Are Detox Diets A Myth?

It states:" "The detox fad - or fads, as there are many methods - is an example of the capacity of people to believe in and pay for magic despite the lack of any sound evidence," says Martin Wiseman, visiting professor of human nutrition at the University of Southampton. Most of the pills, juices, teas and oils that are sold for their detoxifying effects on the body have no scientific foundation for their claims, according to the research. People would be better off drinking tap water and having an early night." It continues to say that they offer empty promises as they have never been proven to work, our bodies are designed to get rid of any chemicals that it doesn't want and excrete them, the benefits of healthier looking skin and lack of headaches is only due to drinking more water and eating a better quality of diet. What do they think a detox diet is? To my knowledge a huge part of detoxing is to eat more cleansing foods (i.e more fruit and vegetables) and increase your intake of water. The addition of a few natural helpers in the form of herbs, oils, juices and pills can actually be omitted and the same benefit gained. It is 100% true that the body is designed to get rid of undesirable toxins and excrete them, but when an overload of toxins occurs from a sometimes lifelong accumulation of junk, the body can do with a helping hand. There has been scientific research into many herbal remedies which do show their effects as detoxifying agents like Alfalfa, Kelp, Milk thistle, Dandelion, Psyillum husks etc. Fasting and cleansing are also very helpful but detoxification is not a single event but an ongoing process that supports the body's natural ability to effectively dispel toxins on a daily basis. Part of that process is consciously limiting the toxins that enter the body in the first place. Restricting or cutting out the usual suspects like caffeine, refined sugar, alcohol, drugs, tobacco, synthetic or petroleum-based body products, and household chemicals is a good place to start. (Fasting, if chosen, will be less of an effort if symptoms of withdrawal from caffeine, sugar or cigarettes are not part of the experience.) Eating an organic natural-foods diet, drinking sufficient amounts of pure water, and getting regular exercise are actions that begin to facilitate detoxification. Our bodies adjust best to gradual change, so incorporating these practices into everyday life is recommended before embarking on a more stringent course for flushing toxins out of your system One sometimes gets the feeling that they are happy keeping us unhealthy, ridiculing any form of natural healthcare, thereby keeping us ignorant to nature's natural pharmacy and dependent on the healthcare they give to us. Whatever you choose to do, take care and stay healthy