Are detoxes really worth the time (and money)?

Do you really need to detox or cleanse your body? Or are all of those expensive juices and teas a waste of money (and time)?

If you’re not sure, and you’re confused by all of the conflicting information and opinions out there, I’m not surprised!

I originally wrote this post in February 2015, and even though I’m giving it an update today, my opinion on detoxes hasn’t changed.

I feel like detoxing is a tricky subject to talk about these days, as there are so many products; some with very bold claims.

Pretty much everyone seems to be weighing in with an opinion, whether they’re qualified to give one, or not.

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Too many choices!

When I began to do some research for this post, I was initially overwhelmed. I mean, there are so many different kinds of detox or cleanse that you can do, and they all last for different lengths of time.

Yet they all claim to give you the same result! How can that be?

Then there’s the argument on the other side of the coin that doing a detox is a waste of time because that’s the function that our liver and kidneys perform for us every day, anyway.

Initially, when I was considering all of the evidence and opinions, I found the latter to be a fairly compelling argument. However, as with all things to do with our bodies, it’s not quite that simple.

Smoothie ingredients on a chopping board: mango, banana, spinach, raspberries

Here’s my opinion

I think you should do what feels right for you, while applying common sense.What I mean, is that if you feel some benefit from doing a detox every now and then, then do it!

Other than producing some temporary symptoms, like diarrhoea, dizziness and headaches, along with some temporary water-weight loss, a short term ‘juice cleanse’ type of detox shouldn’t do you any harm (except maybe to your bank account!)

Chances are, you’ll be getting more fruit and veg than you usually do, so that’s not a bad thing! And you’ll probably keep that up for a while afterwards, too.

The paradox I find with the whole subject is that we’re all different, so how can there be only one right way to do it? And just as different diets and eating styles work differently for everyone, I believe the same is true for detoxes and cleanses.

eat real food

Don’t just jump on the bandwagon

The key is to know your own body and what works for you; that’s why I don’t do juice only cleanses. When it comes to the crunch, I love eating too much, and I know that only drinking juices, doesn’t work well for me.

It also depends on how happy you are with your current diet and eating habits. If you’re a healthy person, following a healthy diet and lifestyle, you’ll be supplying your body with the nutrients it needs to function properly.

You won’t necessarily need to detox, because your liver and kidneys should be working just fine to remove waste and toxins daily.

The bottom line is that if you think it’s okay to ‘cheat’ by eating high calorie, nutrient poor foods all the time. and then detoxing once or twice a year, you might want to think again.

You can’t just cleanse away all of the damage that a poor quality diet will do to your body in a day or two, then resume a crappy diet and keep repeating the pattern. Your body is very resilient, but you can’t continually abuse it without consequences.

 

water

So should you do a detox or cleanse?

As I said above, it’s not really necessary if you eat well and follow a healthy lifestyle.Your body will be well nourished at a cellular level, and all of your systems and organs should be functioning well.

We are all different though, and have different needs. If a short detox helps you to kick start a healthy new habit, or a healthier mindset, then why not?

To read more about the pros and cons of detoxing, check out this very thorough article: DETOX DIET: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE. It covers everything you need to know, and has some great expert tips too (including from yours truly!)

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