When January comes dragging by, we all hope to start the new year on a clean slate. Many of us also try to detox our systems, but what we really want to know is: do detoxes really work?
So, you’ve overindulged during the festive period and now want to reboot your health – good for you! The New Year is a great time to start fresh, and what better way to wipe the slate clean than to detox and cleanse your body? But first, we should unpack and debunk some of the myths about this age-old practice.
The Ultimate Detox Suits Everybody
Wouldn’t that be nice? Unfortunately, there exists no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to health. No regime of fasting, juice-only diets, herbal teas, dietary supplements and pills, or colon cleansing will work the same wonders for everybody. Many of these are actually not advisable in the first place.
Your Body Needs A Reboot
Unlike a computer, you can’t simply reboot your body (but how joyous wouldn’t it be if you could). But even when you overindulge in fatty or sugar-laden foods, an abundance of alcohol and other toxins, the natural cleaning process of your liver, kidneys, lungs, and intestines will continue.
“Our bodies have incredibly capable detox systems that are working non-stop,” says Julia Lovely, a registered dietitian with her own practice. “Your liver (and other organs) will regenerate themselves, as long as you provide the balanced nutrition your body needs. There’s no quick fix”.
Our bodies have INCREDIBLY capable detox systems that are WORKING non-stop
A Detox Will Cost A Fortune
Not necessarily. Actually, excessive fasting – or limiting food intake – may save grocery money but whether this is healthy or not is a separate matter. According to a McKinsey study in 2021, Health and Wellness is a huge industry worth more than US$ 1.5 trillion worldwide, growing by 5%–10% every year.
More than a third of the participants in this study responded that they were ‘probably’ or ‘definitely’ keen on spending on diet programmes, juice diets, diet supplements and other nutrition-related plans. However, many of the diets and products promising to remove toxins, boost weight loss and improve overall health are not scientifically proven. Often designed to generate wealth, there’s a high probability that they are ineffective.
Lemon Water Detoxes Your Organs
Celebrities often swear by drinking hot lemon water to ‘alkalise’ the body in aiding weight loss and fighting diseases. Mbali Mapholi, a high-profile registered dietitian in South Africa, dispels this myth on her social media: “Nope, the pH level of your blood or cells can’t be altered by what you eat or drink.
“Claims that foods or beverages cleanse or detoxify your organs are FALSE.” Quite simply, it’s just water that’s healthy. “Lemon water has no more health benefits than plain water,” she says, listing some benefits of drinking water.
These benefits include feeling fuller for longer (which can promote weight loss), optimizing your mood, and aiding gut health (by relieving constipation) and improving physical performance. “Just drink your water. Choose the temperature you enjoy. If adding lemon or other fruits and veg helps you with taste, then go for it,” she adds.
Rather ENJOY your food. Be assured that your body can REPAIR itself
Detoxing Is Healthy
The truth is that detoxing can be bad for you. For one, it enables ‘feast-or-famine’ eating patterns and yo-yo dieting. While it helps you to lose weight by fasting, only drinking juice, or using laxatives, the kilos are likely to return once you stop the detox.
“Some home remedies, such as drinking castor oil or Epsom salts, are harmful and can actually damage your kidneys and erode the gut of good bacteria, especially if consumed orally,” warns Mapholi. Even a vitamin-packed juice cleanse can be unhealthy.
“If all you drink is juice, you’re missing out on fat and protein, so your body isn’t structurally able to repair itself,” says Julia Lovely. “By only consuming vitamins and a few carbohydrates, you’re not giving your body any building materials and you might be depriving it further.” Side effects of these practices can include low blood sugar, hunger, brain fog, and tiredness.
No Pain, No Gain?
The all-or-nothing approach of many detoxes encourages an unhealthy attitude towards food that may lead to eating disorders. But you shouldn’t feel the need to punish yourself for indulging, “Rather enjoy your food. Be assured that your body can repair itself,” says Lovely. Even sugar and alcohol are acceptable, in moderation.
Start 2023 by making small changes towards a long-term healthy diet: drink more water, increase your fruit and veg intake, get enough sleep and move your body regularly. Leave your guilt behind and banish all those extreme diets to 2022. Focus more on creating healthy habits and your organs will do the detoxing for you. They may even thank you.
Words by Silke Colquhoun
Photography: Shutterstock, Pexels
