The pros and cons of cleanse diets

George Guerin | Fitness Blogger By George Guerin | Fitness Blogger
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on October 11, 2013 at 7:10 AM, updated October 11, 2013 at 7:41 AM

It seems like everyone I know has tried or plans to try a cleanse or detox diet. Cleanse diets usually consist of a juice fast lasting days or weeks and sometimes include limited food and detoxifying supplements. Some use cleanse and detox diets to lose a few pounds, some think it detoxifies the body. Detox and Cleanse diets seem to be the new nutrition fad, but are they healthy or based on any legitimate form of science? Check out the pros and cons below:

Cons of the Cleanse Diet
lemonade-diet-cayenne-pepper2.jpgThe lemonade cleanse is a typical cleanse diet. 
- Extreme cleanse diets are not nutritionally balanced.

- Cleanse diets have too few calories, without adequate protein or calories you can lose muscle mass and experience dangerously low blood sugars.

- In extreme cases, low blood sugar can lead to electrolyte imbalances that can trigger a heart attack.

- Contrary to popular beliefs, cleanse diets are not going to cure disease or detoxify the liver (the liver, our bodies own detoxification center, contains enzymes to remove toxins that are not healthy. The liver is self cleaning.

- Some people think that a strict cleanse diet will help them mentally prepare to embark on a more healthy way of eating. Studies show that a return to their former unhealthy eating patterns will resume after the diet is over.

Pros of the Cleanse Diet

- A cleanse diet can eliminate poor eating habits.

- Eating less processed food and more plant foods means more fiber and nutrients.

- If you eliminate alcohol, the cleanse diet can have a truly detoxifying effect.

In my opinion, using a cleanse diet to fix a chronic pattern of poor eating is trumped by a healthier choice of good, healthy eating consisting of whole foods. This is much more beneficial than a short-term cleanse. I know, easier said than done!