[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/03\/cleanse-myths-infographic\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/03\/cleanse-myths-infographic\/","headline":"Infographic: Cleaning Up the Myths About Common Cleanses","name":"Infographic: Cleaning Up the Myths About Common Cleanses","description":"This time of year, cleanses are a hot topic. We talked to our experts about some popular forms of cleanses and you may be surprised to hear the results!","datePublished":"2016-03-12","dateModified":"2019-08-27","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","name":"UPMC","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/UPMC_Cleanse_BT.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/UPMC_Cleanse_BT.png","height":527,"width":791},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/03\/cleanse-myths-infographic\/","about":["Nutrition"],"wordCount":489,"keywords":["cleanse","cleanses","detox","detox diet","infographic","juice cleanse","juicing","Master Cleanse"],"articleBody":"This time of year, cleanses are a hot topic. We talked to our experts about some of the most popular ones and you may be surprised to hear the results!Master CleanseDuring a master cleanse, weight loss can be expected, but it’s mostly water weight. It is likely that the weight will be gained back since it’s water, not fat.Risks and side effects of the master cleanse include:DehydrationCravingsFatigueIrritabilityAchesPainsNausea and vomitingThese are often described as detox symptoms, but there is no scientific evidence that shows that these cleanses actually help rid the body of toxins. The metabolism can slow down because calories consumed are inadequate, which can actually cause a person to gain even more weight post-cleanse.Colon CleanseAvoid colon cleanses. The digestive system does this on its own.Risks and side effects of colon cleanses include:DehydrationCrampingBloatingNausea and vomitingBowel perforationRisk of infectionLoss of electrolytesKidney or liver failure and death (in some extreme cases)Pill or Drink-based Detox CleansesThese cleanses have the same risks and side effects as above and the metabolism can slow down if adequate calories are not consumed.Juice CleanseIt’s sometimes nice to get a jump start\u00a0on a\u00a0healthy eating style. This type of cleanse is not as risky, as long as it’s only done for a few\u00a0days. Our experts recommend blending vs. juicing some of the fruits and\u00a0vegetables in order to keep fiber in the diet and to stay hydrated.Replace one or two meals with juice blends, which should include ingredients such as nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and avocado. It’s important to eat 1-2 balanced meals as well as snacks. By doing this, your metabolism should not be altered and weight loss can often be maintained. But beware – just juicing alone can rid the body of fiber and adequate calories resulting in weight loss that will not be maintained.For all cleansesThere is no scientific evidence proving that cleanses help\u00a0rid\u00a0the body of toxins. Cleanses\u00a0also run the risk of disturbing the good bacteria in our gut, allowing bad bacteria to move in and cause disease.Research also shows that the body does not need help detoxing itself. As long as our livers and kidneys are healthy and functioning,\u00a0they do that job for the body. Cleanses and detoxes do not help the body eliminate toxins any faster or more effectively.A better alternative is to eat a healthy, balanced diet of whole foods and drink an adequate amount of water. Make sure to consume adequate calories from a variety of food sources. Do not eliminate food groups unless you have a medical reason to do so. Avoid processed foods as much as possible\u00a0and buy\u00a0organic when you can. Cleaning your produce with white vinegar and water will help to limit exposure to pesticides."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2016","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"03","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/\/03\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Infographic: Cleaning Up the Myths About Common Cleanses","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/03\/cleanse-myths-infographic\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]