Detox Myths Shattered: the Truth About Internal Cleansing

Doctors are frantically scurrying to annhilate detox out of the sphere of influence, making claims that invalidate and attack internal cleansing methods, labeling them “dangerous,” and “ineffective.” The scare tactics being employed by M.D.’s, however, can be demystified with a little common sense. Allow me to explain why the medical industry wants to boot detox off the radar screen by addressing the three biggest “myths” told by doctors and spun by journalists:

1.        The body is already capable of detoxing itself. Isn’t this a nice thought? See, this would be true if a person were in a perfect state of health, entirely free of toxins in the first place. Given that 100% of people are exposed to toxins through food, water, pesticides, cleaning products, pollution, and loads of invisible environmental toxins on a daily basis, it is safe to assume that all of us are, on some level, toxic. Doctors claim that the body is capable of eliminating these toxins effectively without the aid of a detox program. The problem, however, is that toxic overload, (which often results simply from consuming processed, packaged food over a lifetime) inhibits the body from being able to eliminate waste and other toxic material quickly enough. The result is essentially a “clogged” digestive tract that is unable to absorb nutrients properly. Furthermore, disease cannot exist in an alkaline, oxygenated enviroment. ____________ won the Nobel Peace price in 1XXX for this discovery. Given this idea,  people would not suffer from chronic health ailments or disease at all unless they were internally toxic on some level. Disease thrives in an acidic environment, and detoxing assists the body in obtaining a more alkaline state.

2.        Detox is dangerous. The only thing dangerous about detox is that it threatens the very foundation of western medicine. Think about it. If people could obtain vibrant health without the use of drugs or invasive surgeries, then there goes the billion dollar pharmeceutical industry and the careers of many doctors. Medical M.D.’s have every reason to critcize and debunk a practice that directly threatens their jobs. Yet, this claim is not only based on defending the medical profession, but also a great deal of ignorance. Typically, medical school programs spend about a day covering material about nutrition. The heart of detox is based on how foods affect the internal atmosphere of the body, and using the right foods, herbs, and natural supplements to correct imbalances. One day of nutrition out of several years of study cannot possibly afford doctors enough information to understand the concept of detox. So, why do doctors claim detox is dangerous? Probably based on the symptoms that many people experience when first undertaking a detox regime: headaches, nausea, fatigue, and other vague symptoms that may resemble a flu or cold. What is common knowledge in the Ayurvedic, holistic, and detox health community has obviously escaped doctors—the idea of the “healing crisis”.  What happens during a detox can be compared to washing a pan that has crusted food stuck to the bottom. The toxic debris that get stored in our bodies is suddenly released and circulating in our bloodstream and throughout our cells before being eliminated, causing symptoms resembling illness the first few days of a detox. Often times, physical symptoms from previous diseases will surface, as residual traces have been stored in the body. Think about the dirty pan. Adding a cleansing agent like water will loosen debris so it can be washed away. A healing crisis, contrary to popular belief, is a good sign that the detox is working properly. It is no more “dangerous” than getting the oil changed for your car. The rewards of sticking it out through a healing crisis are far greater than staying toxic.

3.        Detox involves eliminating food groups and deprives you of proper nutrition Only in America do people gasp at the idea of deprivation. The overly –indulgent nature of our society is most likely the cause of nutrition deprivation. Eating processed crap will certainly starve my body of much needed nutrients. The claim that doctors make in regard to detox is that it is not healthy to eliminate certain food groups. However, this is only partially true. Detoxing doesn’t always involve cutting carbs, going vegetarian, or giving up sugar. When it does, it serves an important purpose by allowing the body to restore digestive functions and eliminate toxins effectively. Certain detox regimes, such as the Master Cleanse or juicing, do involve eliminating solid foods, gluten, meat, or other things for a period of time. However, giving up steak and potatoes or candy bars for a month is not putting you in danger of nutritional deficiencies. Clinical studies have proven that vegans and vegetarians can acquire the same amount of nutrients and proteins from plant sources as meat-eaters. Additionally, detox programs are short in duration, meaning that you can’t adopt a nutrient deficiency if you decide to juice fast for a week. Granted, it is always wise to speak to a health care practitioner about your needs if you have conditions like diabetes or hypoglycemia, yet most people can safely detox and will not be nutritionally deprived. Another thing to consider about this myth is that giving up certain foods does not mean you are eliminating an entire food group. White bread, for example, can be replaced with sprouted grains, rye, or spelt. Processed sugar can be replaced with natural sugar. The protein in meat can be exchanged for nuts and seeds. Detoxing does not have to be about deprivation and starvation. If you don’t want to drink maple syrup and lemonade for 10 days, there are plenty of foods that you can eat while doing a detox that will keep you nourished and healthy.

The medical community will continue to clamor about detox. One of their biggest claims at the moment is that there is “no data” to scientifically prove that detox is effective. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it might have something to do with the lack of scientific research even conducted on the subject. “No data” simply means that clinical studies have not been performed, evaluated, and infiltrated into the scientific and medical communities. Furthermore, something tells me that they wouldn’t be made public by the very powerhouses that would be threatened by conclusive evidence in support of the health benefits of detox. In any case, the proof is in the pudding. I’ve seen tumors shrink, a diabetic go off his insulin, and many other chronic health issues vanish with detox. As ancient Ayurvedic medicine holds, all disease starts in the GI tract. Where medical doctors and holistic doctors disagree, is how to treat the disease, with the former focusing on controlling symptoms, and the latter investigating and curing the root cause of the disease. Of course it would be difficultto prove that a certain disease went away by cleansing the digestive tract and detoxing. But the process of elimination would suggest that when nothing else works, detox is the culprit of the cure.

While western medicine certainly has its place in society (if I break my arm, a detox won’t fix it), be wary of their expertise when it comes to detox.

For more information about detox, visit www.RadianceHealthSolutions.com.