| Cleansing diet a controversial health topic |
| Written by Samuel Blue | |
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Cleansing diets remain a controversial issue in the medical community. While a large number of alternative medicine advocates are saying that cleansing diets can provide a number of health benefits, most mainstream health care professionals remain extremely skeptical of the benefits of cleansing diets, and some even think that they may be detrimental to your health.
A cleansing diet is essentially a diet designed to rid the body of preservatives, pesticides and naturally occurring toxins from the body. Cleansing diets vary from plan to plan, but in general consist of a period of fasting followed by a rigid dietary regimen of raw vegetables, fruits and water. Some diets may also require dieters to consume herbs and supplements and also submit to colon cleansings via enema to help purge the intestines. The majority of cleansing diets last anywhere from a week to 10 days. Typical cleansing dietsSome common cleansing diets include:Master Cleanse: This program was developed in the 40s and later refined. In Master Cleanse, the dieter subsists only on drinking a mixture of fresh lemons, cayenne pepper and grade B maple syrup and also drinking laxative tea. For the entire period of the cleanse, the dieter may not eat solid food. The Water Diet: This is a milder form of the typical cleansing diet. In the Water Diet, the dieter drinks 64 ounces of cold water per day, usually in eight ounce servings throughout the day. The dieter may still eat as he or she pleases. The theory is that the excess energy the body must expend to heat up the water to body temperature burns fat and that the influx of additional water causes the kidneys to step up their detoxification process. The Grapefruit Diet: In the grapefruit diet, the dieter eats half a grapefruit or drinks four ounces of grapefruit juice at each meal. The grapefruit helps cleanse the body and reduces caloric intake. The case for cleansing dietsAccording to cleansing diet proponents, toxins absorbed by the body can cause a variety of health problems, including increasing allergy symptoms, contributing to joint aches and pain, gastrointestinal problems and feelings of fatigue and sluggishness. The toxins are absorbed through food, drugs, and exposure to air and other pollution.While very little scientific data exists concerning the efficacy of a cleansing diet, there is a plethora of anecdotal accounts concerning the benefits of purging toxins from the body by means of a cleansing diet. For starters, folks who use a cleansing diet often report quick weight loss. On average, most report losing five to 10 percent of their body weight in a relatively short period of time. Other anecdotally reported benefits of a cleansing diet include improved energy, less acne breakouts, more regular bowel movements, better digestion and better mental function with regard to concentration and clarity. The case against cleansing dietsCurrently, there's not a lot of empirical evidence to support the effectiveness of a cleansing diet. Most scientific studies into the subject have been inconclusive. According to some traditional health care practitioners, body cleansing and detox diets are nothing more than hoaxes perpetrated by cons artists to treat illnesses that don't exist. These health care professionals also doubt the existence of many of the toxins that proponents of cleansing diets say are present in the body. Furthermore, they argue that cleansing diets are unnecessary, as the body has several organs dedicated to purging the blood and gut of toxins.Some experts have pointed out some possible dangers that may be caused by cleansing diets. According to the American Dietetic Association, cleansing diets can result in nutritional deficiencies that lead to muscle breakdown and other negative consequences, such as a weakened ability to fight infection and inflammation. Also, people with diabetes, kidney disease, heart problems or women who are pregnant or nursing shouldn't try a cleansing diet because these diets can alter the level of blood sugar, potassium and sodium present in the body. It's also advisable for teens and children to avoid cleansing diets because of the reduction in essential vitamins and minerals that result from the diets. Taking it in moderationWhile cleansing diets may be controversial, some elements of them, such as increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables, reducing intake of fatty foods and drinking more water are commonly held to be beneficial to your health. If a cleansing diet is not for you, perhaps some of the elements of a cleansing diet may be helpful to your well-being. If practiced in moderation, elements of a cleansing diet can be beneficial if practiced in moderation.Cleansing diets are likely to remain controversial until more studies are done that can provide empirical evidence concerning their ability to purge the body of toxins, their safety and their necessity. Because the jury is still out on cleansing diets, you should seek your health care provider's opinion before embarking on a cleansing diet. |
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