Do Detox Diets Deliver?
By Elisa Zied, MS, RD, CDN
So-called “detox diets” have become go-to quick fixes for many who want to look their best for a red carpet walk or upcoming event. But do we really need to go to extremes to achieve a cleaner, leaner body?
To get the low down (and some dirt) on “detox diets”, I turned to Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, author of the new book Doctor’s Detox Diet—The Ultimate Weight Loss Prescription. Here are some highlights from our conversation:
How do you define a “detox diet”?
There’s a disconnect between how the scientific community and the popular press define “detox diet.” According to the dictionary, “detoxification” refers to the metabolic process by which substances such as drugs, alcohol, ingested food additives, heavy metals, cigarette smoke, pesticides and other pollutants (aka toxins) are changed into less harmful or more readily excretable substances. To me, a “detox diet” combines balanced meals and regular physical activity to help your body’s immune system perform at its peak to use SKILL© (the five major immune organ systems including Skin, Kidney, Intestine, Lymphatic and Liver) to naturally detoxify the body.
What do you think of the “detox diets” many swear by? Are they safe?
Most “detox diets” restrict major food groups including grains and fruits (rich in carbohydrate), meats and dairy foods (rich in protein), and fats and oils. They also tend to limit calories to 1,000 or less per day. Many also rely on expensive and unnecessary supplements including diuretics, laxatives, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. These diets are really just crash or fad diets in disguise--they’re too low in calories to meet energy needs, nutritionally imbalanced, and potentially dangerous.
What are some of the short-term effects of “detox diets?”
These types of diets are easy to follow over the short term because they’re so restrictive. They also promote rapid water weight loss, often due to decreased sodium intake and increased potassium intake (from fruits and vegetables).
What are some of the potential risks associated with “detox diets”?
When you fast, you may experience headaches or become moody; doing so for several weeks can contribute to anemia and an irregular heartbeat due to electrolyte imbalance. Using enemas and diuretics can contribute to kidney and liver disorders. Colon cleansing can weaken the immune system and destroy gut microflora (good bacteria that protect against bad bacteria). Taking too many mineral supplements can contribute to organ failure due to accumulation of the minerals in organ tissue. Taking herbal supplements can lead to adverse reactions such as allergy or ingestion of high levels of lead or arsenic. Not consuming enough food or calories can make you feel week and lethargic from low blood sugar, and may even contribute to a feeding frenzy when the detox is over. In some cases, these diets can contribute to a heart dysrhythmia or bowel perforation that can lead to death.
Is there a healthy way to detoxify your body?
It may sound boring, but consuming a balanced, nutritious diet that provides adequate calories to achieve and maintain a healthy weight (for example, one that’s consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid) naturally strengthens your body’s immune system, and therefore detoxifies your body.
Can physical activity and exercise also help?
Absolutely! Being physically active helps blood circulate to all your organs so that they can do their jobs and keep your body free from wastes and toxins. Weight training exercises to keep muscles strong and healthy (about 2 hours a week) and aerobic activity-- walking or bicycling (at least 2.5 hours a week), along with stretching and relaxation (yoga or Tai Chi, for example), will help strengthen the immune system’s SKILL©.
What are your last words for those who want to try a “detox diet”?
Consumers need to understand that “detox diets” that encourage starvation or food restriction slow your metabolism and weaken the immune system. Not getting enough calories also makes the body break down lean muscle tissue to provide fuel and keep it going. Such diets also limit or prevent vital nutrients from getting to the SKILL© organs. Eating balanced meals most of the time, staying active, and getting back on track when you stray from a healthy lifestyle are the best immune boosters and defense against toxins.
Your thoughts....
Do you detox? How do you do it?
Elisa Zied, MS, RD, CDN, is a nationally recognized registered dietitian and award-winning author of "Nutrition At Your Fingertips," "Feed Your Family Right!," and "So What Can I Eat?!." She is also a past national media spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. For more information, go to www.elisazied.com, and www.nutritionatyourfingertips.com. Follow Elisa on Twitter/elisazied and on Facebook.
Comments
Good one, Ninav - well said! Even if it is just a "conversation" with the author of the book - which she is obviously trying to sell - this does not give us a balanced view on this subject. Especially meats and diary foods are full of pollutants (aka toxins) and most fruits and vegetables available have residual pesticides.
How about giving us some healthy options for a cleaner, leaner body - say a fresh juice / vegetable day once a month?
Would be interesting to hear how much that author paid for advertising her book. Or are you now offering "free advertising???"
