Page 98 - Time Special Edition Alternative Medicine (January 2020)
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ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE FOOD CURES
A cleanse has a definite appeal, but for a real overhaul, try cleaning out the fridge.
caloric intake and specifically exclude processed verely underweight, juice fasts of a few days or even
foods, caffeine, alcohol, fatty animal protein and ex- weeklong restricted cleanse diets won’t hurt. In fact,
cess sodium. What health professional would argue they might even do some good. Many cleansers ex-
with that regimen? If you feel good on a juice fast, perience post-treatment exhilaration. It might be lit-
it’s probably because of what you are not consuming. tle more than a placebo effect, but that’s OK; you can
On the plus side, few of the therapies are espe- ride that feeling and jump-start more permanent di-
cially risky—with the exception of colon therapy. etary and lifestyle changes. “It’s one reason why—
An improperly administered colonic may result in a even if it’s not my choice as a first-line treatment—I
host of complications, ranging from bowel perfora- support my patients who want to try it,” says Augus-
tion and infection to reduced kidney function, elec- tine. Because in the end, of course, it’s long-term,
trolyte abnormalities and possibly even heart and consistently maintained dietary changes that make
kidney failure. Vomiting, dehydration and the oblit- us healthier. Anyone in the cleansing game for a
eration of helpful bacteria that keep the bowel envi- quick fix is wasting his time. And that’s mostly be-
ronment in healthy balance have also been reported. cause the majority of cleansers revert to old habits
Also of concern can be liver flushes, which may after treatment, often with a vengeance. Whatever
lead to explosive diarrhea. In rare instances, a flush pounds were lost are gained right back. Worse, that
may cause cramping that dislodges a gallstone that can trigger a vicious cycle of yo-yo dieting in an ef-
then dangerously becomes stuck in a bile duct. Re- fort to hold one’s ground.
ally, though, the biggest downside of these flushes, “My clients often come in telling me they want
specifically when they are used to eradicate gall- to do a cleanse to get back on track,” says Andrea
stones, is that they delay individuals from seeking Giancoli, a nutrition communications consultant,
more conventional treatment. who understands the impulse to start big. “But why
But those are worst-case scenarios of more- not just do something that gets you on track and
extreme therapies. For people in generally good allows you to stay there? If you really want to do a
health who aren’t pregnant, breastfeeding or se- cleanse, cleanse your fridge and your pantry.”
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