DETOXING MYTHS DEBUNKED

The body’s internal detox systems are typically capable of handling toxins

- BY LAKSHANA N PALAT Assistant Features Editor

Dubai-based Peyton Abraham recalls often indulging in her own version of 'detox' diets. As she explains, “It was bad; I didn’t even consult people. I would just look for easy juices, live on fruits and vegetables for a few days after a weekend of indulgence, and then once I lost weight, I would slowly fall into my old patterns of unhealthy eating. The cycle continued.”

That was years ago: Abraham admits that she has finally learnt that becoming fit did not involve fad diets, or worse, her own interpretations of what should be eaten. “I think people tend to have very wrong ideas of what detox diets really mean,” she says.

In today’s wellness culture, detox diets are all the rage, with many individuals turning to juice cleanses, fasting, or food-specific regimens in hopes of purging their bodies of toxins, boosting energy levels, and shedding unwanted weight. However, are these diets truly effective? Or are they just another short-lived trend?

WHAT ARE DETOX DIETS?

At their core, detox diets aim to ‘cleanse’ the body of toxins. Detox diets often involve juice cleanses, fasting, or consuming specific foods and supplements. As Atreya Lamba, a functional medicinal practitioner based in Abu Dhabi explains, “These diets are eating patterns that are designed to remove ‘toxins’ from the body. It involves self-imposed strict regimens, such as juice cleanses, fasting, or consuming specific foods and supplements, believed to purify or cleanse the body. While all these diets vary in approach, the idea remains the same: Ridding the body of harmful substances, rejuvenate energy levels, and promote weight loss.”

THE COMPONENTS OF DETOX DIETS

Detox diets can take several forms, with the most common being:

JUICE CLEANSES: