Can a Detox Diet Improve My Looks?

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Can a Detox Diet Improve My Looks?

Toxin-flushing detox diets are still popular, despite crazy ingredients, weeks-long durations, and extreme restrictions. But can a detox diet really improve your skin and hair, or will it do more damage than good? Top experts reveal the real effects detoxing can have on your looks.

By Ayren Jackson-Cannady

Q. "Do I need to eliminate toxins with a special diet?"

A. I No, says FITNESS advisory board member Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD: "Our bodies are designed to naturally detox." The liver filters harmful substances from the blood; kidneys excrete waste; lungs feed cells with fresh oxygen and push carbon dioxide out; and sweating clears skin of toxins.

Q. "What will I look like after a few days on a detox?"

A. Not pretty. You can drop up to five pounds in a week -- primarily water weight. "Losing water that fast can make your skin dry and wrinkly," Blatner says. And going a week without protein can weaken hair, which is 97 percent protein, says Tara Gidus, RD, of the American Dietetic Association.

Q. "Isn't cutting out carbs a good thing for skin?"

A. Processed carbohydrates (white bread, pasta) can make you look bloated, but eliminating healthy versions (whole-grain breads, brown rice) can lead to a vitamin B deficiency. The immediate result: "Your skin could become pale and break out," says Cleveland-based dietitian Amy Jamieson-Petonic, RD.

Q. "Is there such a thing as a healthy detox diet?"

A. Yes. Start by drinking two extra glasses of water a day. H2O won't improve the look of your skin, but it will rid you of bloat-boosting toxins, which can make skin appear dull and puffy. Also, consume 20 to 25 grams of fiber and at least five servings of fresh fruits and veggies, Jamieson-Petonic says.

Originally published in FITNESS magazine, April 2009.