Detoxification (or colon cleansing) diets are marketed as a way to improve health by removing toxins from the body. I see them as an easy, do-it-yourself method that cleanses the lower portion of my digestive system, temporarily relieves “bloat”, and gives me a fresh start to “reset” my diet and my body.
Detox proponents argue that the gradual buildup of food debris inside your lower digestive tract, much like how salt and mineral deposits accumulate inside old pipes in a house, causes intestinal and colonic thickening. This accumulated mucoidal plaque narrows intestinal passageways and slows both the absorption of nutrients and the expulsion of waste material. Any buildup of bodily waste in the body will, according to a pseudo-scientific belief called “auto-intoxification”, poison the body. Thus, they argue that clearing the “pipes” returns the digestive tract to its pristine state and forces a purging or detoxification of any poisons in the body. It is very important to realize that these proponents of these diets are more “marketers” than health care providers.
I know that modern scientific evidence does not, in any way, support the concept of “auto-intoxification”; mucoidal placque is an urban myth. There is no scientific evidence that DIRECTLY links a detox diet with improved health, weight loss, or side issues like lessening acne outbreaks. In fact, some cleansing procedures, such as colonic irrigation (hydrotherapy), are best performed by experienced practitioners. Marketers, rather than medical scientists, have persuasively associated a host of holistic practices (better nutrition, digestive regularity, etc.) with oftentimes expensive products that provide little nutritional value.
Why are these products so popular and why do I occasionally use them? First, it is important to recognize that the side-effects of a detox diet are either temporary or incidental to the diet itself. The stringy mucoidal plaque you’ve seen on the Internet is most likely a combination of bentonite clay and psyllium husk that are ingredients in detox diet powder! The mention of this material in ads is marketing hype.
In truth, it’s not the detox diet that matters; it’s your lifestyle! After beginning a detox or fasting regime, we experience a cleansing crisis. Weight reduction observed during and just after the diet is due to the restrictions in caloric intake as well as the water loss from diarrhea. When I return to a normal diet following the dietary regime, I know I will regain my most of that weight. If I use the “crisis point” however, to mark a change my life style, I gain a slight psychological edge by starting “fresh”. The cleansing side effects of a detox diet might be temporary or incidental, but they do provide a new beginning for me to reestablish control over my body, my weight, and possibly, the rest of my life.
References
Behar, J. MyBestHealthPortal.com
Rabin, Ed. “Every Party Needs a Pooper”, Jan 31, 2007. Boise Weekly
Uthman, E. Quackwatch
