| Swing back to good health with a detox diet |
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WHAT IS A DETOX?
Its a programme or diet based on the belief that our bodies are overloaded with toxins from our lifestyles and environment, and that these could be expelled by changing eating habits, eliminating certain foods and drinks and/or making other lifestyle changes. It is like spring-cleaning yourself. The core message is to cut out so-called toxic foods and substances (such as alcohol) and replace them with so-called detoxifying foods (such as brown rice). The aim is to give your body a break from handling its usual load, allowing it to work on the build-up of excess waste and toxins accumulated over the years.
WHAT IS A TOXIN?
Science defines toxin as a poison that disturbs the workings of your body. According to experts, toxins are foods and pollutants that are difficult to digest or eliminate, and are blamed for creating an imbalance in your body. Many detox programmes hark back to a time when diets and lifestyles were simpler and purer. The detox diet is a way of eating healthily like we used to-when there was no grabbing take-away meals, and drinking coffee at every meeting. Experts argue that in the literal sense, theres no such thing as a detox diet. People worry about processed foods because of pesticides, but levels are regulated, so they shouldnt cause a problem. We cant say, if you cut out these foods your liver will function much better. On the other hand, theres no harm in eating nothing but whole foods and cutting out caffeine and sugary foods for a few days. (Be aware that if youre used to drinking lots of coffee or cola, stopping suddenly can leave you feeling temporarily worse.) Eating more fruit and vegetables will boost your vitamin and mineral intake, while drinking extra water will bring benefits such as increased energy.
DOES DETOXING WORK?
Theres evidence in its favour, but scientific proof is rare. For most experts, the only detoxification thats recognised is by alcoholics when they withdraw from alcohol. But, theres no evidence that people drinking in moderation benefit from cutting out alcohol. It could be argued that detox regimes are simply healthy diets and lifestyles repackaged to appeal to people who want to kick-start them-selves into better eating habits. The detox glow has nothing to do with freedom from toxins-its how people feel when they look after themselves.
DOES EXERCISE PRODUCE TOXINS?
Theres a theory that high-intensity exercise can have a toxic effect on the body, by increasing the production of free radicals and lactic acid. Free-radical production increases when your body consumes more oxygen during exercise. But, a well-nourished persons antioxidant defence system is quite capable to cope with that. Lactic acid-a byproduct of high-intensity exercise-is
also innocent. At very high concentrations, lactic acid interferes with the contraction of your muscles, which in the short term will cause pain and stop you from exercising. But lactic acid is used as an energy source by cells in the body, and is also readily converted into glucose.
Contrary to popular opinion, its not responsible for delayed onset of muscle soreness, which is usually caused by doing an exceptionally vigorous workout than youre used to. This results in microscopic damage in muscle cells, which lead to an inflammatory process, causing swelling and pain in the muscles.
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