To calle the regimen you are descrining as a "detox diet" would be similar to calling "weight loss diet" a specific diet. This is a huge misnomer of a legitimate phenomenum of our times which everyone needs to be aware of. Your idea of "SKILL" naturally detoxifying our bodies is only one component of the need to get rid of accumulated toxins in our bodies. Unfortunately one of the greatest toxins of our society is product "marketing" - be it a book (like this one) or any product out there today- usually 90% hype or window dressing and the truth is lost in the process...We can't live in a bubble but we need to eat right (organics only), drink safe water, de-stress regurlarly, live in community with other and yes - detox your body using a myriad of methods (get rid of mercury in you mouth, IV chelation therapy, coffee enemas etc...)
I agree almost completely with what previous commenters have said. I even visited the pcrm site; I think it's really good. But something I read on the pcrm site puzzles me and makes me question the arguments for complete vegetarianism/veganism. The pcrm statement said something like, "a human diet doesn't require animal products for nutrition...." But then immediately aftewards, it adds that people should seek out vitamin B12 through a multi-vitamin.
I believe vitamin B12 is a component of meat (and maybe other animal products?). My question is, Doesn't the human requirement for B12 through vitamins (which I consider artificial means) suggest that we should have perhaps a little animal protein in our diets?
I think this articles misses the boat on how healthy and satifying clean eating and cleansing can be to detoxify impurities from our bodies. Our foods are pumped with preservatives, hormones and pesticides that our body was not designed to process as part of our natural food source. I'll be doing another detox Harbal Cleanse on Monday! It's NOT a DIET. It's a 10 day system that treats your body naturally to push the putrified "gunk" and toxins out my digestive system and body while I refuel on fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, proteins, nuts, etc., the everyday stuff we should be fueling our body with. You can't get away from all of the things that are pushed into our food supply, even organic is not 100% naturally pure. I certainly love food and always feel my best during and after the cleanse. I use the best, high grade supplements to "fill in the gaps" my diet is missing but rely of food for fuel. If you put in bad fuel or don't have the fuel line flushed every now and then you won't get very far!
I have been daiy free for 2 1/2 weeks to see if I have an intolerance to dairy. I am less bloated for sure and feel "tighter". I was given an allergy panal many moons ago, which can up intolerant, but as a fitness person, I eat a balanced diet and love cheese/yogurt as fillers.
as far as the vegan comments, check out Jillian Michaels free podcasts on iTunes. There is one about why we need a small amount of meat proteins. Very interesting. She is great in my book!
I often do a form of detox and find it very useful and beneficial.
The way i have done it is to be strict on the first week and ease myself back into normal diet/meals the week after. That way you are never too tired and its not too restrictive.
However, I think the best way to look after yourself is restrict the amount of wheat and dairy you eat but not avoid it totally, same with meat as well (if you eat it) eat plenty of fruit, drink lots of water, eat nuts a few times a week, eat oats or grains for breakfast and try to always have a salad each day. The best thing I did for detox was stop smoking, drinking caffiene, body brushing and water therapy each day. Combined with a sensible diet, you will feel better for longer. If you do really want to detox do it for a week and then use the keys principlesin the rest of your daily life, allowing treats from time to time!
Original Post by: clairelouisewI often do a form of detox and find it very useful and beneficial.
The way i have done it is to be strict on the first week and ease myself back into normal diet/meals the week after. That way you are never too tired and its not too restrictive.
However, I think the best way to look after yourself is restrict the amount of wheat and dairy you eat but not avoid it totally, same with meat as well (if you eat it) eat plenty of fruit, drink lots of water, eat nuts a few times a week, eat oats or grains for breakfast and try to always have a salad each day. The best thing I did for detox was stop smoking, drinking caffiene, body brushing and water therapy each day. Combined with a sensible diet, you will feel better for longer. If you do really want to detox do it for a week and then use the keys principlesin the rest of your daily life, allowing treats from time to time!
'The best thing I did for detox was stop smoking, drinking caffiene, body brushing and water therapy each day.' should read:
The best thing I did for detox was stop smoking, drinking caffiene,and ensure i do body brushing and water therapy each day.
I say to each their own but I find it really difficult to read all these people commenting about how the author is wrong. Just because he/she is promoting a book does not mean that what he/she has to say is wrong. All they are doing is promoting a healthy balance of fruits, vegetables and yes the ever taboo meat and dairy product ooooohhhhh. I started a year ago on my weight loss journey and am down over 50 pounds and I have done that all by eating proper portions and exercise. The idea of being so restrictive as to cut out meat and dairy and cheese and all those good things that we enjoy is for most people not only ridiculous but also unappealing.
