Is a Detox Diet Very Beneficial for Body Health? Fact Check

Some people may have heard of “detox diet”” which is believed to be able to remove toxins from the body through the consumption of certain types of food so that it is considered to have health benefits. Is this fact true? Now for more details, we will discuss the role of a detox diet for body health. Healthline.comthe following discussion.

Basically, the body already has a natural detoxification function that involves various important organs, such as the lungs, large intestine, liver, kidneys, and skin. Normal metabolic processes produce toxins endogenously in the form of ammonia and lactic acid, but the body can also obtain them exogenously through exposure to drugs, chemicals in food, and the environment.

According to National Institutes of Health, Detoxification in the body involves a metabolic process called Biotransformation, which will make a change in the chemical structure of toxic substances to become inactive so that they will be excreted by the body in the form of feces, urine, sweat, and carbon dioxide.

The body’s ability to detoxify depends on a variety of factors, including age, gender, health conditions, genetics, medications, and diet. For example, if a person has a liver disorder, the detoxification process will also be disrupted, thereby risking a buildup of ammonia in the blood.

Detox diets are used to promote optimal toxin elimination processes, promote overall health and promote weight loss. These diet programs usually involve supplementation, a strict vegan diet, liquid diets, fasting, or other methods that are said to be believed to detoxify the body. Although there have been many claims about an improvement in health status by the creators and advocates of detox diets, these claims are considered to have no clinical evidence in terms of their effectiveness and safety.

The application of a detox diet is considered harmless when used in the short term. However, detox diets that involve prolonged fasting or extreme calorie restriction, use of herbal supplements, or practices such as enemas can cause dangerous side effects and have potential long-term health risks.

A study of National Institutes of Health in 2015 which involved 84 female participants following a low-calorie detox diet plus intake of lemon juice and low-calorie syrup, then other participants following a low-calorie placebo diet for 7 days got results in the form of weight loss and decreased insulin levels in both categories of participants. . However, these results were judged not because of the use of a detox diet, but because of the calorie restriction of the diet that was applied.

The conclusion is that the use of a detox diet is not really needed considering the body has its own role in detoxifying toxins. Researchers also prefer to eat foods with balanced nutrition, so that the body gets all the intake of important nutrients that play a role in metabolic processes. In addition, it is also recommended to be diligent in exercising, avoiding cigarettes, alcohol, and junk food to maintain the health of the organs that function in the detoxification process of these toxins.