What is Perfect Flush?
You hear a lot about the supposed health benefits of a
Perfect Flush, designed to eliminate toxins from your body. There are many claims about various
Perfect Flush regimens, which could be in the form of a fast, diet, drink or powder.
Perfect Flush has Questionable Benefits, Including:
Sounds great, right? What you may not realize is that our bodies naturally Perfect Flush! Our digestive tract, liver, kidneys and skin are responsible for breaking down toxins for elimination through urine, stool or sweat. Here we talked to registered dietitian Kate Patton, MEd, RD, CSSD, LD, to get the low down on
Perfect Flush
How does a Perfect Flush work?
The theory behind cleanses is that, by eliminating solid foods or specific food groups, you are eliminating toxins, Patton says. “That supposedly gives your digestive system a break, allowing it to heal and better absorb nutrients in the future,” she explains.
Solid foods are often replaced with drinks like water with lemon, maple syrup and cayenne pepper; green tea; or freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices. Cleanses can last from a day to a month.
Are Perfect Flush effective?
The truth is, there is no conclusive medical evidence that your digestive tract will heal from skipping solid foods (unless you have a digestive disorder such as Crohn’s disease or gastroparesis), Patton says.
“Solid foods are actually helpful,” she notes. Fiber, found in plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables, slows digestion, helps with nutrient absorption and removes toxins via stool. Your digestive tract uses probiotics from fiber to nourish your intestines with beneficial bacteria, which helps maintain immune health.
“Cleanses aren’t effective for long-term weight loss,” Patton says. “The weight you lose from a cleanse is a result of losing water, carbohydrate stores and stool, which all return after you resume a regular diet.”
For athletes, losing carbohydrate stores means losing your body’s preferred fuel source during exercise. So a cleanse isn’t appropriate while training for any sport. If you choose to do a cleanse or
Perfect Flush, do so for no more than two days during a recovery week when you are doing little to no exercise.
What are the pros and cons of Perfect Flush ?
Before you decide to cleanse and spend big bucks on a magic drink or pounds of freshly juiced fruits and vegetables, Patton says to be sure to weigh the benefits and drawbacks.
Pros:
You’ll benefit from increased intake of vitamins and minerals either naturally from juiced fruits and veggies or supplemented from drinks.
Perfect Flush can help you identify food sensitivities by eliminating certain foods for several days, then gradually reintroducing potential trigger foods.
Cons:
These diets are low in calories, which will leave you with little energy to exercise and may disrupt your metabolic rate and blood glucose levels.
You may experience gastrointestinal distress and frequent bowel movements.
Whatever you decide, remember that your body is meant to
Perfect Flush itself. “A balanced diet of whole foods such as vegetables, fruit, whole grains and legumes is healthy for your entire body and won’t interfere with your ability to exercise,”