So for all of you out there who are trying to lose weight and are working towards a goal let me just tell you that it is possible to eat the things you like to eat. The secret that I have found is exercise hard 3-5 times a week and weight and measure and count everything!. As in so many things in life moderation is key so if you want to have a treat just make sure you have room in your calorie count for it!.
I take in a ot of amino acids which are the building-blocks of protein. Proteins are the building-blocks of muscle fibers in our body. We need protein in every meal and we know we should be eating small frequent meals each day to keep our metabolism going. We should eat, eliminate, eat, eliminate, etc. so if you're not "movin' it, you aren't losing it"! That's all key to a healthy body and happy body, inside and out!
My husband and I used a detox diet ( a strict one) as a jumping off point to restructuring our eating habits a couple of years ago. We have always eaten very healthy but our intake volume was out of control. The detox was rough but it proved that we could survive on a lot less than we were normally eating so when we were done and I started watching our calorie intake we were in a better mind set that before the detox.
cdk
I have been following the raw vegan diet of Hippocrates Health Institute (www.hippocratesinst.org) as much as possible (definitely I have had no animal or dairy intake) since last August when I did their Life Change program and learned how to grow my own wheatgrass for juicing a few ounces per day. I start each day with a juice of organic kale, celery, cucumber, whole lemon, plus whatever leafy green or spouts I can grow or get (preferably locally). I also take digestive enzymes and chlorella plus lots of water spiked with a few drops of Cell Food and Biosil. The main thing for me is stay far away as I can from sugars, processed or natural, including excessive amounts of fruit, but especially no processed anything whatsoever. My immune system seems extremely strong and I have not had any illness, not even a headache, only good digestion and vitality.
Original Post by: lisakannI agree almost completely with what previous commenters have said. I even visited the pcrm site; I think it's really good. But something I read on the pcrm site puzzles me and makes me question the arguments for complete vegetarianism/veganism. The pcrm statement said something like, "a human diet doesn't require animal products for nutrition...." But then immediately aftewards, it adds that people should seek out vitamin B12 through a multi-vitamin.
I believe vitamin B12 is a component of meat (and maybe other animal products?). My question is, Doesn't the human requirement for B12 through vitamins (which I consider artificial means) suggest that we should have perhaps a little animal protein in our diets?
You point out something that is true. A vegan can not get sufficient B12 via their diet. They need either a supplement or an concession in their consumptions.
http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/everyvegan#is
The above article explains it very well and why supplements are a better choice than a concession for people who choose to have a pure vegan diet.
I have bought a book about healthy detoxing with food. No suppliments. I really enjoy it. As I have enjoyed this artical. I watch my calories and still eat meat and dairy. I just doen't eat a lot ot processed food. As I have said before no food is really safe from toxin, even organic. I believe the point of the artical really is that you don't have to do a fad diet with alot of supplements to detox your body. It did stress healthy eating and exercise. I don't get the message they are pushing the book as much as I am getting the message of the Vegan's pushing there way of life. I understand you want to get the message out there that meat and animal products are bad for you. It is like everything else you have to do it in moderation. Watch your portion sizes. The food pyramids are a good guide to follow.
I feel this was written for me LOL. When I first came here to calorie count a month ago, starting my new health kick, IT STARTED WITH A DETOX: Master Lemon Cleanse. I appreciate the information because now I know how seriously dangerous it is. I still use diuretics such as coffee, but other than that I'm mainly shooting for a well balanced diet now. The truth is I saw a significant drop in weight over my "about" 4 day cleanse, but you're right ... I packed it back on and then some by overindulging when my psychology broke down from not having enough food. THANKS THANKS THANKS!
I also still take the Lemon Juice, Agave Nectar and Cayenne Pepper in a glass of water once in the morning, but I don't do any of the other stuff associated with the cleanse. I eat regularly, etc. and def. DON'T take laxatives.
What a refreshing article. This is what I've always thought as well. "Detox" and fasting to "purify" your body never made sense to me. We did a fast for charity once as teenagers, and I got the migraine of my life. It felt horrible. Never again. Also, if I don't eat regularly throughout the day, I feel tired and out of sorts. I personally need regular meals/snacks to feel my best. I do feel better when I eat a balanced diet, with meat, fat, fruits, veggies, fruits and water. The equivalent of a detox diet for me: I would cut out sugar and processed food completely, drink more water, and eat a greater variety of fruit and vegetables, paying attention to the nutrition content and eating more things like spinach and blueberries. I would eat protein with every meal, and make sure to have enough healthy fat as well. My system doesn't do well with dairy products, but meat makes me feel awesome.
