Herbal Cleansing - is this a bad idea

Paul Hough

I'm seeing some advertisements on the tri-space over in Orlando for a herbal cleansing product (AvoCare or something like that) with a lot of triathletes giving endorsements that they lost a lot of weight on the "24 day challenge".   I have in the back of my head that this is not good for you, but don't really know.  Would like to hear the EN docs speak to cleansing, and from any peeps who have done this.  If it's OK to do, when do you do it... in the OS, during a build, after a race, etc?

[Deleted User]

I posted this in another thread, but it's worth repeating:



http://quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/detox.html



I've seen a lot of cleansing and detox schemes on the market, and they all have a pretty common thread of being deceptive and manipulative in their marketing practices. To me, that speaks a lot on the legitimacy of their product. Personally, I feel that "cleansing" has little to do with weight loss. I'd say that much of the weight loss that comes along with these products is the result of the willingness to lose weight and a change in lifestyle and habits, not the "cleansing" itself. There just really isn't much science that backs up the claims of these products.

Scott Alexander

If you eat well to begin with, there shouldn't be anything "bad" left to cleanse with these diets. I was told, by several dieticians/nutritionists, that they frequently harm more than benefit.

mgraffeo

Every nutritionist I've talked to about the topic has said the same thing. Complete bunk. There's no amount of stuff stuck to your colon, and no large deposits of 'toxins' that need to be cleaned out. In fact, many of these can be dangerous, in terms of low caloric intake for an active person.

My conclusion from my research was to stay away.

chris malone

Paul you're over 50 right?
One word: colonoscopy. That's a 5 pound swing right there! And clean? Oh yeah......

[Deleted User]

X2 What Chris said. Haha. I was thinking that as I read these posts...

Paul Hough

Thanks guys. Unfortunately, I'm scheduled for a check-up this summer.

new2703

Cup of coffee in morning and my colons pretty clean

John Withrow

I'm only 36 and had my Colonoscopy last month... Yup, fully "Cleansed" in less than 1 day!

Can't imagine training during one of those long cleanses. Even if it was good for you (which I doubt it is).

tuckerm

@Paul, get yourself one of them Power Balance bracelets too.......

robin sarner

 Yes cleanses are dangerous.    From family doc perspective.