The Detox Diet: Harmful or Helpful?

What, exactly, is a detox diet? As described bynutritiously balanced diets and foregoing McDonald's
several sources, a detox diet is a nutritional regimenand Taco Bell offerings. It has become a fad to call
that involves changing bad eating and drinking habitsanything that offers such a drastic change in eating
in order to cleanse the body of toxins and otheror drinking habits a detox diet.
contaminants. A detox has become quite the thing toStill, some argue that the body is already more than
do these days, and many claim that completing acapable of ridding itself of toxic wastes and that a
detox can improve overall health and digestion as welldetox diet is not only unnecessary but can also be
as to heighten resistance to illness and help in weightdangerous. Our bodies are meant to contain a certain
control. All of the above can be accomplished withamount of fats and sugars, and to try to rid the
good, nutritious eating habits and healthy living styles,body of these items with a detox diet can cause
but we seem to want to do everything the hardmedical problems such as anemia, low blood sugar
way; hence a detox diet becomes necessary to bringand lethargy and weakness. The balance of
us back to the point where we should have beenelectrolytes, fats, enzymes, proteins, and
anyway.carbohydrates in the body are finely tuned and
A detox diet can be comprised of many differentshouldn't be tampered with. A detox diet that allows
methodologies. Some people prefer to fast, and onlyonly liquid is not to be considered a safe alternative
drink water or juice for a certain period of time.to exercise and a normal, well balanced diet. Studies
Others prefer to increase the amount of fish theyhave shown that the lack of protein in most of the
eat. Others restrict the amount of calories theymore common types of detox diet decreases muscle
consume while others resort to bottled methods likemass in individuals. With less muscle mass, the
an herbal detox diet. Some even go on a lemonademetabolism automatically slows down, which will
diet that is more commonly known as the "Masterthreaten most well-intentioned weight loss diets
Cleanse" detox diet.regardless of what you do.
It stands to reason that any detox diet must beCall it what you will. While a detox diet can help
carefully monitored to ensure proper ingestion ofpeople learn new and better eating habits, as with
nutritious foods, and many merely suggest that aeverything, a detox diet should be done using caution
person add more fruits and vegetables to their diet.and good judgment. Perhaps we could avoid all this
Of course, staying away from fast food and soda,unnecessary detox diet stuff by just eating better
cigarettes and alcohol is a given. A detox diet is alland exercising more in the first place.
about changing eating habits and adopting healthy and