Seems everyone has their favorite detox method, from Beyonce to Dr. Oz. And in case you’re confused, this has nothing to do with attending celebrity rehab.
From juice cleanses, to brown rice diets, to elaborate colonic procedures, people are aiming to remove unhealthy toxins from the body as a way to kickstart better health. It’s the idea that you can wash away your calorific sins as “the perfect antidote to our fast-food lifestyles and alcohol-lubricated social lives.”
But do these “detoxes” work? After all, detoxification technically refers to the medical treatment of people with life-threatening drug and alcohol addictions.
I came across an article in the Guardian that doesn’t pull punches:
- Before you dust off that juicer or take the first tentative steps towards a colonic irrigation clinic, there’s something you should know: detoxing – the idea that you can flush your system of impurities and leave your organs squeaky clean and raring to go – is a scam. It’s a pseudo-medical concept designed to sell you things.
I’ve been a tad skeptical about all the latest fad cleanses, but that answer surprised me. Yes, your liver and kidneys are the only things that can actually remove toxins from your body, but can anything help with the process?
Of course, there’s a rebuttal to the Guardian piece, and it makes some thoughtful counterpoints. But what it comes down to is providing your body with proper nutrients to allow those organs to perform their cleansing duties, and you should be already getting the proper nutrition from your diet.
You are, right?
further: health
The Longevity Pill
The health and wellness world is so full of pseudo-science that it’s sometimes hard to believe when we then see claims that a diabetes treatment may unlock the secret to major longevity gains. But researchers have already established that the drug metformin extends the life of animals, and the US Food and Drug Administration has approved a trial to see if the same results are achieved with humans.
World’s first anti-ageing drug could see humans live to 120
Tattoo the Quantified You
“Chaotic Moon, a software design and development firm based in Austin, Texas, is developing a high-tech tattoo made of components and conductive paint to create circuitry to basically turn you into a cyborg … er, collect health and other biometric data from your body.”
The Next Wave of Wearable Tech Will Surprise You
Metabolic Fate
“Metabolism is a term that is thrown around a lot in the nutrition world, but most people don’t fully understand what it really is, what aspects of your metabolism are under your control, and how you can optimize it to help you lose weight and keep the weight off.”
Learning, and controlling, your metabolism rate for weight loss
further: wealth
Bossy Guidance
According to Kim Scott, the secret to great leadership is gloves-off guidance: “I would argue that criticizing your employees when they screw up is not just your job, it’s actually your moral obligation.”
Radical Candor — The Surprising Secret to Being a Good Boss
The Hand Off
“Humility is a sorely underrated trait for a leader. By trusting your team and accepting that you can’t do it all, you’ll accomplish much more as a group than you could have ever accomplished alone. Here are some insights into how to find the right balance for you.”
5 Tips to Master the Delicate Art of Delegation
The Art of Influence
When we think of persuasion, the image that comes to mind is the stubborn, “bull in a china shop” approach. Well, if that turns you off, good … because it’s the least effective approach. Check out some of the nuance involved when it comes to getting your way.
How To Get People To Agree With You
further: wisdom
SEAL Mind
Here’s a quick video (with transcript) that touches on the ideas in this article that I shared a few weeks ago about the mental aspects of fatigue. “When you think you’ve hit the wall, you’re really only 40% done.”
Navy SEALs Have a ’40 Percent Rule’ and It’s the Key to Overcoming Mental Barriers
Thanks for the Memories
A collection of research-backed memory hacks that we’ve covered at various points in the past, including my favorite approach. Check out Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning for a more in-depth treatment.
5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Memory and Memorize Anything Faster
Analogous Wisdom
“Most people underestimate the importance of a good analogy. As with many things in life, this lack of awareness comes at a cost. Ignorance is expensive.”
How Analogies Reveal Connections, Spark Innovation, and Sell Our Greatest Ideas
__________
As the holiday season kicks in with full force, I’m keeping a list of who’s been naughty and nice. It’s nice to share:
Keep going-
Brian Clark
Tour Guide
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