You too must have fallen for those green things usually in brown boxes giving them a touch of organic. Such things usually use the word detox or natural cleanse that will make you lose 10 pounds in 10 days. It was my father’s side table filled with such small bottles or boxes that brought my attention to it. The ones I saw there were either green concoctions of what not or dusty green powders to be consumed with water. This made me think that what actually makes these products work? Is it the green color? Or something else? Do they even work? Let’s explore detox diet and products that claim to do wonders for your body.
While looking at things on the side table, one thing, in particular, made me laugh. The labels. The labels claiming to turn you into God knows what within days. The nutrients content chart saying that it contains all the nutrients you might need for the day. The directions telling you weird ways to use it with warm water to melt your fat. And above all the price tags. These products range from a few rupees to thousands of rupees.
Learn more about detox waters.
Why stick to such products only? Haven’t you seen enormous billboards of nutrition clinics claiming to give you a detox diet plan and help lose weight within days? Such diet plans inundate the internet too. And kid you not even I being a person of sometimes fall into these claims. So if you have ever been a victim of any detox diet, capsule or syrup here is what you should have known.
What Is Detox?
Detox means the cleansing of your body systems. In simple words, all the gunk and toxins inside your body are excreted out through urine and feces. Usually, all detox diets and products promote stool and urine passing. A typical detox diet includes detox recipes of juices and slushes, periods of fasting, and a low-calorie diet.
Does It Really Work?
This one might be complicated. Detox diets can help you lose a few pounds but is it the calory-restricted food you are eating or the green smoothies and capsules you are eating? To know this we need to break down the detox diet.
The Food Itself
Usually, detox diets recommend a healthy eating pattern. It is the unnamed capsules that allow you to eat all and lose all. How? is yet to be discovered but they do claim this. Coming back to the diet. Detox diet plans suggest a diet high in fibers, low in sugars and fat. This is the general eating pattern to lose weight. So there is nothing special that these diets discovered. In fact, such diets can sometimes restrict your calorie, and macronutrient intake to harmful levels. Such low-calorie consumption is bound to make you lose weight unless you have an underlying medical condition.
The Detox Recipe
The fundamental aspect of such diets is the main detox recipe. Either it is a detox drink or a capsule or powder. Taking a usual detox drink, these contain green vegetables like parsley, celery, or cucumber with side ingredients like ginger and lemon to either increase the taste or nutrient content. An important thing to know is that all these ingredients are high in fiber and can combat constipation. When such things make you poop immediately, you lose water and some mass. This shows weight loss on the scale and you consider it a victory.
The Fasting
Not all but some detox diets contain a fasting pattern. Fasting is an effective way to lose weight. It can restrict your calories, shift your body to use stored fat which is the key to lose weight. Again the detox makes the old as time fasting, nothing special.
How to lose weight with fasting?
Ill Effects Of Detox Diet
Like every other diet, detox diet works or not can take a toll on your mental and physical health
1. Very Restrictive
Like a lot of weight-loss diets, detox diets can be really restrictive. Very restrictive diets can disturb your mental and physical health. These diets can cut you out of your social circle and disturb your normal life functioning.
2. To Diarrhea
All the recipes in a detox diet can easily lead to diarrhea. As usual, the science behind all detox products is to prevent constipation. If you don’t get constipated often, going on such a diet can disturb your bowel. Too much of anything, even fiber and vegetables can deteriorate to your health.
3. Do Not Treat Medical Conditions
If someone suggests you a detox diet so it can lower your cholesterol and blood pressure. Don’t! There is no scientific evidence that any such diet will help you in combating disease. Yes, a good diet does make a difference but these scam products and drinks don’t.
The Final Verdict
If not clear yet, my final verdict on such diets is that they are not worth the pain and effort. Simple, healthy eating and an intricately designed diet is a better option. If you are seeking weight loss, such fads might help you shed a few pounds but that is usually water weight and can come back easily. You need to trust your body’s natural mechanisms. The human body is very much capable of cleansing and detoxifying itself. Even before drinking that bitter drink your body got rid of all the things it didn’t want. The only thing that drink did was, empty your wallet, not your bowel. So instead of losing weight, you are just losing cash. If you really want to invest in a good and effective diet, consult a nutritionist and trust your body and the process.
FAQs
1. Is drinking green smoothies bad?
It’s not bad to drink them because they contain healthy vegetables after all. It’s just the false claims that are bad.
2. Is the best way to lose weight?
The best way can be different for different people and a nutritionist can best determine it.
3. Do weight loss capsules work?
Not weight loss. Such things usually make false claims. Just like other diseases, obesity requires specialized and personalized treatment.
Book an appointment now, to answer all your queries. You can book an appointment with top nutritionists in Pakistan through Marham by calling at Marham helpline: 0311-1222398 or by online appointment booking facility through the website or Marham mobile app.
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