- With Mayo Clinic nutritionist
Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
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Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
As a specialty editor for the nutrition and healthy eating guide, Katherine Zeratsky helps you sort through the facts and figures, the fads and the hype to learn more about nutrition and diet.
A Marinette, Wis., native, Katherine is certified in dietetics by the state of Minnesota and the American Dietetic Association. She has been with Mayo Clinic since 1999.
She is active in nutrition-related curriculum and course development in wellness nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and nutrition education related to weight management and practical applications of nutrition-related lifestyle changes.
Other areas of interest include food and nutrition for all life stages, active lifestyles and the culinary arts.
She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, served a dietetic internship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and worked as a registered dietitian and health risk counselor at ThedaCare of Appleton, Wis., before joining the Mayo Clinic staff.
Nutrition basics (29)
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Healthy diets (10)
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- Detox diets: Do they work?
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Healthy cooking (6)
- E. coli: How can I tell if food is contaminated?
- Canned pumpkin: Better than fresh?
- Food poisoning: How long can you safely keep leftovers?
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Healthy menus and shopping strategies (7)
- Vegetable juice: As good as whole vegetables?
- Calories in sushi: What are the low-cal options?
- Sodium nitrate in meat: Heart disease risk factor?
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Nutritional supplements (16)
- Vitamin water: Better than plain water?
- Ground flaxseed: Better than whole?
- Chocolate: Does it impair calcium absorption?
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Question
Detox diets: Do they work?
Do detox diets offer any health benefits?
Answer
from Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
Detox, or detoxification, diets are popular, but they're not scientifically proven.
Detox diets are touted as a way to remove toxins from the body. Specific detox diets vary — but typically a period of fasting is followed by a strict diet of raw vegetables, fruit and fruit juices, and water. In addition, some detox diets advocate using certain herbs and other supplements along with colon cleansing (enemas) to help empty the intestines. Most detox diets last seven to 10 days.
Some people report feeling more focused and energetic during and after detox diets. However, this may be due to a belief that they're doing something good for their bodies. There's little evidence that detox diets actually remove toxins from the body. Most ingested toxins are efficiently and effectively removed by the kidneys and liver and excreted in urine and stool.
It's also important to consider possible side effects. Among other problems, detox diets can lead to:
- Dehydration
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
If you're considering a detox diet, get the OK from your doctor first — and remember, the best diet is a healthy diet based on fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean sources of protein.
Next questionCanola oil: Does it contain toxins?
- Colditz GA. Prudent diet. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 18, 2010.
- Salguero ML. Detoxification. In: Rakel D. Integrative Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/178822007-3/940842998/1494/154.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2954-0..50111-3--cesec33_4773. Accessed Jan. 18, 2010.
- Detoxification. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Jan. 18, 2010.
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- Barrett KE. Functional anatomy of the liver and biliary system. In: Barrett KE. Gastrointestinal Physiology. New York, N.Y.: Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill Medical Publishing; 2006. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2306090. Accessed Jan. 26, 2010.
- Position of the American Dietetic Association: Food and nutrition misinformation. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2006;106:601.
- Duyff RL. Healthful eating: The basics. In: Duyff RL. American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide. 3rd ed. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons; 2006:48.
- Colon and liver detoxification. Pharmacist's Letter/Prescriber's Letter. 2010;26:260211.
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