DIABETES Q AND A:

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DIABETES Q AND A:

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QUESTION:

Does research confirm any benefits from " detox " diets?

ANSWER:

People use the term " detox diet " to refer to a wide range of

practices. A detox diet could be a couple of days of drinking

water only or juice fasts, intricate eating stages moving from

juices to vegetables, or simply giving up animal foods and

eating lots of vegetables. For some people, some of these

detox diets can be outright dangerous.

Children, adolescents, pregnant or breastfeeding women, the

elderly, and people with health problems such as heart disease,

diabetes, and decreased kidney function could seriously suffer

from one of these diets.

For others, a short-term detox diet could be safe, and perhaps

spiritually beneficial, but no sound research documents any

health benefits from them. The weight loss people report is

probably temporary, since it comes from fluid losses, not body

fat melting away. Any increase in energy could be attributed

to momentarily stopping the typical American habit of excessive

calorie consumption, just as well as to any possible release

of built-up toxins, as some people claim.

Instead of jumping into a short-term detox diet then returning

to overeating an unhealthy diet, it is better to enjoy the

positive possibilities like weight loss and more energy by

following an eating pattern well documented to bring health

benefits. This eating pattern focuses on vegetables, fruits,

whole grains and beans; limits red meat, fat, sugar and

alcohol; and calls for appropriate portions.

'All that I have seen teaches me to trust God for all I have not seen.'

~Sugar