Hidden Dangers of Detox Diets
Hidden Dangers of Detox Diets
By Ashley Neglia
Beyoncé dropped 20 pounds in two weeks by going on master cleanse, a popular 10-day liquid detox diet. Starving your body of vital nutrients after a prolonged period can wreak havoc on your system. A British woman suffered permanent brain damage after only one week of being on a nutritionist-prescribed diet. Read on to find out what else detox diets are doing to your body.
Liquid Bowel Movements
Frequent liquid bowel movements can result from a shortage of nutrients such as zinc, protein, vitamin A and B, which help build the intestinal lining. Excessive diarrhea can lead to dehydration, abdominal pain and electrolyte loss. Electrolytes are ionized molecules responsible for facilitating osmosis, the passage of fluid between cells, and regulating the neuromuscular, endocrine and excretory systems. Symptoms of an electrolyte imbalance include fatigue, cardiac arrhythmia and nausea.
Hair Loss
Richard Simmons attributes going bald at age 19 to crash dieting. I know, his hair should have its own zip code, but that only happened after he had 4,000 hair follicles transplanted. Lack of vitamins and minerals in the body can result in brittle hair, which can eventually fall out.
Vitamin Deficiency
When you're ingesting little more than lemon water with a sprinkle of cayenne pepper, the body has no way of replenishing vitamins and nutrients. If you stay on a calorie restrictive diet for more than a week, you may begin to experience side effects from nutrient deficiencies. People who don't consume enough vitamin A can suffer from night blindness and run a high risk of infection. Folate deficiencies can result in weakness, headaches, heart palpitations, irritability and memory loss.
Brain Damage
After being on a severely restrictive diet prescribed by her nutritionist, a British woman incurred permanent brain damage affecting her memory, speech and concentration. Dawn Page, 52, suffered from severe vomiting and an epileptic fit after only one week of being on the "Amazing Hydration Diet." The diet called for her to reduce her salt intake and consume six pints of water per day. When the kidneys are unable to excrete excess water, sodium levels become diluted and result in water intoxication or hyponatremia. A sodium deficiency in the plasma protecting Page's brain allowed water to enter, which ultimately caused brain damage.
Muscle Breakdown
Extreme low-calorie diets can force the body into starvation mode. "Of course, this is the perfect solution if you're in a famine situation," says Sari Greaves, RD, CDN spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "But if you're trying to lose weight, it's going to do little to help you shift those unwanted pounds." The body clings to fat cells and breaks down lean tissue or muscle to provide the calories necessary to function. As you begin to experience muscle loss, the metabolism begins to slow. Once the diet ends, your metabolism will remain slow, fewer calories will be burned and fat will continue to build until the lost muscle is restored.
Cardiac Arrhythmia
In 2006, a 25-year-old British woman died due to cardiac arrhythmia after spending six months on a crash diet. Matilda Callaghan dropped 140 pounds from her original 462-pound frame on a diet that permitted little more than three packets of powdered food per day. Because of the rapid weight loss, Callaghan may have experienced an electrolyte imbalance, which could have resulted in an irregular heartbeat. To avoid heart-related problems when dieting, especially if you've experienced past arrhythmias, take it slow and aim to lose only 0.5 to 1 lb. per week, says Greaves.
Depression
Detox diets deplete the body of much-needed nutrients, including folic acid and vitamin B-12. Being deficient in these vitamins has been shown to trigger or exacerbate depressive symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. This deficiency coupled with low blood sugar can result in headaches, mood swings and, ultimately, depression.
Bowel Perforation
Colonic irrigation, a fancy word for an enema, is a steadfast requirement for some detox diets. While doctor-controlled enemas can relieve severe constipation, colonic irrigations done in the home can be dangerous if not performed properly. Internal bleeding may result if the bowel or rectal tissue is accidentally ruptured, which can lead to infection and death if not cared for properly.
Gallstones
A severe change in eating habits associated with crash diets can result in gallstones. According to the Mayo Clinic, as the body metabolizes fat during prolonged fasting and rapid weight loss, the liver secretes extra cholesterol into bile, which can cause gallstones.
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Recent Comments
Hungryeyezz23 03:25:04 PM Sep 21 2008
if you wanna lose weight take water pills sure you'll be pissing alot but you will lose some weight
BETSWANA 10:16:50 AM Aug 20 2008
These are not real detox diets. They are faad diets. If you want to lose weight, do your own cooking and stop eating processed foods. If you want to detox, eat organic, cook it yourself, and take in a good probiotic. It also helps to sweat.
Isobellaf 10:57:47 PM Aug 17 2008
So, why do so many experts say that fasting for a week, or even longer is a good method to detox your body
Askuzzycat 01:26:20 PM Aug 14 2008
GREAT PICTURE OF RICHARD SIMMONS, DIETING ALSO CHANGED HIS SKIN PIGMENT I GUESS??
Jjennigirl17 12:04:03 PM Aug 14 2008
This article is ridiculous.. First of all, any reputable nutritionist wouldn't have their clients on any "diet" that would cause their hair to fall out or to go into seizures. Shame on that nutritionist! Second of all, with all the crap that we put into our body, I would think it would be detrimental NOT to detox every now and again!! There are excellent detox programs out there that supply all the much needed minerals, electrolytes, etc. Mediclear, for example is an awesome detox product.. Such a ridiculous, misleading article this is!!!
Stephanieconn 10:37:41 AM Aug 14 2008
Exactly right, Superbiker! That's exactly what I was thinking...no mention of the grade B organic maple syrup which provides many important minerals while on the Master Cleanse. I have done it so many times and it has given me energy and has helped make me feel so much better. People ask me what I'm doing all the time. I am so sick of this mind-control BS, too! The "Establishment" would love it if you followed their food pyramid and just popped a Centrum every day. Oh, and be careful of that "dangerous water"!!!
nonny2tnj 09:06:16 AM Aug 14 2008
The truth is that diets any of them, plain don't work because people don't work on why, when and how they eat. The biggest stumbling block to permanent and healthy weight loss is that people don't fix why they overeat. There is ALWAYS a reason be it, boredom, stress, anger, emotional issues, whatever. When you can fix the things that make you overeat and crush the bad habits, ie eating while reading or watching tv, etc and always eating, you can then have real success. For example, think about it, can you go to the movies and not eat or drink anything? Bet most of you say it would be hard. It is a habit.
Bormanathome 08:34:31 AM Aug 14 2008
EASIER SAID THEN DONE, BUT THE KEY AND SUCCESS TO ANY WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM IS.......EAT LESS AND MOVE MORE. THERE IS NO MAGIC BULLET. STOP LIFTING THE FORK AND LIFT THE BUTT OFF THE SOFA.
gwb3658 03:55:07 AM Aug 14 2008
What is it about eating sensibly and getting exercise that you people aren't understanding? Also this: you won't find any doctor who ever has done a colonoscopy who will have found lots of "gunk" packed into the walls of your intestines. It does not happen folks. The usual violent laxative that is administered to prepare one for a colonoscopy does a more than adequate job of clearing you out so that the doc can look inside and find polyps, etc. It's as clean as a whistle. Ergo, you're wasting your money on all the fake "Detox" diets if your goal is to clear out your intestines. Just go spend $5 on the crap the doctors recommend, and spend the next 24 hours on the pot. Et, voila!
JaguarundiLady 11:42:26 PM Aug 13 2008
Hey AOL, you did it again! Another interesting headline leading to a BLANK PAGE. Good job, eh?
