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No No and No! Cleanses… I know you have heard about them and you may have even wanted to try one, heck I wanted to try one, but there are a few things you should know before you do. Celebrities like Beyoncé, Gwyneth Paltrow and Salma Hayek, and trainers like David Kirsch give detoxes a healthy stamp of approval and are trying to make them fashionable, but with a little research you will realize they really aren’t that fashionable.

I was walking the aisles of Whole Foods, with a close friend of mine, buying the ingredients for the master cleanse after putting the last ingredient in my basket, I looked down and said “You have to be kidding me; lemons, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and “pure” water for the next 10-14 days will not cut it for me.” I put the ingredients back on the shelf and headed to my computer. The thought of detoxing my body and losing a couple of pounds was very alluring but I love food, I love nutrients (proteins, whole grains, fresh fruit, ect. don’t worry cookies are in there too!), and honestly I can’t imagine a day without it. After doing some research this is what I have found.

WebMD says “According to doctors and registered dietitians who spoke to WebMD, the answer is a resounding “no.” A day on a detox diet program probably won’t hurt you, but there’s little point in following these restrictive diets – and they can do far more harm than good, says Michelle May, MD, author of Am I Hungry? What to Do When Diets Don’t Work. ”Extreme diets generally do little more than cause frustration, are potentially dangerous, and are in general are a waste of time and money,” May says.”

In March Vogue came out with an article called “Coming Clean” and the truth about cleanses. They mentioned some of the “benefits” of a cleanse and the truth behind it. Some of the benefits are:

• Rid your body of a lifetime of toxic chemicals: “The liver and kidneys are nature’s best-kept secret, because they are the weapons to eliminate toxins from your body,” says Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD.”If you are concerned about certain substances in your diet, it is easier and safer to simply eliminate [those substances] rather than engage in unhealthy detox plans.” Your body is already built to get rid of toxins in the body!
• Drop two dress sizes: Vogue reports “Without enough protein, the body turns to muscle for fuel after about three days, which can make weight loss appear more dramatic because of muscle’s bulk.” Those pounds you’re shedding may be valuable muscle, and not fat. Losing muscle slows down your metabolism too, meaning you’ll probably gain more weight in the end.” Beyoncé said she lost 20 pounds on the Master cleanse and you probably will lose a lot of weight but not putting anything into your body but as soon as you start eating again you will gain it back very quickly. By following a very restrictive diet can slow your metabolism, making it harder to lose weight once you start eating again.
• Look ten years younger: “The upside of pumping gallons of water and vitamin-rich juice into your system—and eliminating stressors like sugar, caffeine, and alcohol—is that it will plump skin, resulting in the celebrated cleansing glow, says Joseph Greco, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at UCLA. The downside is that the boost may be short-lived.”
• Experience Euphoria: Now this one I have to say is different for everyone. Melissa wrote a post aboutBPC and BCP, and how it helped her clear her head, now for some it can help. Do I think you should do a cleanse for the reason of weight loss, no, but say it has been very hectic in your life and you want something to physically reset you, not just mentally, a cleanse may work. There are healthy fruit cleanses and othercleanses out there.

Cleanses don’t have to be bad, they can be a great way to reset. Just be careful and thoughtful as to why you want to do one. If you feel like you just need something to reset go ahead and do one for a day or two. Or if you are like me they may not be for you. Check out Melissa’s other post on 10 Minute Detox for other ways to reset. For me personally it’s lighting candles and listening to Modern Meditations or taking a candle lit or hot yoga class .

For more information on Cleanses you can also check out FitSugar, and Women’s Health Magazine.

Filed under: Nutrition/Restaurants | Tagged: Beyonce Cleanse, Cleanse, Fit Sugar, Gwyneth Paltrow Cleanse, Master Cleanse, Vogue, Women's Health Magazine | 4 Comments »