Detox - why the controversy?

The subject of detox and cleansing is not a black and white issue. There seems to be consensus in the world of holistic nutrition and naturopathy that detoxing the body is possible and desirable. But you don’t have to look very far to find differing opinions on the subject. The objectors tend to be from the mainstream medical establishment. This would not be the first time that so-called alternative medicine and mainstream medicine have butted heads. So why this difference of opinion?

Part of the problem lies in the definition of detox diet. This can mean many things. The medical establishment claims there is little or no evidence to support the idea that detox diets do more than lead to unhealthy and unpleasant side effects. However this statement in itself can be very misleading. “Detox diets” is an ambiguous term at best. Just because there is no evidence to support detox diets, does not mean that it is not possible to detoxify the body.

Another problem is the difficulty of testing chemical intoxication, which can be quite invasive, expensive and labour-intensive. Supporting but not proving the efficacy of detox are the many people who have compelling personal stories that involve life-changing experiences. But because it is difficult to apply such experiences to a larger population, they do not constitute scientific evidence.

One common argument is that detox diets can make you feel lethargic, light-headed and cranky, among other side effects. This is true and may in fact be evidence that the body is in detox: ridding itself of toxins can bring about unpleasant side effects; these side effects are a temporary symptom of toxins leaving the body. This is referred to as a healing crisis, which simply means that the elimination or detoxification is so powerful or efficient that you feel unwell for a few days or hours during or after the detox.

That being said, any detox should be gentle and nutritionally balanced so as to avoid such reactions. In many cases, you may even feel energized, clear-headed rejuvenated and revitalized. In the event of unpleasant feelings from deep elimination, you can always stop the detox, and return to incorporating healthy detox principles in your everyday diet.

These principles include:

1. Detoxifying foods for everyday life
1. Fruit and vegetable juices
2. Water
3. Raw food/sprouts/greens
4. Fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes, seeds
   
2. Foods to avoid
1. Sugar
2. Fried foods
3. Dairy
4. Alcohol
5. Caffeine
   
3. Use a juicer or blender daily for making vegetable juices and easy to digest smoothies
4. Start skin brushing - dry skin brushing speeds up the rate at which toxins are expelled from the body, by energizing the blood cells and lymph tissue, two of the key physiological detoxification pathways
5. Deep breathing – oxygen feeds the blood and cells as it detoxifies the organs and glands
6. Exercise – all types of movement that make you sweat are essential to properly detoxify the body. Saunas can also be effective.
7. Drink filtered water

So, there you have it. Don’t waste money on costly detox kits; there is no evidence to support the efficacy of off-the-shelf cleansing kits. But make no mistake, there are too many toxins in our world for our bodies to handle all on their own. By sweating, drinking clean water, eating the right foods and avoiding as many toxins as you can, it is possible to detoxify your body! If you choose to do a detox diet, be sure and find one that is safe and appropriate for your personal needs. For this, consult a nutritionist or naturopath for advice.