this month's copy of Style-Folsom El Dorado Hills edition. Click on the "Get Your Copy" link on the bottom of this page for some of our newsstand locations. Or, to order a copy of this issue, please email Gloria Schroeder at [email protected], or call her at 916-988-9888 x116.