To "detox" I would eat as healthy as I could with lots of water, so that my body could do it's job of detoxifying to the best of it's ability.
Starving your body in an attempt to be "healthier" never made intuitive sense to me.
Giving oneself diarreah to detoxify is beyond me. We have an organ called a "liver" which takes care of toxins. God also gave us animals to eat. There is no problem with P.eople E.ating T.asty A.nimals, either. It's easy to blow the vegan/vegetarian myths to bits with science.
I think eating correctly like the Doc said is best. The human body was not designed to operate off just water and fruit. You are kidding yourself if you think detox diets are good for you in the long run. Look at history, no culture has eaten only fruits and vegetables. We are omnivores by nature.
I have to say, I've done the "master cleanse" detox and while there are lots of negative thoughts out there, I had great results with it. Drank only lemon juice, pure grade A/B maple syrup, and cayenne pepper for 4 days, lost 10 lbs and kept it off. The quick results were motivating and made it much easier to really jump into eating healthy watching calories and exercising to keep it off and lose more. Also after not eating for 4 days I was also able to easily get into the habit of eating smaller more frequent meals. I only tried this diet after two other friends did it (they lost 30 lbs in 30 days and 18 lbs in 20 days on it). I wanted to lose some quick weight and was even more pleasantly surprised to find out that I felt amazing on it, it made small aches go away and my sense of smell and taste improved. Gotta follow the instructions exactly though. I plan to do it for another 3 days this weekend.
My husband and I followed a month long detox program together a while back, he lost a stone and I put on four pounds! LOL I guess they're not for every one LOL
i don't know that much about detoxing (have never felt inclined to try it), but i do know a lot about veganism and I know that it isn't true that vegans have to take a B12 supplement (although many do to be 'on the safe side'). while the human body cannot make B12 (although there is debate over this), and meat and dairy are both sources of this vitamin, non-animals sources include mushrooms, yeast extract (marmite) and most soya milks are fortified with it.
not to get hung up on anectdotal evidence, but from personal experience I have been a vegan for over 7 years and give blood regularly so i know my red blood cell count is fine (B12 is so important because of it's vital role in RBC formation).
I'm not saying a lot of vegans don't find it easier to take suppliments and i don't think there is anything wrong with doing so, i just think it's wrong to say we have to have meat/dairy to get B12 (or that this is proof we evolved to eat meat, while personally i think humans did evolve eating small amounts of meat, we also evolved to eat insects, be naked and never take medicines, but most people don't want to live like that now, one of the best things about evolving is now we're smart enough not to be slaves to primitive instincts)
I found this site helpful if you want to hear more about the vegan/B12 issue:
http://www.veganforum.com/forums/showthread.php?11478-quot-A ll-natural-quot-vegan-diet-lacks-B12
I believe that everyone should do a detox every once a year for 3 days to a week. It's just a great way to get all that "shoot without the o's and add an i" out! But consult your doctor before trying a detox for the first time. Side effect can be extremely dangerous!!!!!! Good luck!
Pipjayne I like how you explained your point of view of being a vegan. You didn't use an activist approach as others have. It is very informative.
I like the article. If you want a cleanse to get all the bad stuff out of your body, then stop putting bad stuff in your body. Drinking lemon juice for a week only seems like a good way to get ulcers.
It is easier to just eat healthy, non processed foods than to go on one of the juice cleanses. I have noticed that I am able to eat till I'm full without over eating by adding lots of veggies to my diet and it also helps me feel great.
Original Post by: robertlaurinI say to each their own but I find it really difficult to read all these people commenting about how the author is wrong. Just because he/she is promoting a book does not mean that what he/she has to say is wrong. All they are doing is promoting a healthy balance of fruits, vegetables and yes the ever taboo meat and dairy product ooooohhhhh. I started a year ago on my weight loss journey and am down over 50 pounds and I have done that all by eating proper portions and exercise. The idea of being so restrictive as to cut out meat and dairy and cheese and all those good things that we enjoy is for most people not only ridiculous but also unappealing.
