Kristen Fleming holds a Master of Science in Nutrition. Over her 8 years of experience in dietetics, she has made significant contributions in clinical, community, and editorial settings. With 2 years as a clinical dietitian in an inpatient setting, 2…
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A promise of purifying the body with a 7-day detox diet plan is appealing, to say the least. But is it possible to start from a clean slate when it comes to nutrition and health? We looked into scientific evidence to understand detoxing and build a 7-day detox diet plan without false promises.
Two types of toxins can be found in the human body (1):
Endotoxins are byproducts of its own functioning like lactic acid, feces, and urea.
Exotoxins come from the outside. These are air and water pollutants, chemicals from cosmetics and cleaning products, and pesticides and metals in food.
Detox diets usually aim to rid you of the latter group in general including synthetic chemicals, processed food, and any other potentially harmful substances (2). However, such a vague definition of “toxins” without naming specific substances makes it challenging to explore the efficacy of the diets intended to clear them away. Moreover, in most cases, the amount of toxins that enter the body is small enough for the organs to cope by themselves without external help (2).
What Is Detox: Can You Cleanse Your Body?
According to Harvard Health Publishing, the only valid detox practice is the medical procedure used to eradicate deadly levels of drugs, alcohol, or poisons from the body (6). Other than that, the human body does the job. “Detoxification organs” include (2):
Yet, none of the studies on them have involved human subjects, so whether the results are relevant for humans is still a pressing question (2). This means any promise of “cleansing the body” via a diet is not science-backed. Even if a certain detox plan makes you feel better and refreshed, such a quick fix won’t make much impact as you go back to the old nutrition habits right after. And if some toxic chemicals have already damaged your liver and other organs (which is very rare), playing a “reverse card” is impossible.
As for whether one can lose weight in 7 days or less with a detox diet plan, the answer is more straightforward. Like with any highly restrictive diet, short-term weight loss brings unsustainable results that quickly diminish (2). Slowed metabolism is another after-effect (2).
Detox Health Risks
The restrictive nature of the majority of detox diets involves health risks one should consider. Such diets often require fasting, severely limit protein intake, and highly rely on raw fruits and vegetables. Some can resort to exclusive consumption of liquids like fruit juices and nothing more to “flush your system”. Using supplements and enemas (colon cleansing) to physically cleanse the intestines is also common.
Needless to say, such drastic approaches may lead to vitamin, protein, and mineral deficiencies and fatigue (3, 2). Another risk is overdose on supplements, laxatives, and sometimes even water (2). So taking up a 7-day liquid detox diet plan or a 7-day vegan detox diet plan like a juice cleanse can do more harm than good due to their nutritional inadequacy and other risks.
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What To Eat On A 7-Day Detox Diet
Yet, it’s hard to ignore the testimonials of those who tried detoxing, as they often claim feeling fresh and rejuvenated. That’s due to the decreased consumption of processed foods, saturated fats, sugar, etc.
While you can’t detoxify your body, you can detoxify your diet to make the load easier for your liver and kidneys. Taking care of the “detoxifying organs” is the only way to help your body deal with toxins (1). This means a healthy diet of whole grains, lean protein, fruits, and vegetables over the long term creates the effect promised by detox plans (1).
More specific dietary recommendations for liver health can help to craft a genuine detox meal plan as well (4):
keeping away from alcohol
ssubstituting fast food, commercial bakery goods, ultra-processed foods with high-fiber less processed items like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds
swapping saturated fats for healthy sources of fatty acids like avocados, plant-based oils, nuts, and omega-3 rich foods like fish and seafood
avoiding added sugars
choosing traditional non-restrictive diets like the Mediterranean diet
Here’s a sample plan of a detox diet to follow. It will jump-start new healthier dietary patterns that promote the health of organs responsible for detoxifying your body.
Breakfast: 2 servings of Black Bean Omelette —36g carbs, 25g fat, 26g protein, and 468 calories.
Lunch: 1 serving of Spinach Salad with Blackberries and 1 serving of Cottage Cheese with Cucumber and Tomato — 30g carbs, 30g fat, 33g protein, and 507 calories.
Dinner: 1 serving of Sticky Garlic Noodles — 50g carbs, 36g fat, 8g protein, and 549 calories.
Snack: 2 cups of grapes — 55g carbs, 0.5g fat, 2.2g protein, and 208 calories.
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Our bodies have sophisticated mechanisms for ridding themselves of harmful substances. Our task remains simple — supporting the health of the system. That’s why extreme commercial detox diets that involve fasting and severe limitations are not the way to go. Instead, a real 7-day detox cleanse diet plan should be an introduction to a healthy sustainable nutrition pattern that is not overwhelming for the body. Ready to try? Your body will thank you!
DISCLAIMER:
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!
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