What is cleansing and is it secure?

We recently posted several blogs specializing in food trends and diets which have been popular within the media over the past few years. I’m undecided about you, but I’ve had several colleagues, friends, and patients mention it as a “cleanse” or “detox,” and I need to admit that I attempted something like a juice cleanse a couple of years ago. So what’s cleansing? Are they secure?

Typically, when someone talks about “cleansing” or “detoxifying,” they’re referring to a technique of removing toxins from the body, reducing weight, or promoting health. This may include fasting, drinking only juices or similar drinks or foods for a certain time period, or taking dietary supplements or commercially available shakes or drinks for a certain time period. Other varieties of cleansing include colon cleansing using enemas, laxatives, or colonic (colon) hydrotherapy. Given that lots of these programs typically restrict calories, weight reduction is common, but there isn’t any convincing scientific evidence that these methods are effective for long-term weight control, eliminating toxins from the body, or improving overall health.

Terminology

Let’s take a look at the terminology related to cleansing and cleansing.

A juice cleanse is a liquid-only (sometimes smoothie) program that replaces solid foods, often with fruit- or vegetable-based liquids. It can last from days to weeks, depending on the precise program. Many corporations sell their very own version of branded cleansing products and will provide their very own algorithm, guidelines and supplements together with a schedule. In some programs, fat, calcium and protein intake are minimal, in addition to calorie restriction throughout the cleanse period.

Colon cleansing may include laxatives, supplements, colonic irrigation (also known as hydrotherapy or colonics). There are different methods; probably the most extreme involve hydration with large amounts of water and possibly other substances, including herbs or coffee, which may be rinsed and flushed out of the intestines or left to inoculate within the colon for a time period. Although proponents consider this method can cleanse the digestive tract of poisons, there may be little scientific data to suggest it’s effective.

Elimination diets are available in many versions, often promoted as a kind of cleansing by which a number of categories of food (for instance, dairy, meat, or soy) are eliminated from the weight loss plan for a particular time period. There is a medical version of this program that’s effective in diagnosing food intolerances, but isn’t intended for weight management.

What are the risks of cleansing and cleansing?

As nurses, we must always pay attention to any safety risks that cleansing and cleansing may pose to our patients. The National Institutes of Health’s Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2019) highlights the next as key areas of concern for those participating in cleansing or cleansing programs:

1. . Patients should pay attention to pasteurization processes if purchasing a prepackaged cleansing program. Unpasteurized juice may contain bacteria and isn’t really helpful for infants, children, the elderly, or individuals with compromised immune systems or a high risk of infection.
2. . Many juices are high in oxalates, including beetroot, spinach, kale, kiwi, parsley and soy. In individuals with kidney disease, oxalate clearance could also be suboptimal; as well as, calcium intake is restricted with some juice purifiers, and calcium helps remove oxalates. In a 2013 case report, Getting et al. describes a patient who experienced rapid oxalate nephropathy that eventually developed and required short-term hemodialysis. Although it is a rare occurrence, it will be important to grasp the potential risks.
3. . In individuals with diabetes, very low calorie intake or high fruit juice (sugar) intake may require changes to insulin regimens throughout the cleanse program.
4. . There are many risks related to this method, including intestinal perforation, infection, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance. Colonic irrigation needs to be avoided in patients with a history of colon surgery, hemorrhoids, or anatomical abnormalities of the colon. Other colonic lavages with laxatives carry the danger of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance attributable to lack of gastrointestinal volume.
5. With all weight loss plan and calorie restriction programs, especially those who promote bowel cleansing, patients are susceptible to dehydration and electrolyte disturbances. In one other case report published by the BMJ (2017), Toovey et al. describe a patient who developed life-threatening hyponatremia with neurological complications after using the “New Year’s Detox” program, which consisted of mixing excessive consumption of water and tea with the addition of valerian root. Severe hyponatremia can result in seizures and significant neurological symptoms and is normally treated within the intensive care unit.

What is the conclusion?

“Cleanses” and “detoxifications” include significant health risks, and while some programs may provide optimal nutrition, this isn’t the norm. Furthermore, there isn’t any scientific evidence to support the impact of those programs on long-term weight management or overall health. It is very important that patients who resolve to make use of these programs are aware of the risks and safety concerns. We should advise them not only to grasp exactly what they’re consuming and what potential impact these foods may have on their treatment regimen and underlying health conditions, but additionally to grasp any significant dietary deficiencies to which this system will expose them. For most of us, the very best thing we will do to maintain our body clean and free of poisons is to maintain our liver healthy. The American Liver Foundation suggests that for optimal liver health, patients should maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced weight loss plan, exercise day by day, avoid toxins (pesticides, sprays, chemicals and additives), avoid illicit drugs, devour alcohol sparsely, and practice practices to avoid infectious disease. hepatitis (American Liver Foundation, 2013). Providing our patients with knowledge is crucial in promoting healthy selections.

: :
American Liver Foundation (2013, October). Downloaded from https://liverfoundation.org/13-ways-to-a-healthy-liver/

Getting, J. E., Gregoire, J. R., Phul, A., & Kasten, M. J. (2013). Oxalate nephropathy attributable to “juicing”: a case report and review. (9), 768-772. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.03.019

National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, (2019, September). Downloaded from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/detoxes-cleanses

Toovey, O. T. R., Edmond, I. R., and Makris, N. (2016). Acute, severe hyponatremia secondary to polydipsia and associated use of herbal medicines. 2016. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2016-216348