So for all of you out there who are trying to lose weight and are working towards a goal let me just tell you that it is possible to eat the things you like to eat. The secret that I have found is exercise hard 3-5 times a week and weight and measure and count everything!. As in so many things in life moderation is key so if you want to have a treat just make sure you have room in your calorie count for it!.
Basically everything you said I was going to say. What better place to promote a book about eating than a website about eating? There's no crime in sharing something your passionate about, whether you wrote a book about it or not.
And this article didn't have anything to do with being veggie or vegan, so I really don't see the relevance. It's about detoxing pros and cons, and ultimately it said that eating healthy IS a form of detox, because it rids your body of harmful food intake.
I eat meat. I drink milk. Cheese is delicious. I just eat less of it, and I'm 18 pounds lighter because of it.
tammyspies- thank you, i wasn't sure how clear i was being so i'm glad it was helpful to you. if you ever want to know any more about veganism feel free to message me
tabbkat- i agree this isn't the place for a discussion on veganism but since others brought it up i just wanted to do my part to dispel a misconception that had cropped up (not suggesting your comment was aimed at me, just explaining why i was talking about veganism in this post)
Original Post by: ninavHow can readers be expected to give any clout to this article when the person is clearly promoting their book?
While not a fan of detox "diets" i have spoken with individuals who have seen tremendous health benefits from periods of raw food or "juice feasts".
The comment about meats and dairy being reach in proteins, is another clue on the outdated mentality of this article. Meat and dairy are toxic with environmental wastes, artificial and natural hormones, cholesterol and fat, and pathogens that are extremely dangerous to the human biology.
Recommendations to look at the USDA food pyramid is a farce. The recommendations of our government are driven by the pressures from big AG and unfortunately are not entirely in line with consumer health. Though some improvements have been made recently I don't consider the USDA food pyramid the holy grail of nutrition. Too much emphasis is still put on dairy which is very unhealthy for so many people. I would prefer to follow the PCRM's recommendations and consume a plant based whole food diet.
http://pcrm.org/health/powerplate/
Heh. Sounds like we got one of those baloney blowing vegans on our hands. We're omnivores, chikaboo. Deal with it.
I guess if you want information about a subject, you might talk to someone who is knowledgeable about it and may have written a book. It's very tiring to read people bashing this website because they think CC has a "hidden agenda".
And, meat and dairy are not toxic to everyone. Many people thrive on it and live long, healthy lives. That doesn't mean they're good for everyone. I like people sharing alternatives that work for them, but to say people who don't follow the same path are wrong is unfair. C'mon, guys!
So I think the idea of restricting what I eat to 1000 calories or less, doesn't sound too good... same with restricting meats and dairy. I don't understand why these are so "taboo." I don't trust any diet that tells me to avoid a whole food group/nutrient. If it works for some people, way to go! But if you were like me, worring if what you were doing wasn't enough, you're probably fine. As many people said before, everyone is different and different things work for them. My brother and friend eat way more than I do and a lot more meat, and they are definitly healthy. But if I ate like they did, I'd be sick. I have to say, people make dieting sound so difficult but the bottom line is eat less, more veggies, exercise more, but make sure you still FEEL healthy.
Original Post by: ninavHow can readers be expected to give any clout to this article when the person is clearly promoting their book?
While not a fan of detox "diets" i have spoken with individuals who have seen tremendous health benefits from periods of raw food or "juice feasts".
The comment about meats and dairy being reach in proteins, is another clue on the outdated mentality of this article. Meat and dairy are toxic with environmental wastes, artificial and natural hormones, cholesterol and fat, and pathogens that are extremely dangerous to the human biology.
Recommendations to look at the USDA food pyramid is a farce. The recommendations of our government are driven by the pressures from big AG and unfortunately are not entirely in line with consumer health. Though some improvements have been made recently I don't consider the USDA food pyramid the holy grail of nutrition. Too much emphasis is still put on dairy which is very unhealthy for so many people. I would prefer to follow the PCRM's recommendations and consume a plant based whole food diet.
http://pcrm.org/health/powerplate/
I completely agree with Ninav! I live a vegan lifestyle myself and try to eat lots of raw foods like fruits and vegetables every day. It is the best, most healthy, and most natural lifestyle to live. It also helps to keep the weight off too.
I'm actually surprised at how uneducated some people are. I was too at one point, but I've learned new things and now I am a business partner of Making It Raw, and I'm still learning new things about the crap that manufacturers put in foods and the truth about animal products.
