Cut the Cleansing/Detox Crap

JonathanRoss
  • By JonathanRoss · March 12, 2009 at 6:54 pm · 23 replies
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I've been reading the many posts/questions about detox and cleansing AND have seen enough marketing for these programs from fitness and health people that should know better...

so it's time to take out the trash...

Due to the ingestion of many toxins and the exposure to them in our environment, we are presented the notion that we need to periodically do something drastic to allow our bowels, liver, or other organs a chance to detoxify themselves. Many of the regimens call for abstaining from nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, meats, and some even go so far as to recommend a period of starvation. Theoretically, this gives the liver and other organs a "break" from doing their normal work and allows them to clear built up toxins.

Right, and Santa Claus is real.

Detox and cleansing are clever little fairy tales concocted by people trying to sell you something. I’m not selling you anything so I can give you truth.

A common-sense analogy: Suppose you are over your head in debt. Along comes a financial adviser that explains you can get out of debt by ceasing to spend any money. Stop paying taxes, skip the car payment, ignore the monthly utility bills, stop wasting money on excessive unnecessary purchases, stop putting gas in the car, never go out to dinner, and start taking your lunch to work.

Some of the advice is good, but some of it would be disastrous. Knowing exactly what to eliminate is key. Eliminating ALL spending would be idiotic, but eliminating unwise spending would be smart.

There is no scientific, logical, or common sense-ical basis for the validity of detox diets or cleansing routines. If you've been a regular reader of my posts you know I'm not inclined to make strong, heavy-handed statements, but in this case I'll make an exception.

There can be only one conclusion for anyone with their eyes open to truth and minds closed to marketing, hype, and fairy tales.

If you come across someone who hysterically proclaims dramatic improvements in their energy and fitness levels from following a detox regimen or cleansing routine, one of three things is happening:

(1) -They are overcompensating with zealous enthusiasm so they don't feel like an idiot for being duped into investing in and following a detox regimen. None of us like to feel silly, and the only way you can avoid feeling silly for falling for a detox or cleansing program is if you BELIEVE it works.

(2) -They are trying to get you to buy the products to boost their own profits from the products.

(3) -They have lost the ability to behave normally and think clearly from the lack of food.

Our lungs, kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and immune system are effective in removing or neutralizing toxic substances within hours of consumption. Case closed.

But, just in case you need more details to blow up someone's belief in the fairy tale, here are more details…

Detox/Cleansing Fails its Physiology Test
High volumes of liquid could theoretically remove water-soluble toxins, but they don't accumulate in the body (since we consume lots of water and urinate many times a day.) Most pollutants are fat-soluble (meaning they are stored in fat). Fiber consumption may help eliminate some toxins in the liver, but not chemicals located in other parts of the GI system.

Since most pollutants and toxins are stored in fat, the best "detox" program is the same one that's good for just about everything else - a well balanced fitness and nutrition plan to reduce body fat. Sorry if that's not dazzling enough for you, but the truth often isn't. Fairy tales of unicorns, the tooth-fairy, and detox diets are magical, the truth is plain.

Another problem with detox diets and cleansing routines is that your organs just don't work that way! You can't flush your liver like you flush a toilet. The liver always works to detoxify the blood. It starts working from the day you are born and doesn't stop. If there are toxins present, it removes them. If there aren't, it doesn't. It's that simple.

For example, consider alcohol - the most commonly ingested toxin. If you drink too much, you feel awful the next day because you have a massive build-up of toxic products in your body. The liver clears them out over the course of many hours. Want to help out your liver? Stop putting the toxins in.

The colonics and enemas that are often a feature of detox diets can be downright dangerous, posing many risks including perforation of your colon. You should never need an enema or colonic. If you do it is because something is wrong with your day-to-day habits that needs correcting permanently, not during a ridiculous detox regimen.

Detox/Cleansing Fails its Philosophy Test
Call me crazy, but what if we eliminated our ingestion of and exposure to toxins? What if we stopped eating and drinking junk, and limited our exposure to environmental toxins?

