- The very act of undergoing a detox causes you to re-evaluate your eating habits. This is because you can feel all the physical and psychological side effects that happen in conjunction with a detox diet. These can include acne, runny nose, hunger pangs and irritability. Some people say these effects are positive, as they're the results of the body purging and detoxifying itself from all the unhealthy chemicals and materials it's consumed. Others look at these effects as negative, believing that they are unnecessary burdens that are caused by severely limiting their diets. In either case, most people emerge from a detox diet with a new-found perspective on their eating habits. Those who jump right back into their old diets may find their stomachs can longer tolerate large amounts of processed, salty and fatty foods. This may cause upset stomach or diarrhea. Others believe the emphasis on fresh foods is something they want to continue, and therefore commit to less restrictive versions of their detox diets. Most of these diet plans will recommend this course, which allows a few formerly restrictive foods. No detox diet should be permanently undertaken.
- According to Dr. Michael Picco, a gastroenterologist with the Mayo Clinic, many people report feeling lighter, more focused and healthier after a detox. While all of these feelings seem inherently beneficial, Picco notes they can sometimes be due to calorie restrictions that are too severe and deprive the body of essential vitamins and nutrients. He also notes that the mere act of limiting one's calories can bring about feelings of "psychological well being." Along with these feel-good side effects comes some negative ones as well, as vitamin deficiencies and too few calories can also cause headaches and dizziness. Both groups of side effects can and should be prevented altogether by committing to a detox that is well-balanced and supervised by a nutritionist.
- Foods that contain wheat, dairy, corn or gluten can cause a mild allergic reaction when they're re-introduced back into the body if the person abstained from them during a one- to three-week detox. These allergy symptoms may include constipation, congestion, bloating and fatigue. Most symptoms tend to be mild, especially if these food groups were well tolerated before the detox. It's a good idea, however, to consult a nutritionist who can create a diet plan that allows you to slowly re-introduce these food groups to prevent the re-emergence of many conditions, such as constipation and fatigue, that the detox was trying to tackle in the first place.
