detox today or diet tomorrow?
by Patsy Wescott
are there any side-effects?
If you eliminate toxins from your system too quickly you risk developing a cluster of side-effects known as the Herxheimer Reaction. These include lethargy, headaches, nausea, mood swings, spots and/or bad breath and a coated tongue.
If this happens you should ease off slightly. Symptoms will pass as your body adjusts and toxins are eliminated.
If you experience more severe side-effects such as diarrhoea and vomiting stop detoxing and consult your doctor.
what do experts think?
The idea of detoxification divides experts. Natural health therapists claim that a periodic detox can confer a host of health benefits (see above). Many conventional doctors and dieticians, however, argue that the body is well-equipped to deal with toxins without the need for special diets or supplements. There is, they say, no scientific proof that detoxing speeds up the elimination of toxins nor that so doing makes you healthier or more energetic. Any benefits you may experience are, they say, a result of eating a better diet and establishing a healthier lifestyle rather than the removal of toxins.
Some go further, arguing that detoxing may be harmful. They say that it can rob the body of vital nutrients and that any weight lost consists of fluid and muscle tissue rather than fat. In addition, they argue, many of the natural supplements recommended are simply diuretics or laxatives, and these may have negative side effects and cause dehydration and/or digestive problems.
is detoxing safe?
Ideally you should detox only under the supervision of a doctor or qualified complementary therapist. However, a short unsupervised detox should do you no harm, provided you are in good health and don't adopt an overly restrictive regimen. You should never go on a strict fast or a fluid-only diet without the advice of your doctor as this can lead to dehydration and disturb levels of blood sugar, fluid and electrolytes (essential salts, acids and alkalis).
You should not detox if you are:
- Pregnant or breast-feeding
- Convalescing
- A child or teenager
- Elderly
- Underweight or debilitated
- Anaemic
- Have diabetes, heart disease, kidney or liver disease or other chronic health problems.
(January 2003, resources updated February 2005)