If you limit your intake of toxins, there is no need to even attempt to detoxify. A desire and a need to "detox" illustrates that something is wrong with the lifestyle that supposedly builds up the toxins.

Limiting nicotine, alcohol, and sugar is a good general idea all the time, not just during a detox phase. Instead of living like a weirdo for a week to try and detox, live well the other 51 weeks of the year, stop putting the junk in, and you eliminate the need to follow bogus detox rituals.

But when this concept is taken too far, it becomes silly. For example, one popular detox regimen features a 14-day period of starvation with a diet of saltwater flushes and a concoction of maple syrup, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper. Anyone following a regimen like this must have also taken something to flush the smarts from their brains.

Detox/Cleansing Fails its Common Sense Test
Go to any nation where lots of people are starving to death, and tell them about all the silly Americans who have an abundance of food all around them and willfully starve themselves for days on end. I can only imagine the reaction you'll receive. They would justifiably be offended and think us insensitive for pursuing such foolishness.

If the human species were so precious and delicate that only way for us to survive for millions of years was to undergo colon-cleansing, stop eating (also known as starvation), and ingest some hard-to-find exotic compound to scare away the icky stuff inside of us, we'd have died out a very long time ago.

Our bodies are not designed to go for long periods of time without a mix of a variety of foods. We are meant to consume healthy foods and be active. This should not shock you. Once again, healthy living beats pseudo-scientific nonsense that is designed to rob people of money they can ill-afford to spend on bad diets.

For a fun game, go to a search engine and type in "detox" and "cleanse." When your search returns, you'll see the words "dummy," and "idiot" all over the place. How very appropriate...

I'm sure those in Cult of Detox may get upset with these facts, but frankly, I don't care. I'm sick of meeting people who have had their health and/or finances wrecked by following one of these routines. And I'm calling out any "health professional" who offers this nonsense, be they doctor, trainer, or other health guru. Shame on you for betraying the trust placed in you by someone who is seeking to live better.

"But, I've done detox and/or cleansing before and it works."

No, it doesn't.
Just because you lost weight, doesn't mean it works.
If you do it and lost water, not fat, it doesn't work.
If you have to do it again periodically, it doesn't work.
If you can't sustain it long term, it doesn't work (and you shouldn't even be doing it.)
If it doesn't result in a permanent change to lifestyle habits, it doesn't work.
If it goes against every fact of human physiology, it doesn't work.

You can lose weight by amputating an arm. Losing weight is easy. Losing body fat, consistently exercising, giving your body what it needs - these are sustainable, life-enhancing behaviors. But there's no gimmick, you just have to do it. And that doesn't sell as well as false promises and bogus products.

The Death of Detox has arrived!
To celebrate, go have a nutritious, varied meal, and use the energy boost it provides to have a great workout, and enjoy life!

Jonathan Ross
National Body Challenge Fitness Expert
www.AionFitness.com
http://blogs.discovery.com/jonathan_ross/

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23 replies   

jhsbobo

Easy Big Fella!! I was just researching the "body cleanse" thing..I thought it was suppose to give you energy once your got rid of all the "Toxins" & junk? I will eh honest, by my reply I did not read your entire entry because quite frankly It was alomost too much info for me..can you simplify it & let me know about that part of the "craze..or myth?" Anyone? I was actually going to see if any9one out there has a easy homemade recepie?

JonathanRoss

Can't go easy on this one...there's a clear right and wrong and lots of people are spending money and going against their own biology in pursuit of better energy. The worst part is the people that should know better - the doctors and fitness people - who recommend it.

If you remove junk (toxins) from your intake...then there is no need to cleanse. Eating plenty of veggies, fruits, whole grains, lean meats (unless you're vegetarian), nuts, and legumes INSTEAD of junk foods is what gives you energy.

Give your body what it needs makes it function better, and you feel better as a result.

Life really shouldn't be this complicated...it should be:

Eat Your Beans, Eat Your Greens, Go Out and Play!

