Q&A WITH LYNN BAER, M.A.

"Will a Detox Diet Help Me Lose Weight?"

Question: I keep hearing about detox diets, and how they can help with weight loss. I'm looking to jumpstart my own weight loss, so is this something I should consider?

Answer: There is not an easy answer to your question. As with many health and weight loss related issues, the answer is, quite simply, “it depends.” Whether you particularly should consider a detox diet as part of your weight loss regimen does depend on several crucial factors.

So I ask you these 4 questions:

1. What percentage of your body fat is cellulite? Cellulite typically forms around the buttocks and thighs, and sometimes on the calves and upper arms. It is easily distinguishable by the dimply texture of the skin surface where the cellulite has formed.
   If your answer is YES, then my answer to you is yes, a detox diet will be beneficial for you, since cellulite is an issue of toxicity, not just fat cell growth.
   
   
2. Has your diet in the last year (or longer) included these foods: fried foods, refined flour snack or dessert foods (cake, cupcakes, donughts,etc), large amounts of dairy products, processed foods (containing artificial ingredients and refined ingredients), meals from fast food restaurants more than twice a week and meats and fish that are not lean? If you answer YES to any of these, you would do well to begin your weight loss program with a detox diet.
   
   
3. Have you been taking any prescription medications for the last year or longer AND is your weight gain related to these medications (as a side effect)? If YES, then a long-term dietary change that incorporates cleansing foods will help move any toxic residue of these medications from your body and may also help you manage the weight gain.
   
   
4. Have you been experiencing any of these symptoms of body toxicity?
   

• Allergies to certain foods
  
• Intolerance to fatty foods
  
• Digestive disorders that include bloating and flatulence
  
• Pain in your abdomen
  
• Lower back pain
  
• Bad breath and foul-smelling gas and stools
  
• Constipation, diarrhea, irregular bowel movements or sluggish elimination
  
• Rashes, boils, pimples, acne or other skin problems
  
• Compromised immune system
  
• Frequent colds and viruses
  
• Frequent headaches
  
• General aches and pains throughout the body
  
• Low energy, fatigue or loss of vitality with no apparent cause
  
• Inability to get enough sleep
  
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), breast soreness, vaginal infections
  

If you have, you will definitely benefit from a detox diet.

Now, having said all that, there are some very important considerations to take into account before starting a detox diet. Body detoxification is an extremely useful health technique when approached properly. BUT, a body detox, if done improperly, can be hazardous to your health. It can do more harm than good.

So it’s crucial that you do some research and find a detox program that is most suitable for your needs and, more importantly, is safe, thorough and natural – gentle on your body. Extreme detox plans are to be avoided like the plague.