07 | 18 | 2007 Posted By Regan Zambri & Long

Detox Diets: Medical, Nutrition Experts Urge Caution

With names like The Mediterranean Diet and The Lemonade Diet among others, "detox diets" -- and their celebrity devotees -- enjoy significant media attention.  Medical and nutrition experts urge caution, however, and advise that detox diets can be particularly dangerous for teens, who need calories and nutrients to support their growth, and for those with diabetes, whose blood glucose levels should remain constant and stable.

According to experts at the Mayo Clinic, the fasting or calorie restriction that accompanies most detox diets can lead to low blood sugar, anemia and heartbeat irregularities among other concerns.  Headaches are one early sign of these more serious problems.  While these diets also purport to remove unnecessary, dangerous toxins from your body, experts remind that detoxification is the proper role of the liver and kidneys.  The Mayo Clinic also recommends that consumers be alert to these advertising features to prevent becoming a victim of misleading health advice:

  • "Red flag words. The advertisements or promotional materials usually include words such as 'satisfaction guaranteed,' 'miracle cure' or 'new discovery.' If the product were in fact a cure, it would be widely reported in the media and your doctor would recommend it.
  • Pseudomedical jargon. Though terms such as 'purify,' 'detoxify' and 'energize' may sound impressive and may even have an element of truth, they're generally used to cover up a lack of scientific proof. Watch out for these words.
  • Cure-alls. The manufacturer claims that the product can treat a wide range of symptoms, or cure or prevent a number of diseases. No single product can do all this.
  • Anecdotal evidence. Testimonials are no substitute for solid scientific documentation. If the product is scientifically sound, the manufacturer will promote the scientific evidence. If you have to search all over the Web site for this evidence or you can't find any evidence at all to back up the manufacturer's claims, be wary of the information.
  • False accusations. The manufacturer of the product accuses the government or a medical profession of suppressing important information about the product's benefits. Neither the government nor any medical profession has any reason to withhold information that could help people."
If losing or managing weight is your goal, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also provides a comprehensive database of healthy alternatives to detox dieting.

For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030.