Especially in recent years, since social media started to enter our lives, we started to hear the word detox and detoxers more and more.
Many individuals started to share their detox salads, smoothies and bowls on social media, and we can say that this has officially turned into a fury. We wanted to benefit from her thoughts and experiences by meeting with dietitian Gülşah Kumanova on this emerging detox culture.
Here are the answers of Gülşah Kumanova…
Detox (basically detoxification) is the process of removing toxins from the body. When you experience food poisoning, your body continues to live thanks to this process.
Organs such as liver, kidney, lung, skin, intestine take an active role in the body. In addition, there is no need for a special diet or supplement for this process.
The instinctive brain may be responsible for people detoxing.
We love glamorous and miraculous products endorsed by society, the media, and even healthcare professionals! These products ensure that things to do for people are simple and do not require complicated thinking, which works for us. Fear is also a super motivating force for action. See: Some form of intimidation of people over the accumulation of toxins in their body.
Detox posts on social media; It should be considered that this is positive so that detox diets and detox drink sales should increase so that someone can earn money!
Writing detox diets doesn’t require a dietitian’s hard work. Detox water, on the other hand, is one of the products with low cost but high selling price. As a dietitian, this situation; I am aware that it is a reality that proves that financial interests take priority over human health. I can easily say that I am disgusted with this market.
If we continue assuming that what is called detox means very low calorie diets, days spent with only green water;
It’s a non-negotiable topic: For no adult, a mere mix of cucumber, lemon, and parsley cannot provide adequate nutrient intake! We can even say that it invites these people to deteriorate their relationship with food.
Is it possible to lose weight by detoxing? Certainly!
It is possible to lose weight by eating only bread, rice or meat(!) Weight loss is quite easy in the acute (quick-onset, short-term) period. In fact, this is why there are so many people around us who lose weight voluntarily. My humble advice on this subject is to ask yourself the following questions: “Why do I want to lose weight?”, “I have been dieting for years and gaining weight back. What could be the reason for this?”, “What do I believe will happen when I lose weight? Is this all reality or fantasy?
Those who eat only by detoxing cannot get enough energy.
Not getting enough energy; it causes weakness, fatigue, irritability, preoccupation with food and suppression of metabolic rate. Besides these; individuals become dissatisfied with what they eat, tend to social isolation, and begin to experience severe weight gain-lose cycles. Health is holistic. You cannot improve your physiological, social and mental health in this way.
If you love its taste, bon appetit. This veggie-fruity drink you like; When consumed as a pleasant snack or a beverage accompanying a sandwich, it can be a fresh start to the day. I still prefer to chew the greens.
Detox culture is actually a type of popular marketing.
If you’re marketing a useless intervention and at the same time resorting to user error… The individual loses weight with the detox list/drink. Then he gains weight, of course, this is a user error. Then the newly designed detox list/drink is resold to the individual(!)
I work with individuals who are chronically dieting, experiencing explosive eating after their diets, and tired of the weight gain-lose cycle.
In my practice, I don’t write diet lists, I work with a non-diet approach. Before listing my recommendations, I would like to get to know my target audience better. However, I found it appropriate to end our interview with a few recommendations:
- To catch your hunger and satiety cues, to eat in harmony with these signals,
- Focus on the taste, smell and appearance of the food you eat,
- Work on not having regrets about meals,
- Unfollow accounts that spread toxic diet culture messages,
- Receiving information from reliable sources,
- Observing how the foods you eat affect your body,
- Take care to get quality and adequate amount of sleep,
- Finding a pleasant way to move,
- I can suggest that you care about a varied diet.
Dear readers, since you are reading this interview, you are still alive. Because your body does this very well! Don’t lose your money & health with things like detox. Do not neglect the doctor’s control.
You can reach dietician Gülşah Kumanova on Instagram and YouTube.