Detox diet

In contrast to most other diets, the detox diet is not meant to be used for weight loss, but rather for detoxifying the body and mind. The Principle is similar to that of therapeutic fasting: you avoid “toxic” food and other influences that are stressful for the body and mind. Primarily fruits and vegetables are allowed on a detox diet— generally in a liquefied form. Also, water intake is increased. Often, the detox diet is started with natural laxatives to clear out the bowels movement using natural aids. There is no fixed minimum length of time that the detox diet should last, but by no means should it last longer than two weeks.

• This type of diet is suitable in its normal form for any healthy person.
• People with metabolic disorders, mental disorders, or a high level of stress should not go on a detox diet.
• In addition, the detox diet should not be carried out for more than two weeks at a time in order to prevent deficiency symptoms.

• Similar to fasting, the rules are general and the same for everyone. Since only liquid foods and raw fruits and vegetables are allowed, there is no great need for individual adaptation.
• This form of the diet can be combined with almost all special eating habits since it consists mainly of fruit and vegetables.

• Because the detox diet requires people to abstain from eating almost all solid food (except fruits and vegetables), it is stressful for the body. For busy people with busy schedules, this diet may not be very suitable.
• There is no food preparation or cooking required on the detox diet, which is appealing to many people. Although eating out or visiting a restaurant is pretty much out of the question—so social gatherings could be a big challenge.
• Usually, special products such as teas or juices are offered or required. Some of these are only available online and may be expensive.
• The detox diet must, therefore, be carefully planned in advance so that it can be carried out stress-free.

• The body is less resilient during fasting so professional duties can be a challenge—particularly during the first three days of fasting.
• Fasting is also difficult with a social life (e.g. at parties, restaurants) because there may be tempting food available that tests your discipline.
• The cost of food is reduced to a minimum here. Time is also saved because there is no need to cook or buy much food.

• The theory behind the detox diet is that it purifies the body. Not only“bad”, unhealthy food and stress affect our bodies, but also various chemical residues. These are said to accumulate in our bodies from the polluted environment. By avoiding “heavy” foods, the body becomes freed of these waste materials and cleansed.
• However, the chemical residue myth also has its opponents: Many Scientists believe that the kidneys and liver detoxify harmful substances in the body on their own. Additional detox agents make no difference.
• That being said, detox phases are not harmful to health. Similar to fasting, they can be used as an introduction to a long-term change in diet. The short-term abandonment of”heavy” and”stressful” food can be a relief for the body and can help the metabolism to stabilize again after a short acclimatization period.
• However, this diet should not last longer than two weeks, since it can lead to deficiency symptoms. The detox diet can also pose major health risks.

• Socially, the detox diet is only suitable for everyday use to a limited extent, since food options are severely restricted and the body often needs more rest (as it is less resilient during the detox phase).
• Also, the purpose of the detox diet is to avoid typical stressful everyday influences such as traffic smog, digital devices, stress, and noise.
• The detox diet is only of limited use as a weight loss diet because it is not about a permanent change in diet, but is rather a short phase.
• As with other extreme diet forms, the yo-yo effect is common after completing the detox diet (i.e. the weight lost during the diet is regained in a short time).

People’s opinions about detox diets are mixed. A short phase of food restriction poses no major health risks and can help to detoxify the body and mind. However, following a detox diet long-term is not possible. And many health claims surrounding detox products are also questionable. With that being said, a drastic change such as detox or fasting phase can be a good transition to a sustainable diet change. However, we would like to reiterate here that the main purpose of a detox diet is to detoxify and cleanse the body—not for weight loss. Our overall rating, therefore, looks like this: