Detox: Weighing the options

By Jessica McDonald

mcdo0361@algonquincollege.com

After a summer of hard partying, heavy drinking, and little sleep, a detoxification program may be an attractive solution to cleansing your system of all the toxins ingested.

Detoxification is generally described as removing toxins from the body, which include the air we breathe, chemicals ingested from the food we eat, and food additives such as Monosodium glutamate (MSG).

“Detoxification is the process of eliminating those excess toxic substances from our bodies,” said Barbara Khouzam, director of the nutrition program at the University of Ottawa.

Some benefits of detox dieting include improved digestion, feeling more energized and regular bowel movements.

“Detox might be good for those who have diarrhea, constipation, but a lot of doctors don’t adopt the idea of detox,” said Angie MacDonald, health promotions nurse at Algonquin.

People choose to follow a detox diet because they often feel tired, bloated from retaining water, and suffer from digestion problems, she said.

MacDonald suggests students consult their physicians to weigh the pros and cons of detox.

Living in a fast pace society, we want results to be fast and easy, she added, but the quick fix is not always a healthy one.

“We are a popular busy society; people don’t know where to start with nutrition, exercise,” said MacDonald.

Before purchasing any “natural” detox products to eliminate harmful toxins in the body and restoring the liver to its pre-drinking state, it’s a good idea to weigh and consider the benefits and risks of commonly followed detox programs.

The New Nordic’s “BioFirm” detox plan is a popular product found in natural supplement stores and consists of taking two tablets of their “safe, natural product” with a large glass of water, three times a day. The program can be done for two to four weeks, twice a year.

According to BioFirm’s website, the detox plan uses “herbs with the latest scientific achievements in the support of the body’s own natural internal processes of cleansing and detoxification.”

During the first week, the website states that users may notice a loss of fluid, may suffer from a slight headache and some people report a very mild metallic taste in the mouth, but this is a “quite normal” and “shows that BioFirm is working.” During the second week, BioFirm reports the majority of toxins have been removed and users can feel an increase in energy and may experience weight loss within the first 14 days.

But many of these “natural” pills also have other ingredients, such as psyllium, which is a mild laxative. MacDonald explained that although detox programs do what they claim to do – cleanse toxins from the body - the product can also be flushing out all nutrients consumed.

“There are several recommendations to use herbal remedies which may be harmful and dangerous to some people,” said Khouzam.

According to Khouzam, most detox diets are low in water and whole grains, complex carbohydrates and too high in toxic substances such as caffeine, sugar, fat and animal proteins.

MacDonald also explained that many detox products, especially those with caffeine, can have very negative consequences, “towards the end of week people can feel sluggish, loss of focus, lack of sleep.”

Courtney Pattyn, second-year fitness and health promotion student, has tried the juice diet before, but said it didn’t work because your body needs nutrients.

“You’re getting rid of important nutrients your body needs, that’s why you’re crashing and tired, it’s a vicious cycle, once you start eating again there’s the weight,” said Pattyn.

MacDonald suggests avoiding processed meats, eating organic products instead, and reducing the alcohol intake.

“Vitamin C, D, and E help detoxify the body,” said MacDonald.

Pattyn believes there is no quick solution to losing weight and being fit.

Instead of using detox products and following a strict detox diet plan, Pattyn believes it’s better to pay attention to what you eat and sweat off the toxins with exercise.