And one more thing, vegans get all the nutrients they needs, including B12, Iron, and Protein. You can find B12 in Iron in leafy greens and lentils, for example. And of course, protein sources come from nuts and vegetable proteins, just to name a couple. Also, it's actually been proven too that animal protein, whether it's from meat or dairy, is toxic to the body, just as Ninav has stated.
Thank you Ninav!
Thanks, but be careful about mentioning your company. People might think you are just here to promote it. Heyyyyyy, ARE you?
"Also, it's actually been proven too that animal protein, whether it's from meat or dairy, is toxic to the body, just as Ninav has stated."
Um, this is news to me...we are omnivores, which means we can eat plants And animals. Carnivores eat meat, herbivores eat plants, and omnivores eat both. What studies have proved that animal protein is toxic to humans??
Thanks you sokkie. If people really understood the biochemistry of human nutrition and the chemical reaction in a true detox as the author described, the hype of "Detox" just does not make since. People often want these "detox diets" to lose weight fast or rid the body of toxins... Show me the science and show me the research behind fat loss of these diet and the measurement of "toxins" lost (qualtiy studies that are large and have been reproduced...I would love to read them). I am not biased, but I am definately educated. I would be so happy there was a true"fat" loss. But most likely just water loss in the short detox diets unless done for a long time and then a mixture of lean body mass, water and then adipose tissue dependent on the calorie level consumed. But I am at the conclusion, that in our society, that is used to being so unhealthy (eating soda, junk food, fast food), that focusing on a toxic diet that encourages more green eating and food closer to the ground might be healthier for some. Fads come in go and if this truly encourage healthy living, then what ever "floats your boat."
Just to be clear, I wasn't promoting my company, I was just stating what I've learned from the company I am with now, that's all.
And If you read The China Study, it shows years of research that was done, showing that humans benefit more from a plant-based diet, as the human body finds it difficult to break down animal proteins. It also shows that animal proteins can be very harmful to the body as well, especially in this world where most of the meat is mass-produced. I haven't read the entire book yet, but I am working on it. My mother-in-law & business partner owns the book and has shown me bits and pieces of the China Study that was done.
Also, IF you believe in creation and you go back to when "Adam and Eve" lived, they were only made to eat plants, not animals. It was only until after the "flood" in Noah's day that humans could eat meat, because all the vegetation was ruined.
Ninav, whats your background and qualifications? Before attacking others, maybe you should provide your own background to justify what your saying. I can post a dozen websites that will contradict what your saying. At least the interviewer had the training and qualification for her book and opinion.
MY opinion is, if your a vegan - Great, if your a vegetarian - Great, if your a meat eater - great! Do what is right for you, eat healthy, eat moderate, see your doctor live your life and be happy!
Original Post by: fitness_101Just to be clear, I wasn't promoting my company, I was just stating what I've learned from the company I am with now, that's all.
And If you read The China Study, it shows years of research that was done, showing that humans benefit more from a plant-based diet, as the human body finds it difficult to break down animal proteins. It also shows that animal proteins can be very harmful to the body as well, especially in this world where most of the meat is mass-produced. I haven't read the entire book yet, but I am working on it. My mother-in-law & business partner owns the book and has shown me bits and pieces of the China Study that was done.
Also, IF you believe in creation and you go back to when "Adam and Eve" lived, they were only made to eat plants, not animals. It was only until after the "flood" in Noah's day that humans could eat meat, because all the vegetation was ruined.
Adam and Eve were only made to eat plants? Oooookay...even if that were true (and I'm not sure how you can substantiate that) and you believe what the Bible says, we who live in the post-Eden era are going to partake of all of the sustenance the the Lord has provided: even Jesus feasted on fish, and turned water into wine.
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How can readers be expected to give any clout to this article when the person is clearly promoting their book?
While not a fan of detox "diets" i have spoken with individuals who have seen tremendous health benefits from periods of raw food or "juice feasts".
The comment about meats and dairy being reach in proteins, is another clue on the outdated mentality of this article. Meat and dairy are toxic with environmental wastes, artificial and natural hormones, cholesterol and fat, and pathogens that are extremely dangerous to the human biology.
Recommendations to look at the USDA food pyramid is a farce. The recommendations of our government are driven by the pressures from big AG and unfortunately are not entirely in line with consumer health. Though some improvements have been made recently I don't consider the USDA food pyramid the holy grail of nutrition. Too much emphasis is still put on dairy which is very unhealthy for so many people. I would prefer to follow the PCRM's recommendations and consume a plant based whole food diet.
http://pcrm.org/health/powerplate/