Do Detox Diets Work?

Every day people reach out to the internet looking for the next big thing to cleanse their bodies of impurities or lost those extra pounds. They are looking for that miracle pill, that fat-burning concoction, or that amazing new fad diet. They want to have more energy, more vibrant skin, feel better, and look better. 

Most of these do not live up to the hype that they promise. The can be expensive, dangerous,  and leave people with worse problems than they started with.



How do you spot if something is too good to be true...

  1. Does it promote less than 1200 calories per day?
  2. Does it stress 1 or more "magical" foods or supplements?
  3. Is it expensive?
  4. Does it claim fast weight loss of  greater than 2 pounds per week?
But, we need to detox...right? 
Actually the human body was set up to constantly detoxing.
  1. The liver filters out toxic substances found in food and drink to stop them from entering the bloodstream. 
  2. The kidneys filter the blood and eliminate toxins through urine. 
  3. The colon removed toxins as well and is why making sure they GI tract has pre- and probiotics.
  4. The lungs are also vital to eliminating the toxins from the air we breathe.

How do we support our bodies and allow for natural detoxing?
  1. Having an active lifestyle
  2. Maintaining a healthy weight
  3. Consuming a diet rich in a variety of colors of fruits and vegetables
  4. Having adequate lean protein and healthy fat choices
  5. Decreasing the amount of processed foods, added sugars, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, and unnecessary drugs.
  6. Stay hydrated.
It does take commitment to change your life but it is so worth it to feel good, sleep well, and reduce your risk for health complications!

Need help reaching your goals?

Contact Natalie Hofmeister MS, RDN, LD/N at Lifestyle Nutrition Consulting


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