What's your take on detoxes?

I've read many things, good and bad, about detox diets. I've read that they can be very beneficial in jump starting weightloss in a diet program and can remove toxins from processed food, then I've read that they're completely useless since your liver already removes all the toxins from the things you eat, or that there's no way of getting rid of toxins. What's your take on detox diets? What about detox pills? I was thinking about doing a diet consisting of only raw foods (still going to try to eat around 1,600 calories a day and get adequate nutrition), and maybe getting detox diet pills (not sure about that one though, sounds like a scam but who knows).

I'd like to know about the colon cleansing thing too.  I have seen some scientific evidence that people who are obese have a lot of old stuff built up in their colon, but won't it just come back when we eat?

I also know that the toxic foot bath and pads are not scientific and don't remove toxins (seen experiments done with those).

But am interested in what others have to say about the subject.

I'd like to know about the colon cleansing thing too.  I have seen some scientific evidence that people who are obese have a lot of old stuff built up in their colon, but won't it just come back when we eat?

I also know that the toxic foot bath and pads are not scientific and don't remove toxins (seen experiments done with those).

But am interested in what others have to say about the subject.

the body does detox itself

i think the ones for weight loss are all BS

i guess some of them could have some health benefits, i'm notgoing to pretend to know because i'm not a health professional... i do know colonics become important afterthe age of 40

Original Post by texmom52:

I'd like to know about the colon cleansing thing too.  I have seen some scientific evidence that people who are obese have a lot of old stuff built up in their colon, but won't it just come back when we eat?

I also know that the toxic foot bath and pads are not scientific and don't remove toxins (seen experiments done with those).

But am interested in what others have to say about the subject.

Actually, there is no evidence on ANY of these detox methods doing anything they claim. Colons don't have years of built up "paste" in them and any reference to John Wayne's autopsy are pure fiction as he never had one done. Ask any colorectal doctor and they will confirm that there is no build-up and they have put enough cameras up where the sun doesn't shine to prove it. Also, you can't remove heavy metals from your system with detox products either, which is always another big claim.

As one health "guru" expressed in his writings: his business is knee deep in fraud. Unfortunately, the FDA can no longer do anything unless it proves that the product is harmful since the laws where changed in the 90's anyone can claim anything as long it doesn't actually say it cures, treats, or prevents disease. Under the old laws you wouldn't see these detox and cleaning products because they would need to prove they were safe AND effect as advertised and very few health products in the $27B health supplements market could ever do that.

Save you money and wait until someone actually has strong scientific evidence, which will probably mean you need a prescription for it anyway.

This isn't anywhere as near a good of a reply as dabrock's, however:

I have actually read somewhere... possibly here?... Certain colon cleansing products contain clay, which will solidify in your bowel and then be evacuated, causing you to think you're eliminating all sorts of waste from your body that had been built up for years.

I would also like to think that a detox would be beneficial to our health, but sadly I don't believe that is the case.

Now that dabrock  mentions it, I've seen pictures of colonoscopies (gross, I know) and all I saw in there was pink insides. Definately did not look like build up.

I don't get why people think they need to detox their bodies. Our bodies have been perfected over millions of years of evolution. What newfangled, "scientifically backed" fad could possibly beat that?

And those cleanses sound dangerous to me. Ten days without food? I'll pass.

If I were your body, I'd be pretty pissed that you thought I was so inefficient that you had to go to weird and drastic measures to detox...something that your body does already.

The only reason that you would need a detox is if there was something in your body that it couldn't eliminate itself, if you had something in your body that it couldn't eliminate, it would be something that you have an intolerance to.  The detox would comprise of you stopping consumption of that thing forever, because you are intolerant to it.

The best way to 'jumpstart' weight loss is to eat healthy, exercise, drink plentry of water and get lots of fibre (to 'move stuff out'), your bod will take care of eliminating waste.

I'm actually doing an expierement right now with a food detox. I wanted to see if it did have any effect on weightloss, I think its mostly water weight that you lose though...

Anyways, I'm cutting out caffeine, dairy, gluten, and sugar. This also includes process foods ect. I'll let you know how it goes:D

Original Post by cheetah_fur:

I'm actually doing an expierement right now with a food detox. I wanted to see if it did have any effect on weightloss, I think its mostly water weight that you lose though...

 

Anyways, I'm cutting out caffeine, dairy, gluten, and sugar. This also includes process foods ect. I'll let you know how it goes:D

Looks like a clean eating diet and even without weightloss it's a healthy thing to do; just be ready for some major mood swings, headaches and such when giving up everything at once. The affects on some people for the first couple weeks while their bodies withdraw from caffeine and refined sugar can be rather dramatic to say the least.

actually, surprisingly, your colon is very clean. the body and it's functions are amazing and know how to do its job...

