Why You Shouldn't Do A Cleanse

Cleanses and detox diets are popular, but they're expensive and don't have any lasting health benefits, two nutritionists told INSIDER. Your body can detox itself without any assistance from cleanse diets. Cleanses may also lack important nutrients — and starving yourself of those nutrients can make you feel awful. Plus, once a cleanse ends, you'll likely gain back any weight you've lost. Cleanses and detox diets are a comforting idea.

They're marketed like an insurance policy against junk food benders — a natural way to flush away evidence of overindulgence. Rachael Hartley told INSIDER. This premise is so attractive that people submit themselves to punishing regimens like the Master Cleanse, in which participants consume nothing but a mixture of water, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup. More modern cleanses may appear gentler, since they often feature foods perceived as virtuous, like green juices or teas.

But they still operate on the same premise: That by eating or restricting certain foods for a certain period of time, you can achieve a state of enhanced inner cleanliness. The only problem is that the human body doesn't work that way. Read on to learn exactly why cleanses won't really cleanse you — and why you shouldn't try one. 1. Your body is detoxing all the time, no matter what you eat. The biggest strike against cleanses is that they're almost always unnecessary. The work of detoxifying is primarily done by your liver and your kidneys.

Unless there's something wrong with those organs, they're going to keep on filtering out waste and toxins whether you eat a salad or a double bacon cheeseburger. And the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics notes that a diet rich in fiber and plant foods actually does support the body's existing detox process. But that doesn't mean a specialized diet is required to clear toxins from your body. That's the key takeaway here.

There are a few caveats to mention: Hartley noted that elimination diets — which may look like a cleanse or detox — could be appropriate when it comes to certain medical conditions. And registered dietitian Georige Fear added that, before a colonoscopy, a doctor may put you on a diet that will clear your bowel.

2. You may miss key nutrients — and you'll probably feel like crap. Fear agreed. "Cleanses often are very, very low on calories, carbohydrates fats and protein," she said. Eating too few calories, in particular, can make you feel awful all over, causing headaches, moodiness, weakness, and constipation, as INSIDER previously reported.

And Hartley added that cleanses can be especially rough on your brain. Fat is crucial for optimal brain function, and carbohydrates are the brain's primary source of fuel, she explained — so things can go awry when you're on a cleanse that runs low on one or both nutrients. 3. You'll likely gain back any weight you lose. Plenty of cleanses promise quick weight loss. But Hartley and Fear explained that the majority of weight loss during a cleanse comes from shedding water weight — and it won't last.

If you start to operate at a calorie deficit— for example, when you're on a restrictive cleanse — your body taps into that store of glycogen for energy, releasing all that bound-up water via your urine. The number on the scale goes down, but there's just one catch. 4. Cleanses can be wildly expensive. 79 for one day's worth of food. DIY cleansing isn't always cheap, either.

Harsha, I'm sorry I've no figures on this as yet. I'll get back to you as soon as get them. Thanks for the interest. Thank you for a well written hub. I use coconut water as part of a Diabetes treatment as it re-hydrates better than other liquids. I also use the oil is essential oil massage blends.

Rajan, I have a query on the amount of VCO that is produced in a medium size coconut. Something like 10 ml for a 100 gms of fresh coconut. I need a fairly accurate figure. For many, who believe VCO is too expensive, this info can be helpful to plan their coconut intake itself. AuthorRajan Singh Jolly 6 years ago from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar,INDIA. Maralexa, coconut is getting its long overdue recognition now.

I've personally found coconut oil to control skin rashes and inflammations almost miraculously. Even when I didn't use VCO just pure coconut oil. I am thankful for your visit, support and appreciate your wonderful comments. Hi rajan jolly. This is an outstanding hub! You have so much great information on the coconut, its many products and uses.

This has really helped me understand why I want to use it daily in my life. Your images are excellent and your layout is superb. Thanks for a truly great article. AuthorRajan Singh Jolly 6 years ago from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar,INDIA. Sharyn, thanks for reading and putting in so many appreciative words.

Happy you found it worth pinning. AuthorRajan Singh Jolly 6 years ago from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar,INDIA. Harsha, the needful has been done. Gosh, I am in awe at how wonderfully put together this hub is. The research and information presented is top class. I must add this to my "Healthy Options" board on Pinterest.

Rajan, there are strong advices that VCO can lose much of its healing power if heated through microwave. Any opinion from your side? If you believe, you can add a note/pre-caution. I believe most of the people turn to VCO due to medical reasons. AuthorRajan Singh Jolly 6 years ago from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar,INDIA. Sunita, thanks for giving the write up a read and sharing it too. I have tried to do my best as the uses of coconut are innumerable.

I appreciate your sharing it. Woow what a great hub! You have covered all the possible information on coconut and explained it very nicely. Thanks for writing it! I am sharing it with my friends. AuthorRajan Singh Jolly 6 years ago from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar,INDIA. Harsha, foreign brands are expensive on 2 counts - the foremost being that they are internationally reputed brands. Most of these products are organic and then the cost of production and other expenses to get it to the consumer in our country, is far in excess than what we have here.

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