Celebrities are detoxing their way to weight loss; learn the truth about the detox diet trend
Gwyneth Paltrow is the latest celebrity to comment about her detox diet success and she claims to feel more pure, lighter and happier.
After three weeks of sipping juices along with light solid meals on the “Clean” detox program, based on the book of the same name by Dr. Alejandro Junger.
Add “Clean” to the growing list of celebs’ favorite detox plans.
Others include the Master Cleanse, or “lemonade diet,” which made headlines when Beyonce used it in 2006 to get in shape for her role in “Dreamgirls.”
Howard Stern sidekick Robin Quivers is also a Master Cleanse devotee. Another famous detoxer, Oprah Winfrey, cut out bread and red wine for a 21-day vegan cleansing diet in 2008, and wrote all about it on her blog.
Other popular programs, like the juice-based Blueprint Cleanse, deliver their prepared products right to clients’ doors.
It’s clear that cleansing has become a big business, but many health experts remain skeptical. “These kinds of diets are not a reasonable approach to weight loss, and there is no data that they do what they claim,” Gary Foster, director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University in Philadelphia, told USA Today in March.
Why, then, do so many people seem to be jumping on the cleanse bandwagon — and is there any truth to the benefits of detoxing? “There is some truth to [cleansing], because colon cancer is caused by different factors: hereditary, environmental and dietary,” says Dr. Vincent Marrone, a gastroenterologist based in Fishkill, N.Y. “[Cleansing] can help get the toxins out of the colon to prevent cancers.”
Cleansing as a health practice need not involve any expensive products or nausea-inducing tonics, says Marrone, and buyers should beware of the claims made by various tonics on the market.
The simplest way to get rid of toxins in the body and boost antioxidants is to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet, Marrone says. Also, eating organic can have a benefit. “Eat as many organic foods as possible, because they do make a difference,” says Marrone.
“Unfortunately, animals are fed lots of hormones.” He also says anyone can make those kinds of dietary changes “right away,” and they can be permanent, unlike the restrictive fasting plans often touted by celebs.
“Cleansing and undertaking periodic fasting have been in practice for centuries,” said Kimberly Snyder, a New York-based certified nutritionist who specializes in raw food and cellular nutrition.
“Undergoing a juice or liquid fast of some type is a traditional cleanse, though cleanses are certainly not limited to that. We can also be on an ‘ongoing cleanse’ by choosing to cut out certain toxin-inducing foods out of the diet.”
If you are interested in trying a short, one- to three-day juice detox for the first time, says Snyder, the first step is to check with your doctor. A common mistake, she says, is rushing into — or out of — a cleanse. “I see people not adequately prepare for a cleanse or fast, and/or incorrectly break the cleanse or fast,” Snyder says.
“As a general rule, for at least the number of days you plan on cleansing or fasting, you should be preparing your body by cutting down on the toxins and acidic products we ingest daily.”
Products to cut down on include all refined sugars, soy, eggs, coffee, caffeine, flesh products and white flour, Snyder says. “Then the day (or days) of the cleanse, drink green and vegetable juices.
You can mix in apples, lemons, and some other fruits.” She also recommends to complete a juice cleanse, you should wean yourself off the cleanse for the same number of days that you were on it.
“Digestion needs to be eased back in – so the days following the fast should entail ingesting only fresh vegetable juices, fresh fruits, then gradually move into blended or steamed vegetables, etc., depending on the cleanse.”
It’s not uncommon to drop a few pounds while detoxing — but if you’re looking for long-term weight loss, fasting isn’t the answer. “Eating a good, healthy diet, avoiding animal fat and exercising works just as well and is safer for you,” Marrone said. “I think people can save a lot of money with a little common sense.”
This video, found on the WGMB in Baton Rouge website, also discusses the truth about detox diets. http://www.fox44.com/news/the-truth-about-detox-diets
Author: Heather Stephens
Heather Stephens is an Examiner from New Orleans. You can see Heather’s articles on Heather’s Home Page.
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