Definition
By detoxifying diet or detox diet we mean a real diet aimed at purifying the body from exogenous toxins, accumulated due to the contemporary lifestyle because they are conveyed by junk food, by nerve drinks, by psychological stress, from drugs and environmental pollution.
The detox diet or detox diet therefore aims to improve the general state of health. Furthermore, although it is not directly aimed at slimming, by virtue of the very small amount of energy introduced with food, it is not uncommon that following it there is a (more or less conspicuous) reduction in body weight due to the depletion of fat, but also of the muscle proteins, glycogen and body hydration.
The types of detoxifying or detox diet are many and (for various reasons that we will explain below), not being able to fall within the so-called conventional medicine, they are all part of a branch called "alternative medicine"; for convenience, we will summarize the characteristics common to the main detox diet systems or detox diet systems without NEVER going into the specifics of what is mentioned by one or the other author in question.
A holistic system
Some of the founders proudly claim that the detox diet or detox diet represents a nutritional scheme with holistic properties, that is, it uses mechanisms that cannot be explained by a simple schematization or logical explanation. From a scientific point of view, this is certainly a questionable, if not extravagant, aspect. In the experimental field, in fact, the justification of the methods, the means, the tools and the understanding of the mechanisms involved in the various processes represent the fundamental presupposition of the research itself. Therefore, speaking of "Holistic Detox" means totally disregarding both the verification of the efficacy of the proposed dietary scheme and its real health impact.
At the same time, there are also those who try their hand at differentiating other healing disciplines; this is the case of "Biontology". This is defined as the study of the essence of life aimed at achieving health and well-being; not surprisingly, biontological systems (which have roots in Chinese medicine) use the method of the detox diet or detox diet to obtain the maximum desirable result.
Principles and mechanisms of the detox diet
The detox diet or detox diet is based on the complementary application of some principles:
- Changing the eating style: promoting the consumption of detoxifying or detox foods in place of intoxicating ones. Detoxifying foods are all those rich in water, fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in general. The intoxicants, on the other hand, contain animal proteins, additives, bad fats and cholesterol, pollutants, drugs, nerve molecules, etc. and these are mainly: fast-food foods (fried foods, hamburgers, frankfurters, etc.), snacks and other packaged products, added fats, salty foods, sugary foods, coffee, alcohol, etc.
- Lifestyle modification: through the increase of physical activity, the elimination of smoking, the reduction of exposure to environmental pollution and the correct management of psychological stress
- Reduce the use of drugs
- Use detoxifying systems or parallel detoxes: the most famous is (or was) "the aqua detox - foot detox", a sort of electric foot bath that would facilitate the detoxification of the body through the ionic-chemical exchange of the skin. Obviously, it was put under investigation as it was deemed a real scam (read Dr. Ben Goldacre's review).
Colon cleansing (enemas), chelating therapies, removal of dental fillings, etc. are also widespread. - Begin mental stabilization paths: through the practice of activities such as "Yoga detox" or meditation.
In short, the more you have, the more you put!
As mentioned, the hypothetical physiological mechanisms on which the detox diet or detox diet is based are not always well defined. It seems that the various strategies aim at interrupting the accumulation of toxins by promoting their active disposal; on the basis of some physiological principles (more or less "sketchy"), the "gurus" of the detox diet or detox diet affirm that through this technique it is possible stop the accumulation of mucus saturated with toxins in various parts of the body. In addition to the discharge of the hepatic-renal work (processing and filtration of the blood), one should therefore assist in the expulsion of all excess waste (mucus and organic fluids) from: digestive tract, respiratory tract, blood and skin (a principle curiously similar to that of the "mucus-free diet").

Detoxifying and Purifying Soup
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On the basis of what is mentioned in the various texts that speak of a detoxifying diet or detox diet, by toxins we mean all the molecules "harmful" for the body or responsible for significant psycho-physical discomfort; among these are mentioned: waste from excess protein (amino groups and urea), refined carbohydrates (white flours and sugar), catabolites of muscle fatigue (lactic acid), homocysteine, food additives, cooking salt, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics , heavy metals (lead and mercury) etc. Toxins are therefore responsible for the worsening of the state of health, psycho-physical performance, the reduction of the immune system, the increase in the incidence of infectious and neoplastic diseases, etc. On the contrary, the use of raw plant-based foods and, more generally, of the phytotherapeutic agents contained in vegetables, roots, spices, etc., would facilitate the detoxification of the body at the expense of accumulated toxins (a principle curiously similar to " Kousmine method "and the" Raw diet ") with indirect protective effect, improvement of the immune defenses and increase in physical and mental prowess.
Sometimes, the detox diet or detox diet also involves the cycling of pre-established phases and periods; some examples are controlled fasting, semi-fasting, selective food exclusion, etc.
Controversy
Returning to reality (since, in large part, tales have been talked about!), We remind you that specialists DO NOT ADVISE to adopt the detox diet or detox diet in case of pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney diseases or overt physical wasting; This last aspect is significant, given that according to "some gurus" the detox diet is highly suitable for post-chemotherapy recovery ...
Among the above, analyzing the cases in which certain patients subjected to a detoxifying diet have reported a perception of significant improvement, it was concluded that this system can determine a state of rather important keto-acidosis. It is curious to verify that, following a detox diet or detox diet prolonged beyond 24/48 hours, the accumulation of toxic molecules can occur; this is due to the glucose insufficiency caused by the extremely reduced diet (mainly composed of liquids extracted from vegetables, such as "centrifuges" and "minestrone"). It is also not excluded that it could have been a trivial placebo effect or false testimonies.
In light of the scientific evidence of the various detox systems (ie NONE), the "British organization Sense About Science" has defined the numerous strategies of the detox diet a real "waste of time and money".
Prof. Professor Alan Boobis "OBE, Toxicologist, Division of Medicine, Imperial College London" stated that "The autonomous detoxification systems of the body are at least sophisticated and certainly very effective thanks to the evolution they have undertaken by continuously enduring the stresses of a hostile environment. It is therefore serious that some people are willing to risk damaging these systems with debilitating diets such as the detox diet or detox diet, which more often than not does more harm than good! ".
Ultimately, if the changes proposed by the detox diet as regards eating and lifestyle are - except for extremes such as raw food, fruit drifts or prolonged fasting - at least in part shareable, all the other "alternative" solutions, such as enemas, thermal suits, urinotherapy and so on, convey a strong anachronistic sense; they are also devoid of scientific foundations and potentially dangerous to health.
Detox Diet Example - Detoxifying »
