The Pros And Cons Of Detox Diets

Detox diets, like the “Master Cleanse” or the Dr. Oz detox diet, are far harder to wholly write off as effective or ineffective than other forms of fad diets, largely because the diets themselves, and what exactly they are meant to do, vary wildly. Harvard Health Publication The Dubious Practice of Detox says that “The detox programs now being promoted are largely do-it-yourself procedures aimed at eliminating alleged toxins that are held responsible for a variety of symptoms, including headache, bloating, joint pain, fatigue, and depression (Dubious).” There are many supposed ways to “detoxify” oneself, including Intestinal cleansing and nasal irrigation. The diets, however, offer up that you can clean yourself of these alleged toxins by

The Harvard publication goes on to say almost exactly that: ”The diet is lacking in protein, fatty acids, and other essential nutrients. The daily laxative regimen can cause dehydration, deplete electrolytes, and impair normal bowel function.” It also never answers the question, what exactly are the toxins that we are removing from

However, if we use a more lenient version, we can find one or two that can be fairly effective. Weight Watchers specifically can be a very effective weight loss method, especially if one takes advantage of all it offers. The Weight Watchers website states that weight watchers will: “...help you to make healthier food choices – without feeling deprived – using our easy-to-follow ProPoints plan. You’ll get a personalised daily ProPoints allowance and a weekly allowance in case you need to splurge on an extra treat (“Weight Watchers”).” The formula that decides how many “ProPoints” a given food is “ distinguishes among calories and ascribes values to a given food based on its makeup of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and fat (O’Brien).“ In this way the points are counting not only calories, but also many other things, so the plan not only focuses on weight loss but also on having a generally healthy diet. It is worth noting that before 2010 weight watchers formula was based solely on how many calories, so the old points system would have been far more effective for weight loss. That said, the new method can be effective is used