Nicola Drabble - Registered Dietician
Management in Midrand

Obesity and Bariatric Surgery,  IBS, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Weight loss, Gastroenterology.

It has been over a month since you made your New Years resolution to lose weight and be healthier, but despite your best attempts, you realize your summer wardrobe is still feeling a little tight and you are still carrying the extra 2 kg you gained over the Christmas season. The gut prevents bacteria and many toxins from entering the body. When harmful chemicals do enter the body, the liver breaks them down combining them with its own chemicals to make a water soluble compound that can be excreted by the kidneys. The body is re-hydrated with water and is refreshed with a good night’s sleep! In actual fact, when you starve your body of calories it will start to build up chemicals called ketones. This can result in nausea, dehydration, weakness, light-headedness and irritability. The rapid weight loss which occurs is due to loss of water, glycogen (the body’s carbohydrate stores) and muscle, rather than fat. There is no scientific evidence to support the effects of detox diets aimed at cleansing your bowels and helping you lose weight, but that doesn’t stop thousands of people from trying them. Reports of fewer headaches and better skin and bowel movements, is probably the result of being fully hydrated by drinking more water and eating more antioxidant and fibre-packed fruit and vegetables. The greatest benefit of detoxing is the avoidance of excessive intakes of caffeine, alcohol and high-fat, high-sugar, processed foods. One of the most poisonous chemicals we consume is alcohol. The most effective way to help your liver after a period of indulgence is to stop drinking alcohol and drink water to re-hydrate. They sound like a great concept and it would be fabulous if they really delivered all that they promised! If you do decide to try a detox diet it is important to consult a registered dietitian who will devise a detox plan to suit you and will monitor your intake and ensure you are getting all the nutrients your body needs for optimal health and wellness. Be careful not to follow diets which eliminate whole food groups from your diet (i.e. carbohydrates) as you will also be eliminating important vitamins and minerals which is detrimental to your health. Do not detox if you are: pregnant or breast-feeding; recovering from illness; a child or teenager; elderly; underweight; anaemic and most importantly if you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney or liver disease or other chronic health problems. So what’s the magic cure for getting rid of the extra pounds and keeping them off? You need to think about the food you eat and also your lifestyle. To maintain optimal health and wellness, the best approach is a balanced diet, with at least five portions of different fruit and vegetables a day; plenty of wholegrain cereals; lean meat, fish and alternatives and low fat dairy products. If you are looking to lose weight then consider reducing portion sizes, and don’t forget to take plenty of exercise.