Detox Dieting: the New, Hip Weight Loss Diet Technique
November 25th, 2009
Fasting is emerging as a new, hip weight loss diet technique. In southern California, one of the great dieting capitals of the world, a new approach to weight loss is making the rounds, in part to conceal the fact that the dieter is indeed dieting. Fasting has become all the rage for rapid and comparatively easy weight loss. When done right and for the right purpose, fasting is a safe and natural method of body detox and cleansing. When pursued for weeks and even months at a time, fasting for the purpose of weight loss can be a very risky undertaking.
For centuries, fasting has been used with great success in addressing various health problems and detoxifying the body of built-up toxins. Weight loss is a normal side effect of a fasting regimen, given that no solid foods need to be processed by the body and overall calorie consumption is very low. Weight is reduced because 1) water retention goes down, 2) trapped gas in the digestive track is expelled, and 3) toxins that are stored in the cells of body fat are purged. It’s interesting to note that we don’t necessarily burn fat on a fasting program, rather, we are purging our fat cells of stored toxins, so our fat cells become smaller.
The chic set in southern California have learned about this, and detoxing has become the new dieting. And while the results are most definitely desirable (in addition to weight loss, you get all the other benefits of cleansing your body — better energy, clearer skin, better concentration, a feeling of well being, and a reduction in various symptoms ranging from body aches to constipation), fasting for long periods will do much more harm than good.
What our bodies are crying out for is nourishment, not starvation. Most of us already experience unknown nutritional deficiencies. Our bodies need a regular supply of nutrients to function and sustain health. Starvation or extreme calorie reduction will ultimately cause imbalances in the body that will, at best, set up an assault of food cravings, the dieter’s worst nightmare.
The promise of speedy weight loss can be very tempting, but weight loss at any cost is really quite dangerous. There are a few healthy ways to achieve rapid weight loss, and there are healthy, sensible long term approaches to eating that will, if you stick to it, drop the pounds and keep them off.
Entry Filed under: Beauty And Skin Care Products, Nutrition Tips + More, Universe Of Health