"Holistic practitioners believe the colon is a sewage system and if it's not kept clean, waste products won't be cleared out and toxic substances will be absorbed into the body. They believe that the typical person may have as many as several pounds of fecal matter in their colon, which causes mucus to build up and harden on colon walls.

Science says this is not true. Your colon knows how to do its job, constantly shedding old cells, absorbing nutrients and keeping a delicate balance of bacteria and natural chemicals. Interfering with this process can hurt or destroy these relationships, meaning the colon won't work as well as it should. Colon cleansing is unnecessary, and medical doctors do not advise you to do this."

From My Optum Health.

It's kinda like douching... not supposed to do it!

The toxins you should worry about are not in your colon.  They're in your bones, your liver, and in your  visceral fat.  You can do something about the fat in short order by losing weight. The others will take years of healthy eating to fix.

The easiest way to tell whether you have a problem with toxins is to measure your waistline.  If it's higher than normal, fix it.  You know the drill.

I'm glad you posted this because I have been wondering about detox lately too. These are good replies. Thanks for bringing it up summergirl!

Best detox diet -

eat lots of fresh veggies , lean protein, healthy fats.

Oh wait thats all real food and what your body needs, that can't be good for you. 

detox doesn't work.  it's all water weight. yeah it may jump start your motivation but it's not doing anything for you. 

the only reason I would do one is if I was going in to the Dr for a special reason.

Excellent responses here. I agree - it's baloney.

No, no, no to detox!  Unless your doctor orders it for some reason, it's not necessary and in most cases will be ineffective for weight loss.  As others have already stated, just eat healthy.

I didn't do any detox, didn't take any pills, and didn't resort to any kind of fad diet or surgery and I still managed to lose more then 200 pounds on my own (see before and after pics in my profile).  Did I have years of "old stuff" built up in my colon when I was 200 pounds heavier?  No!  I had a relatively healthy colon; just an unhealthy amount of body fat.

 Detoxes for weight loss are complete bunk no matter who's selling them, if you needed detox you'd know it by the way you were locked in the drunk tank with delirium tremens (needing alcohol detox), in rehab for your heroin habit(drug detox), or in a hospital with an IV in your arm for dialysis and blood filtration(heavy metal poisoning requiring chelation therapy and detox).

 There are legit detoxes, but they aren't for sale to the general public and none of them are prescribed for general blah-ness, bloatiness and weight loss.

What about detox for the sake of detoxifying your body?

I seem to have acne that has begun since I began my weight loss journey.  I "heard" (don't you love that when you can not site the source, lol) that your fat stores toxins and hormones, so by deduction if you are losing fat then your body must be processing these toxins out, and there is also the potential for increased hormones, which can lead to acne.

I have no idea whether this is true or not, I just know that I have lost weight and have acne on my back and on my jawline.  The bacne may be caused by work out clothes, but the acne on my jawline ...?

Original Post by biscuit12:

What about detox for the sake of detoxifying your body?

I seem to have acne that has begun since I began my weight loss journey.  I "heard" (don't you love that when you can not site the source, lol) that your fat stores toxins and hormones, so by deduction if you are losing fat then your body must be processing these toxins out, and there is also the potential for increased hormones, which can lead to acne.

I have no idea whether this is true or not, I just know that I have lost weight and have acne on my back and on my jawline.  The bacne may be caused by work out clothes, but the acne on my jawline ...?

 Weight loss causes hormonal changes. So does an increase in exercise. So does the amount of sleep you're getting, the amount of stress you have. EVERYTHING effects your hormones. Detoxing isn't going to do anything about that. Eventually your body will balance everything out. In the meantime, maybe visit a dermatologist?

I think those detox diets are crap.  Just businesses trying to make a profit, making up their own 'scientific research' to prove that they work.

I believe the best detox diet is one where you don't need to purchase any diet type/detox products.  Just cut out alcohol, takeaways, coffee, processed food etc and drink plenty of water.  Follow that for about 2 weeks and you should feel better and have lost weight.

Original Post by danaofdoom:

Now that dabrock  mentions it, I've seen pictures of colonoscopies (gross, I know) and all I saw in there was pink insides. Definately did not look like build up.

I don't get why people think they need to detox their bodies. Our bodies have been perfected over millions of years of evolution. What newfangled, "scientifically backed" fad could possibly beat that?

And those cleanses sound dangerous to me. Ten days without food? I'll pass.

THat's because before they have the procedure, they have to empty it out. :) That's where things like enema comes in....

There ARE things in your colon but I reckon it's always there...