What Are the Benefits of a Detox Diet?

Detoxification--or detox, as it is commonly known, was originally intended as a treatment for drug and alcohol dependencies. Today, detox programs--particularly detox diets--are touted as the most effective way of eliminating built-up toxins and wastes from the body.

The detox theory

• Our body becomes overloaded with toxins from the chemicals found in the food, water and caffeine we ingest, from nicotine and alcohol use, and from the over-the-counter and prescription medications we take. When we remove these sources for a period of time, our body's built-in cleansing system kicks in. When the liver and kidney are no longer being constantly overloaded with toxins, they can cleanse from the inside, as they are meant to do. A period of fasting is involved to gradually introduce the body to a range of fresh and unprocessed food options.

Healthier Lifestyle

• Detox programs and diet promote gradual withdrawal from the ways of an unhealthy lifestyle by introducing routine exercises along with a balanced diet involving organic or unprocessed foodstuffs. The body is then able to strengthen the immune system, which is crucial to fighting diseases.

Nutritional Supplementation

• Detox diets make use of vitamins, food nutrients and natural antioxidants--instead of surgery, chemicals and other medical procedures--to induce internal body cleansing.

Toxin-Free Body

• Some detox diets induce diarrhea and make use of laxative teas, whereas others make use of high-fiber foods to draw out and eliminate toxins through more frequent bowel movements and urination.

Lifestyle Change

• Through fasting and periods of withdrawal from the sources of toxins, a detox diet helps patients ease their transition to a drug- and alcohol-free life. Instead, they are taught the importance of health and well-being by living on a healthy diet of chemical-free food selections, which are proven effective in repressing addictive urges.