Detox Diet Shakes

A detox diet is an alternative to traditional, prolonged regimes of diet and exercise. The crux of a detox diet is adherence to a very strict plan of eating for a relatively short period of time, purportedly leading to health benefits, including weight loss. Detox diet shakes are on-the-go solutions, allowing you to take in a large quantity of nutrients without the hassle of preparing a full meal.

Features

Detox diets range from a period as short as several days to several months. The ingredients present in a detox diet vary widely, and are seemingly only limited by the imagination of the plan's creator. For example, some detox diets consist of only solid, raw food, while others consist of nothing but liquid nutrition. One well-known detox diet, the Master Cleanse, forces you to consume nothing but fresh lemonade and maple syrup during your tenure on the plan.

Theory

According to Detox.net.au, regardless of their ingredients, the purpose of all detox diets is to "cleanse" your body of accumulated toxins. According to creators of these plans, over time, your body accumulates toxins ingested from your normal diet. A detox plan is a short-term solution designed to remove these toxins from your system. Note that according to dietitian Keri Glassman, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims.

Types

Detox shakes seem to come in two separate "flavors." One type of shake consists of nothing but supplements, used in conjunction with an ordinary detox diet. Another type is a meal-replacement shake, used to provide your body with sustenance while on the plan; an example of this would be the lemonade shakes consumed during the Master Cleanse, as they are all the food you are allowed to "eat" while on the plan.

Examples

According to the authors at Detox.net.au, one easy-to-concoct detox diet shake is a papaya shake. Mix together pound to one pound of raw papaya, other fresh tropical fruits of your choice, and a splash of organic apple cider vinegar. This shake is designed to provide your body with vitamins and nutrients, keeping your energy high while "cleansing." Another shake consists of nothing more than psyllium husks (for fiber) mixed with water and liquid bentonite clay. This is supposedly a formula to help clean out your intestinal tract.

Warnings

While many individuals report moderate weight loss and increased feelings of well being following their detox plans, others have not been so fortunate. Some people have been seriously injured following the instructions of detox plans they obtained through the media. According to an article published in the TimesOnline, an Englishwoman named Dawn Page suffered permanent brain damage while on a purportedly "safe" detox plan. Keeping this in mind, if you must go on a detox, do so under your doctor's supervision.