Jonathan Ross
National Body Challenge Fitness Expert
www.AionFitness.com
http://blogs.discovery.com/jonathan_ross/

jhsbobo
  • By jhsbobo
  • Reply 86045 · In reply to 86040 by JonathanRoss
  • March 12, 2009 at 8:00 pm
  • Report post

Thanks!..You made me smile & saved me lots of money & trips to the bathroom!'
Beans..:}.Greens...& Go out & Play?
In that order? LOL :}

blancowisher

I too did not read the whole journal, but you got me on" Cut the Cleansing/detox crap. I agree that it is just a sales pitch and all you have to do to cleanse your body is eat right. This is another sales pitch to make people think losing weight is that easy. Thanks.
By the way I did a total cleanse when I had a colonoscopy and did not lose 10 or 20 lbs of junk

jhsbobo
  • By jhsbobo
  • Reply 86050 · In reply to 86040 by JonathanRoss
  • March 12, 2009 at 8:07 pm
  • Report post

You are so educated in this health/fitness thing..two questions for you.well, lets start with one! I realize you are a Male, But, I have a few friends who are out of there minds with/over this "Suzanne Somers" Bio-something..something stuff. They have all run to there Dr.'s ..Of coarse bought her book & are convinced it will change there life! Do you have any info on this subject? I am unders the assumption it is all about all of our Hormones being "outta whack?" Speaking of "Hype" I have a feeling this may be up there with the "cleansing" thing?

melaniec1976

that was the longest post i have ever read and i must say my eyes were glued the entire time that along with all those over the counter diet products that so many of us try or are using..I will even admit i still want to lose another 10 pounds and it wasnt happening and so a few weeks ago my frieng offered me a colon cleansing product along with some green tea that would supposedly have me in the bathroom all day long, well a couple of days later i seen my friend and she said well how did it go and i said it didnt do anything for me and i threw the rest out and she said well it must work differently for everyone and i said no none of these work at all and we need to realize that and we need to stop wasting our money.. Bottom line the only effective way to lose weight is to eat right and excercise yes those two dreaded words but you know what it works and if you apply yourself it is simple!! Melanie...

blancowisher

Yep, I think more tests were done that confirmed eat less and move more if you want to lose weight. Very inexpensive and effective. I also do not like the term diet as it is a temporary fix. Lifestyle change is harder to start, like breaking any addiction or bad habit. But, you can perservere and win this challenge.

fightinggravity

Well alrighty then. Thank goodness you said it and not me. They'd ride me out on a rail! LOL

Another that drives me bonkers, "have you tried this diet pill or that?"

Time has proven that IF you don; t drop dead of a heart attach you are nervous jittery and pretty much wasting your money!

Several cups of coffee will do exactly the same thing!

:D

I just have to mention that I had gallbaldder symptoms for years and had my self convinced that I had inherited this from my mom. Remembering seeing those little green stones in a jar I JUST knew that I would have to have mine removed.

A few years ago, I went two solid weeks on the verge of a full blown attack! I was managing a motel and worked straight thru. SICK as a dog! Because I didn;t have insurance and I needed to keep my job I made arrangements to go thry a clinic for the uninsured. Trying to go thru the proper channels so that I could get the medical help I needed and still keep my job. I expected surgery!

Well guess what? I was impacted ! And the doc gave me a long list of meds I thought on a prescriiption , I WANTED DRUGS! painkillers, WELL, I took the script to walmart and they went out into the regular aisles and started filling a basket with mostly natural, time tested remedies in which I was supposed to take as a cocktail . I WAS LIKE WHAT????? AGAIN I Wanted DRUGS! Morphine OR a shot hun blast to the head. I REALLY hurt and thought I was seriously gonna die!

Two days later, the symptoms were gone and I haven't had them sense.

Moral of this story is that IF you take care of your body and it will take care of you! :D





But back to the cleansing. Eat WELL and most digestive woes will take care of themselves.

fightinggravity

Arghhhh .... sorry about typos but I hope my post makes sense, I guess you can tell that this whole subject gets me going. LAUGH!

blancowisher

Well I am glad that you were able to get help without surgery. I agree though most is what you eat, but maybe stress can factor in too. My step daughter had to have her gallbladder removed but that girl is always stressed and also had an ulcer. I think the gallbladder removlal and a divorce cleared up that problem.

fightinggravity

ABSOLUTELY! I don't do stress well either and i know it was a BIG part of the problem. My symptoms started at the end of a long unhappy marriage in in the midst alcohol abuse and emotional eating.

