About the 7 Day Cleanse Diet
When reflecting upon the members of modern society, one would like to think that the "snake oil salesman" has long since disappeared. If you are unfamiliar with the term, it refers to an individual promoting a product or service which purports to confer great benefit, but in actuality results in, at best, no real effect at all, or even outright harm. Today's snake oil salesmen seem to pride themselves on forwarding the cause of bizarre (and possibly downright dangerous) miracle diets. Read on and learn about one such diet, the 7 Day Cleanse.
Other People Are Reading
-
What is the 7 Day Cleanse?
-
The 7 Day Cleanse is a generic term referring to any number of short-term cleaning diets, though which the body can ostensibly cleanse itself of built-up impurities which accumulate over a lifetime of unhealthy habits. A small amount of research will uncover an amazing degree of polarization on the topic--there are testimonials raving about the effectiveness of the system, and there are also entire websites dedicated to convincing others to avoid what they consider to be fraudulent claims.
How does it work?
-
There are a number of variations on the theme, some available for a price and some free on the Internet, but the basic premise is a complete overhaul of one's dietary practices, lasting a week. After completing the seven-day period, the program is complete and the individual is free to return to her "regular" eating habits, whatever they might be. A sample recommended diet during the week of the cleanse involves total elimination of fish, meat, dairy, processed foods and simple carbohydrates, and a focus upon the consumption of organic fruits and vegetables.
-
What are the benefits?
-
Purported benefits include weight loss, increased energy and elimination of toxic chemicals which supposedly build up in the body over time. Some individuals--usually those selling versions of the plan--suggest more outlandish claims, such as the elimination of parasites and a longer lifespan (10 to 30 years more, in fact). Testimonials speak to increased energy levels and a loss of cravings for unhealthy foods.
What are the risks?
-
Depending on the version of the cleanse used, the risks of completing a "cleanse" are fairly benign. The greatest foreseeable risk is psychological, as individuals who complete any sort of prolonged-deprivation diet are more likely to rebound after finishing the program. Another psychological risk involves the likelihood of increased justification for unhealthy eating behaviors, as the individual might adopt the mindset that the damage can magically be "cleansed" away in the future. Beyond that, the diet is no more or less risky than others of its genre.
Considerations
-
However, in the long-term it could be argued that these diets do more harm than good. By reinforcing the idea that a lifetime of poor habits can be mystically purged in a week, the diet empowers the user to seek a quick fix for meeting nutrition goals. The real lesson to be learned about nutrition is that one must be consistent and persistent to achieve his ideal body. Regardless of what propaganda is spewed forth by those pushing fad diets, nothing magical happens from eating fruits and vegetables for a week. The real magic happens for those who can, year in and year out, adhere to a reasoned system of moderation. Those are the people who will enjoy life well into their senior years. For the rest, an endless purgatory of "cleanses" awaits.
-
