At JTA, we receive many questions on the health benefits and safety of cleanses and detoxes.  The answer you have always heard from me is “if you have a healthy diet there is no reason to detox”.  That has long been the mantra in the science-based world I live in.  Recently the practice of ‘detoxing’ has become so popular I decided to take a second look at our need for helping our body rid itself of toxins.

The premise of detoxing is to rid our bodies of toxins that enter either through food, water or air.  While many popular detox gurus would lead you to believe that toxins can build up causing damage and disease unless you buy their cleansing products, there is no science to support these claims.  There is, however, significant research to support the use of an anti-inflammatory diet to support the body’s natural detox process.  If we consider how our bodies function, we know that there are ongoing filtering mechanisms in place to rid our bodies of toxins – the liver, kidneys, lungs and skin all act as wonderful filters to keep us healthy.

In a recent article in Today’s Dietitian, Mary Purdy, MS RDN, an integrative medicine nutritionist, states, “There’s no doubt in my mind that certain foods can both impair and enhance our body’s natural cleansing function.  A healthy detox diet is based on eating healthful whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, whole grains, herbs and spices—as well as eliminating foods that may add to the traffic jam or cause additional inflammation for some people such as refined sugar and certain food additives or preservatives.”

If you are wondering if there is any harm is in doing a cleanse, here are a couple of statements from both Harvard Medical School and Mayo Clinic, discussing two of the biggest concerns:

–     A very low calorie diet slows your metabolism to conserve calories and retain emergency fuel.   When you begin eating normally again your body will have a slowed metabolic rate which could result in additional weight gain.

–    Much of the weight lost in detox diets lasting longer than 3 days may be a result of dehydration and muscle wasting.

The bottom line is this:  when considering a detox or cleanse, weigh the scientific facts.  The research still points to the fact that our bodies have built in filters that work well to cleanse us from toxins. The secret is to decrease your intake of processed foods, refined sugars, saturated fats, AND increase your water intake, choose a well-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, herbs, spices and lean protein.  Sound familiar?  If you are following an anti-inflammatory diet you are already practicing the most effective detox diet!  For more information on adopting an anti-inflammatory lifestyle, my latest book, Eat Well to Be Well, can be your step-by-step guide to eliminating toxins.

The weather is finally cooling down and you know what that means, IT’S TIME FOR SOUP!  If you are like me, I get so excited when I can pull out my favorite soup recipes once again!  This week’s recipe for Beef and Barley Soup is absolutely healthy and delicious.  Enjoy!