Due to the fact that multi-day cleansing diets restrict calories to a below average level, the body goes into shock. "The body's primary fuel source is glucose, which is essential for our brains to function," says Albovias. "If we don't eat for four to eight hours, no glucose is available and our livers turn glycogen, a storage form of glucose [in our muscles], into a usable form of fuel." After a few days, "muscle wasting is prevented by temporarily switching to fat as a source of fuel," explains Albovias. This is why people temporally lose weight. But all of this conversion causes stress on the body, which then causes "irritability, nervousness, shakiness, blurred vision, or sometimes euphoria -- common side effects of low blood sugar," and can also be "extremely harmful" to your kidneys, she warns.
Next: Find out whether cleansing diets are worth trying
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Are cleansing diets worth it?
Albovias explains that while some people who use multi-day detox programs experience "weight loss, a boost of energy, fewer headaches and clearer skin," these reactions can "be attributed to other lifestyle changes made and not to the diet itself." She says that if you are using these diets to drop excess weight, you better try something else as "those who lose weight on these diets almost always gain the weight back once they return to their normal eating patterns" due to the fact that they are temporarily starving their body of necessary nutrients.
As for the "body detoxification" these cleansing diets claim to provide, Simpson says, "the body is set up to efficiently metabolize and eliminate toxins [on its own]." Albovias adds for those that claim clearer skin, the effects can be "attributed to drinking more water during a fast," and not to the actual restriction of food.
Next: See the best way to "detox"
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Alternatives to multi-day cleansing diets
Even though "restrictive fasting may do more harm than good over the long term," Simpson says that if you are determined to do a fast, "a cleansing and nutrient-rich program that does not compromise balanced diet and supports those eliminative pathways is a preferable protocol." Albovias advises that the path to a healthier you can be found by simply "making small changes towards proper hydration and eating a well-balanced diet with lean protein, whole grains and lots of fruits and vegetables."
Bottom line, if you are considering any diet that restricts food, like a cleansing or detox program, be sure it is "recommended by or directed from a qualified health professional," says Simpson.
Next: See an alternative way to release toxins
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Don't starve, sweat
Regular exercise is also a surefire way to help your body release toxins. When you get your heart pumping and your sweat flowing, your body naturally detoxifies itself.
Next: See how to detox your skin without starvation
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Detox your skin without starving
You can detoxify your skin using vitamins, minerals and topical solutions -- no starvation necessary. Look for formulas that contain antioxidants and botanical extracts that can prepare the body to handle environmental stresses. And try digestive enzymes that help break down food, improving digestion and colon function.
You aren't alone in your never-ending quest for the magic diet that will melt body fat and give you perfect skin. You also aren't alone in wanting that diet to be as quick and effortless as possible. Celebrities like Beyonce, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Anne Hathaway (to name drop a few) have been known to try temporary fasting or detox diets in order to clear up skin, rid their body of toxins and lose weight. But before you jump on the trendy bandwagon by swearing off solid foods or downing large quantities of lemon water, you should know what short-term body starvation actually does to you.
It's common knowledge that what you feed your body is going to affect your skin, hair, mood, weight and overall health. With Americans spending upwards of $60 billion a year on weight management products, books and services according to "The New York Times," it's safe to say dieting is a national pastime. Fasting or detox diets have gained relatively recent popularity with countless websites and books promoting quick starvation regimens as a fast way to drop pounds and rid the body of toxins.
Of course, not all body cleansing diets are alike, they vary in length of time, what can and can't be consumed, and the severity of calorie cutting; but they all have a similar end goal: To re-invigorate your health and beauty. To find out what these popular cleansing diets do and if they are actually beneficial to the body, we went to celebrity nutritionist and formulator, Paula Simpson and Wendy Albovias, a registered dietician specializing in Medical Nutrition Therapy. Together they share the most popular cleansing techniques and why these diets may or may not be helpful or even harmful in your quest for a healthier body.
