for your health
Detox diets
The pros and cons (and
methods) of cleansing
By Irene Middleman Thomas
WE HAVE FILTERS on our furnaces, cars and vacuum cleaners.
Our bodies have filters too, namely the kidneys, liver and large
intestine, which some believe do the job they should. However,
others warn that these organs are overworked and need help in
cleaning out, or “detoxifying,” body pollution.

Detoxification is the conversion of fat-soluble toxins into water-soluble, nontoxic substances that can be excreted. Natural detoxification goes on all the time in the body, preventing cells from being damaged or endangered.

Proponents of supplemental detoxification of the body believe that a whole-foods diet along with a regular cleansing program— which includes fasting, purgatives and colonic irrigation—are the ideal means of maintaining health. The toxins that worry natural practitioners include such substances as mercury, lead, food additives, dyes, hormones, pesticides and herbicides—substances, they argue, that our bodies were not made to handle.

and Costco member. “Colon cleansers remove electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and chloride from the body. These electrolytes are maintained at a very delicate balance in the body; and when they are disrupted, significant health concerns can arise.

“Do-it-yourself detox isn’t needed. The body gets rid of waste naturally.”

 

“There are 80,000 chemicals in use in the U.S. today, and human health and safety data is available for only 20 percent of them,” says Julie Wiener, a naturopathic physician in Boston and adjunct professor at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

“You wouldn’t do to your best friend what you do to your body,” says Delia Quigley, nutritional counselor and author of The Body Rejuvenation Cleanse (StillPoint Schoolhouse, 2009). “What happens to your body is a direct response to the abuse you put it through.” Quigley’s program, unlike many short-term procedures, takes five weeks to complete. “Cleansing can’t happen overnight,” she says.

“The reality is that various factors can impede one’s ability to detoxify,” says Wiener, a Costco member. “I strongly believe in supportive detoxification methods on a case-by-case basis, and stress that individuals considering a detoxification program should consult with a naturopathic doctor or other medical professional trained in this field before beginning such a program.”

 

Fasting is perhaps the oldest and most practiced of the main detoxification methods. Fasting can vary widely—ranging from water only to raw foods to juices only—and can range in duration as well.

“Nonsense,” says Amy Jamieson-Petonic, American Dietetic Association spokesperson

Advocates believe that periodic fasting gives the body a break from digestion and allows it to eliminate the toxins that cause disease, promoting healing as well as allowing for a clearer mental state and increased energy. Some claim that fasting helps health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, migraine headaches and skin diseases.

usually recommended. Typical fruits headaches and skin diseases. water ingested. u b Some claim that fasting helps health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, migraine headaches and skin diseases.

Juice fasts typically last one to three days, with only raw vegetable and fruit juices and water ingested.

 

and two quarts of juice, along with large a

Proponents of juice fasting use juice because it is thought to be a good source of

MEDIA BAKERY

vitamins and antioxidants. Between one and two quarts of juice, along with large amounts of water throughout the day, is

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and vegetables include celery, carrots, kale, cabbage, apples, pineapples, cranberries, spinach, beets and greens.

No matter how short the duration, fasting is potentially dangerous for some people, including pregnant and lactating women; people with cancer, diabetes, gout, hypoglycemia, stomach ulcers or liver, kidney or lung disease; or anyone with a compromised immune system. It is advisable to consult one’s physician before fasting.

 

Purgatives (oral cleansers) use herbs, fiber, dietary supplements and/or laxatives to purge the colon and intestinal tract of toxins and waste material. There are scores of at-home purgatives. It is advised to stay well hydrated when using such products.

 

Colonic irrigation is the process of cleansing the colon by passing several gallons of water through it with the use of special equipment.

The procedure, which should be administered only by a qualified practitioner, has existed for decades. Normally, a series of treatments is required to achieve desired results.

Does detoxing improve health? The verdict, obviously, is still very much out. Only you, and your doctor, can decide what is the right choice for you. C

 

JANUARY 2010 ;e Costco Connection 41 Irene Middleman Thomas is a Denver-based writer for many publications. She writes about health, travel and food, among other topics.