Health and wellness has never been as popular as it is now. Living well is now more than simply cooking in olive oil over refined oil. It is a booming business, and as any commercialised ideology or way of being goes, it is full of marketing gimmicks that may or may not be as useful as they are made out to seem! We know this. We know that we have to take all wellness recommendations with a grain of salt. But, when all your favourite Instagrammers are posting about the same thing that they swear by, it is easy to forget to do your own background check. This is where we step in. Here are three health trends vouched for by the mascots of living well, that are, in fact, fads!
1. Activated charcoal
Activated charcoal is prescribed by doctors to treat drug overdose or poisoning. But, beyond that, not much research has been done on the uses or side effects of present day’s most popular “detox” ingredient, which is found in pretty much everything these days – from juices to sheet masks. The claims made by proponents of this ingredient are: it helps curb gas, it flushes toxins out of the system, helps lower cholesterol and cure hangovers. Sorry to break your bubble, but out of these claims, the only one that has been studied even a little bit is the first – that it helps curb gas. Certainly, the results are positive so far. But, the other claims are assumptions at best and marketing gimmicks at worst. In fact, according to the BBC, the quantity of activated charcoal that is put in the coveted detox juices is so less that it is only pretty much for aesthetic purposes. On the other hand, if you consume more than just a bottle of charcoal juice a day, you risk having the ingredient interfere with medications you may be taking. Yes, that’s one side effect that has been studied – charcoal interacts with medicines in the system and stops their absorption. So, while you may be trying to cleanse your liver, you might inadvertently end up making yourself immune to medical treatments that actually work, including birth control pills! From whatever little we know, it seems likely that charcoal binds itself with water soluble vitamins like Vitamin C, which makes the latter less available for absorption. So, next time you have that activated charcoal orange juice, bear in mind that maybe you are getting less vitamin C out of it that you would out of a plain ole glass of freshly squeezed orange juice!
2. Slimming teas
According to MedicalNewsToday, not only do slimming teas not work, they may also carry ingredients that are harmful to the body. These teas are not FDA approved, and have been shown to cause health issues. Furthermore, there are class action lawsuits that have been filed against slimming tea manufacturing companies! So, you’re better off without this one! According to the FDA, these teas contain senna, which is a natural laxative. Many users of this tea report symptoms such as cramping, nausea, diarrhoea, aggravated constipation, a weakened colon and reduced potassium levels, which is dangerous if you have a heart condition. The FDA has also issued a statement warning the users of the effects of diuretics found in these teas, which include dehydration, muscle cramps, fluid loss followed by fluid gain, electrolyte loss or fluctuations which may cause arrhythmia and even death! Wouldn’t you rather just hit the treadmill?
3. Detox water
According to Healthline, while detox water may have a few health benefits, it is not significantly better than regular water. Besides, the claim that fruit, vegetable or herb infused water has the power to rid your body of toxins is not something you should fall for. The body has inbuilt mechanism for cleansing, and having infused water doesn’t aid this process. Besides, what exactly do you think that it is cleansing the body of? What are the “toxins” that these detox drinks or foods are supposed to release? Detox water is great for someone who hates drinking water, but finds it easier to consume mildly flavoured water. It will help you stay hydrated, avoid symptoms of dehydration, and reap the benefits of drinking your daily recommended dose of water while also treating your taste buds. But, if you think that you can undo that night of drinking or the greasy butter chicken and naan you had for dinner simply by drinking detox water, nope, that’s not going to happen!
