There are also certain populations who would be particularly at risk for complications from a detox diet. Among them:
- Teenagers: Teenagers are particularly susceptible to body image issues, but a detox diet, especially for weight loss, is not a good idea. Their growing bodies need sufficient caloric intake, especially protein, to support their body needs.
- People With Chronic Health Conditions: For those who have heart disease, diabetes, or other chronic conditions, a detox diet can cause complications with the underlying condition, such as causing dangerously low blood sugar levels.
- People With Body Image Issues: Detox diets can become addictive, especially for people who have body issues like body dysmorphic disorder or an eating disorder. There are some patients who report that the feelings that come from fasting or from enemas are as addictive as nicotine or alcohol. Detoxing can become a dangerous addiction that can lead to long-term health problems or even death.
- Pregnant Women: Crash diets can disrupt blood sugar levels, potassium and sodium levels. Women who are pregnant or nursing should avoid them. While trying to shed a few extra pounds of baby weight or maintain a healthy body during pregnancy may sound appealing, the risks to yourself and your baby far outweigh any perceived benefits.
Here are four detox diets that are as infamous as they are famous. Before you experiment with any one of these diets, be sure to consider the following:
Master Cleanse
Beyonce Knowles credited her 20-pound weight dip for Dreamgirls to this dangerous detox, which is essentially a starvation diet that limits your dietary intake to nothing more than lemon juice mixed with maple syrup, water, and cayenne pepper. That goes along with salt water and a laxative tea for nearly two weeks, according to an NBC report highlighting the dangers of detox diets.