Every so often in the world of nutrition, a new type of diet or fad will burst onto the scene. One of the most rapidly growing fads within the last few years is the idea of a “juice cleanse.” In case you may not know, a juice cleanse is a diet where people are encouraged to only drink juices filled with blended vegetables, fruits, and sometimes seeds, in place of a normal diet of whole foods. When googling the term “juice cleanse,” the top three results will list all of the supposed benefits of following this diet, while simultaneously linking to different juices you can buy, or directly trying to sell you one of their own juice products. Not much of a coincidence that just about every article supporting a juice cleanse will try to encourage you to buy something at the same time. What are these expected benefits? Two of the main benefits are ridding your body of “toxins” and weight loss. But do you really need to drop 75 dollars (often, much more than that) for juice just to get these benefits? You don’t! Keep on reading and I’ll tell you all about why this trend may actually do your body (and wallet) more harm than good.

“Removing toxins from your system”

What exactly are toxins? Toxins are defined by Merriam Webster as “a poisonous substance that is a specific product of the metabolic activities of a living organism and is usually very unstable, notably toxic when introduced into the tissues, and typically capable of inducing antibody formation.” Considering this definition, if your body was actually full of these toxins, you would be in danger of a serious medical emergency, and should probably seek immediate care. But why is it that you don’t have to seek that care? The answer is because your body ALREADY detoxes for you! Your body is the most efficient detoxifier there is. Your kidneys and liver are significantly more effective than any type of juice or food product will ever be. Your liver works to filter blood, removing compounds that could prove hazardous to your body, while simultaneously storing vitamins and minerals. Your kidneys filter about 120-150 quarts of blood a day and produce 1-2 quarts of urine that are full of waste that was in your body. Dr Ranit Mishori, an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at Georgetown University, has stated; “unless there’s a blockage in one of these organs that do it day and night, there’s absolutely no need to help the body get rid of toxins.”

Slimming down for summer?

But what if I’m trying to lose weight? Is a juice cleanse right for me? Sure, you may lose weight on a juice cleanse, but you won’t be losing any body fat, which is probably the reason you’re looking to shed weight in the first place. Since juice cleanses will often cap you at a calorie limit that is typically well below your daily needs, you’ll lose weight, but it will all be water weight. So, those 10 pounds that you lost during your juice cleanse will come right back as soon as you resume your normal diet. Doing these juice cleanses is often times not good for you, as a purely fruit and vegetable juice diet will almost completely cut protein out of your diet along with dropping your caloric intake way too low. Want some actual advice for losing weight? A great place to start is exercise, and making smarter choices in your diet by choosing lean meats, and choosing more complex carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables over processed foods.

Fad diets will always come and go, and every year there will be some sort of new diet promising quick and easy benefits. The fact of the matter is that living and maintaining a healthy lifestyle isn’t quick and easy! It requires commitment and dedication. How can you avoid falling into a fad diet trap? Check out the infographic below!

Do you have any thoughts on fad diets or juice cleanses? Let us know in the comments!

Sources Cited:

Barclay, Eliza. “Can A Diet Clean Out Toxins In The Body?” NPR. NPR, 16 Feb. 2012. Web. 23 June 2017.<http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/02/15/146927835/can-a-diet-clean-out-toxins-in-the-body>.

Cosgrove, Ben. “The Truth About Detox Diets.” Berkely Welness. University of California, 19 Mar. 2015. Web. 23 June 2017. <http://www.berkeleywellness.com/healthy-eating/diet-weight-loss/nutrition/article/truth-about-detox-diets>.

“Detoxing: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” One Green Planet. One Green Planet, n.d. Web. 23 June 2017.<http://www.onegreenplanet.org/natural-health/detoxing-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/>.

Moores, Susan. “Experts Warn of Detox Diet Dangers.” NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group, 18 May 2007. Web. 23 June 2017. <http://www.nbcnews.com/id/18595886/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/t/experts-warn-detox-diet-dangers/#.WUgmBWjyvcs>.

“Your Kidneys and How They Work.” National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 01 Mar. 2014. Web. 23 June 2017.<https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidneys-how-they-work>.

Zelman, Kathleen M. “The Truth About Detox Diets.” WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 23 June 2017. <http://www.webmd.com/diet/a-z/detox-diets>.