The detox fads that claim to rid the body of harmful chemicals accumulated through seasonal over-indulgence is an example of the capacity of people to believe in, and pay for magic despite lack of evidence.
Detoxing feeds on false assumptions that we can atone for our dietary sins through periodic cleansing regimen. The theory behind it that toxins build up in the body has been rubbished by health experts. The British Dietetic Association (BDA), representing 6,000 dieticians across Britain, said that there was no "potion or lotion" which could "magically" rid the body of chemicals.
Health experts feel there is no need to speed up detoxing because your body can already do it if you let it. Eating healthy foods and drinking plenty of water will do the trick.
Dr Frankie Phillips, a spokesperson for the BDA, said: "The whole idea of detox is nonsense. The body is a well-developed system that has its own built-in mechanisms to detoxify and remove waste from top to toe. Skin, the gut and liver and kidneys are all chemically-controlled powerhouses that respond to signals in the form of, for example, hormones
define, to remove waste products – typically detoxifying the body constantly.”
As an aftermath of the seasonal festivities, most health conscious people embark on detox programs, supplementing their regular diets with vitamin drinks and diet plans. Most of the pills, juices, teas and oils that are sold for their detoxifying effects on the body have no scientific foundation for their claims, according to toxicologists and dieticians.
The BDA warns that "Being well-hydrated is a sensible strategy. It sounds predicable, but for the vast majority of people, a sensible diet and regular physical activity really are the only ways to properly protect your health for the year ahead."
The promise of fast weight-loss, removing toxins, improving digestion and fighting just about every ailment known to mankind is pretty enticing. Detox promoters use deceptive marketing gimmicks to promote protocols that are unnecessary, ineffective and potentially dangerous.
Detox is based on misconceptions about how the human body responds to chemicals in the diet. The liver and kidneys are evolved to break down and remove toxins from the bloodstream. Their function is not helped by products of a detox program, most of which claim to ‘assist the natural detoxification process in your body.’
The human bodies are very good at eliminating all the fast food that we might ingest over the festive season. The popular notion that we can speed up the elimination process by following detox plan is simply eye wash, caution the BDA. Your liver will clear a lethal dose of alcohol in 36 hours without assistance from detox tablet.
As Dr Phillips rightly puts it “Being well hydrated is a sensible strategy.”
The BDA represents the registered dietitians across Britain.
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