Ever did a Detox Diet? Were you successful? Yeh? That's great. You lose weight? What about fat? I doubt it. Let's take a look at what happens on the inside of the human body and see what attributes to "weight" loss when doing a detox.

The original goal of detox diets was to purify the body by facilitating the removal of toxins. They were NOT developed for the purpose of weight loss other than the natural loss of water weight occurring in the initial stages of fasting. The weight loss attributed to detox diets is the result of restricted calorie consumption - not good!

Lengthy periods of extreme caloric restriction, however, can lead to diet failure, rebound weight gain, and the possibility of jeopardising health. On the positive side, periodic detox diets lasting no more than a few days offer renewed energy and a feeling of well-being.

Lengthy detox diets, however, can be harmful to your health, with side effects including headache, lethargy, dehydration and cramps. Detox diets that do not involve severe calorie restriction, include a variety of fresh, high-fiber fruits and vegetables and a protein source, can be used for healthy weight loss.

To date, there is no reliable medical research available to substantiate claims of the beneficial effects touted by promoters of detox diet plans. Before making any dietary changes, obtaining medical approval is advisable.

Dr. Christine Gerbstadt MD RD says many of her clients gain weight after detox diets. The possibility of rebounding with weight loss is increased because the basal metabolic rate of a person may decrease. This occurs because of the body's struggle to conserve energy. When a person begins to eat normally again after a detox diet, weight gain may result because of the low basal metabolic rate. The highly restrictive nature of the diet may in effect actually decrease energy levels and prevent exercise. Dr. Gerbstadt said a client may say he has increased energy, but after walking a short distance, he collapses. During an exercise routine, an appropriate diet should be consumed to support the exercise.

I sound so negative, but there are too many fad diets that seem to try and negate good, healthy eating!!

NOTE: Dr Christine Gerbstadt MD RD is a certified specialist in sports dietetics, a certified diabetes educator, and American Council on Exercise-certified personal trainer. She is both a practicing physician (since 1989) and registered dietitian (since 1978). Gerbstadt received a dietetic internship and earned a master of public health degree from the University of California at Berkeley. After earning her Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Pennsylvania, she did her residency training at the Brigham and Women's Hospital of Harvard Medical School in Boston. She is certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology.

A national media spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, Gerbstadt now practices in Sarasota, Fla., where she is president of Nutronics, Inc. and on staff at Blake Medical Center.

__________________

Disclaimer: Hypermuscles.com does not promote the use of anabolic steroids without a doctor's prescription. The information we share is for entertainment and research purposes only.