Do We Really Need To Diet?

Is detoxing a necessary health move or just clever marketing? Carmen Chow goes to the experts for the facts.

- Carmen Chow

To answer the question, we need to get back to basics and understand what it means to detox. “Detoxing is actually a form of medical therapy to treat patients who have been poisoned either with heavy metals, dangerous chemicals, drugs or alcohol. So it is only necessary when our body has been invaded by toxins that could lead to detrimental effects and potentially death,” reveals Lydia Phua, nutritionist at Health works Mont Kiara. Whether it’s a drink, pill or diet, detoxing may seem like the perfect solution to our overindulgent, stressful lifestyles and tightening pants, but unfortunately that is not the case. Says Verona Lee, dietitian at Sunway Medical Centre: “Our body is well equipped with its own built-in mechanisms to detoxify and remove toxins. There is insufficient scientific evidence to support the claim that detox diets or cleanses remove more toxins than a properly functioning body would (on its own).” The ultimate lifestyle ‘detox’? Not smoking, exercising and eating a healthy, balanced diet. Here, they reveal the truth about common conceptions.

1. Drinking a lot of water detoxifies the body.

Fact: Water is a fundamental element in our body’s natural detoxification process. Our liver and kidneys pick up toxins and waste from the bloodstream, and convert them into water-soluble substances that can be excreted in urine. Hence, hydration is important. However, drinking excessive amounts of water can be as dangerous as not drinking enough, especially if you have heart, kidney or liver disease, as huge amounts of water may upset the balance of electrolytes (such as sodium).

2. Detoxes are the quickest way to lose weight.