How healthy are cleanses and detoxes for my body?

Your body naturally detoxifies itself every day, so no need to help it along. In fact, detox programs can be dangerous. Registered dietitian Samantha Heller, RD, suggests alternatives to keep your body healthy and strong.

Transcript

00:00

Your body wants you to be healthy and detoxed. So the best way for you to detox is to live sort of a clean life.

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Should you cleanse or detox your body? You know, the idea of cleaning out all this gunky, icky stuff

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in our bodies by drinking-- drinking these concoctions with honey and cayenne

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pepper and water, or fasting, or juicing, it seems like a good idea, doesn't it? But in fact, it's not a good idea.

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It can be really unhealthy to do that. And it can cause a lot of problems. Your body detoxes itself every second of every day--

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your kidneys, your liver, even your lungs. Your body wants you to be healthy and detox. So the best way for you to detox is

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to live sort of a clean life. And I'm not saying you have to be a Pollyanna about it. You just want to eat healthy food every day--

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fruits, vegetables. All fruits are good. All vegetables are good. All beans are good. All whole grains are good. These are foods that will help your body do

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the detoxing it needs and support those detox functions that are natural-- naturally in your body. And also, staying well hydrated, drinking plenty of water,

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this will all help keep your body buzzing, healthy, and keep that immune system strong. [AUDIO LOGO]