The Dangers of Detox Diets

Many people follow a detox diet plan in hopes of losing a significant amount of weight and ridding the body of harmful toxins. However, there are many adverse health effects that are paired with long-term detox dieting. Did you know that detox dieting could result in acne and insomnia? Well it can, and those are just two of the mild effects of detox dieting. Below are more dangers of detox dieting.

Vitamin Deficiency

When your daily caloric intake is nearly nonexistent, it is highly unlikely that your body will receive the necessary vitamins and nutrients. While you may be sticking to your detox diet to look more attractive, the vitamin deficiencies brought about may be having the adverse effect on appearance. Did you know that a deficiency of Vitamins A and B and potassium cause acne? How about the diarrhea that is caused by a deficiency of Vitamin D? If you would like to keep a clear face and maintain healthy bowel movements, stay away from low calorie detox diets.

Hair Loss

For the most part, detox diets require that dieters consume a dangerously low amount of calories throughout the diet's duration. Following such a calorie restricted diet for a long period of time will result in more than weight loss, it may potentially result in irreversible hair loss as well. Low calorie diets are considered dangerous because they lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies that are crucial to the function of the body's internal systems. Furthermore, vitamin deficiencies often result in weakened and brittle hair follicles which eventually result in hair loss.

Irritability

While on a detox diet, dieters are known for their emotional instability and irritability. Detox diets cause the body to undergo an abundance of unfavorable side effects, therefore, irritability is an expected reaction. Common side effects of detox diets that may be the culprits of irritability are sleep deprivation, hunger pangs, dizzy spells, exhaustion and muscle cramps.

Anemia

As mentioned above, vitamin deficiencies are a prevalent negative effect of detox dieting. However, a vitamin deficiency does not only result in hair loss and acne, it may eventually result in anemia. Those who suffer from anemia experience daily episodes of weakness, fatigue, rapid heart beat, headaches and insomnia. In rare and extreme cases, anemia may eventually result in dementia.

Weakened Immune System

A lack of nutrients seems to be at the route of all the negative effects of detox dieting. As the body swiftly moves into starvation mode, the nutrients and vitamins within the body deplete. Therefore, the immune system begins to weaken and eventually shuts down. With a non-functioning immune system, the body will no longer be able to battle viruses, infections and bacteria.