And the stress leads to other stuff not so good for your body, But I am so glad I got the helo I needed too!

STRESS can kill you.

I am working on that aspect of my life too!

meli312

Thank god for this post!! I have been seeing the cleansing posts and have been biting my tongue from saying what I really thought. So many people are looking for a quick fix for losing weight and there is just no such thing. It takes a healthy diet and hard work..conversation over...

I recommended this post. Awesome job! This should be required reading at The National Body challenge!!!!!!!!

deeski516

Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

That was one of the most intelligent and effective posts I have read in a long time. And I AM a healthcare worker so I read ALOT.

Thank you!

catspah

Wait...are you saying...Santa isn't real?

jenbait

Catspah, Santa is much more wonderful than the colon-talk. :)
I couldn't help but laugh this Sunday morning.
I was at the gym, and I'm scanning channels while on the treadmill. It was nothing but informercials and I couldn't help but think, "When did it become ok to discuss bowels and poops so often?!!!"
It was all they were discussing!!! My grandmother would have smacked 'em all. LOL
Ick!

Serendippity

Jonathan Ross, I love you!

Why do so many people find it so hard to live a healthy life? Just eat right, exercise, get enough sleep, take care of your body...it's not like we're trying to understand Einstein's theory of relativity here...these are really simple concepts. Why do people make it so hard?

Two folks really summed it up for me:

1. My trainer: "Food is just fuel for your body. It's not love. It's not comfort. It's not acceptance. It's just fuel."

2. Comedian Bill Mahar: "Food is either medicine or poison. Try not to put so much poison in your body."

AnnMV

Jonathan, you da MAN!!!

I agree that your post should be required reading for the community and that it should be read in its entirety (I mean, why not? Astonishing wisdom aside, you're an AWESOME writer.)

You debunked a myth and exposed the b.s. with both power and humor.

I'm emailing it to everyone I know who's tried this ridiculous "solution" and (if okay with you) saving it as a quick and effective response whenever this topic comes up again in the community.

JonathanRoss

"jhsbobo"

Not sure exactly what the product by Suzanne Somers you are referring to. And she's got more products than Wal-Mart so it's hard to tell. There's likely some truth in her information, but in general, she seems to sell more of an ideal rather than a reality.

She responsible for unleashing the scourge of the the Thighmaster on the world. :) It's not a bad product, but it only does one thing...it didn't do what it promised.

I could sell you an orange, and it would be healthy, but if I told you it was the elixir of life, it would be overstating things just a tad.

As for hormones...with women and menopause, that is a HUGE factor. The hormone changes that occur with menopause make fat gain - especially around the midsection - very likely if you don't do things just right. (Pam Peake calls this the "menopot" in reference to the pot belly that develops with menopause.)

And, don't be shy about asking me questions (at least fitness-related ones) that most men don't know. I've worked with more women than men over the years so know you more about pregnancy, osteoporosis, breast cancer, menopause, etc., than you'd probably expect...

Jonathan Ross
National Body Challenge Fitness Expert
www.AionFitness.com
http://blogs.discovery.com/jonathan_ross/

JonathanRoss

junegroomsmom...

You said it...take care of your body and it will take care of you. Simple, effective wisdom.

Jonathan Ross
National Body Challenge Fitness Expert
www.AionFitness.com
http://blogs.discovery.com/jonathan_ross/

JonathanRoss

Meli312,

Thanks for your compliments and enthusiasm...maybe they'll make it required reading.

I get so sad and frustrated sometimes at the amount of time I and other experts have to spend getting bad information out of the way to focus on the real stuff to do instead of steering people away from what doesn't. But the pitfalls are numerous when it comes to weight loss and many people fall prey to the marketing.

Your kind of feedback really keeps me going - thank YOU.

Jonathan Ross
National Body Challenge Fitness Expert
www.AionFitness.com
http://blogs.discovery.com/jonathan_ross/

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