The Detox Dilemma • 05.20.08
| Detox diets make a whole lot of promises, from flushing out poisons, melting away excess fat, |
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and bolstering the immune system to clearing the complexion, supplying energy, and even curing diseases. The basic idea is to “detoxify” the body of harmful substance so it can perform optimally, while at the same time magically causing your body to shed unwanted pounds. Although the length and details of detox diets vary, most often they involve some version of a fast (usually water or juice) coupled with a period of severe calorie restriction and food limitation. Many programs also encourage colonic irrigation and herbal supplements to further assist the “purification” process. For example, adherents of the popular Master Cleanse diet drink only lemon juice mixed with cayenne pepper, maple syrup, and water, as well as salt water and laxative tea for 10 days. Followers of this and other detox diets say that as their fat burns away, it takes harmful toxins along with it. So where do all these harmful substances come from? Well, toxins, or substances that damage the structure or function of body cells and tissues, are everywhere. They’re in the foods we eat, the liquids we drink, and the air we breathe. Some come from external sources, such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs, pesticides, heavy metals, processed food, preservatives, additives, and airborne allergens, while others are created internally (free radicals and metabolic waste). There are dozens of books and hundreds of web sites that promote regimens to get rid of all these nasty toxins, and spas and health clubs alike invite dieters to detoxify themselves for good health and physical well-being. |
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According to Japanese tradition, Matcha, a fragrant, powdered green tea, promotes alertness and focus. Origins Matcha Tea Body Scrub, £35 (0800 7314039), combines essential oils and flakes of therapeutic sea salt to calm the skin and slough off dead cells, leaving your body invigorated and well moisturised.