Detox diet, detoxifying, purifying or to eliminate toxins. Behind these names hide a series of food guidelines that are very different in their approaches, but which have in common that they provide an extremely low amount of calories to the body and the belief that there are toxic substances in food and in the environment that require various detoxification mechanisms, mainly in the liver.

People who decide to follow a detox diet consume fruit and vegetable preparations that they complement with commercial products (often with high prices) that provide different nutrients, such as antioxidants. In addition, they restrict meat, dairy, eggs and fish, among others, from their diet.

In fact, following a purifying diet has consequences for our health. Hernández highlights some of these side effects and warns that such a severe restriction of energy and nutrients for more than a few days can cause severe problems that vary depending on the genetic predisposition of each person:

Malnutrition
Although vegetables and fruits have a large amount of vitamins and minerals, there are many essential nutrients that we only find in other food groups such as proteins or omega 3 fatty acids, among others.

dehydration
In case of consuming products with diuretic and laxative effect.

hyponatremia
“When fluids are drunk in excess, there is a particularly low dilution of sodium and other minerals in the blood, which can lead to various physiological complications: cerebral edema, kidney failure, heart failure, etc.,” he warns.

loss of muscle mass
With which we reduce our metabolism. At this point, the SEEN adds that a hypocaloric diet must provide a sufficient amount of protein to prevent the loss of muscle mass and other problems. In addition to protein, they may be deficient in other nutrients, such as zinc and calcium, among others.

For these reasons, the experts agree that carrying out a detox diet is not recommended for anyone and should not be carried out due to the malnutrition it generates.