Is Dr. Oz’s 3-Day Detox Cleanse Right for You?
Dr. Mehmet Oz swears his 3-Day Detox Cleanse will rejuvenate toxic bodies. He outlined the plan on “The Dr. Oz Show” in 2012.
Dr. Mehmet Oz swears by his 3-Day Detox Cleanse to rejuvenate our toxic bodies, but is it really that effective? The cardiothoracic surgeon, author and TV personality outlined the plan in a 2012 segment of his syndicated talk show "The Dr. Oz Show," promoting its combo of drinks, multivitamins, probiotic and omega-3 supplements and a "Detox Ultra Bath" of 2 ½ cups of Epsom salt and 10 drops lavender oil to close each day. Since Dr. Oz launched his 3-day detox diet, people have been wanting to know what this cleanse is all about.
The program kicks off with a lemon green tea and features fresh fruit- and vegetable-filled smoothies for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Smoothie recipes can also be repeated as snacks. Online reviews of the cleanse warn of endless fruit and vegetable chopping and the need for portable appliances for blending the ingredients at the office. It's a three-day cleanse, however, and it seems reasonable to plan your cleanse for a weekend, prepare a single-day's smoothies in advance and transport them chilled.
You might also want to schedule your cleanse so that a potential Day 3 "hangry" mood (hungry + angry) falls on a Sunday. Just think of how bright your Monday will be when you kick it off with a healthy, hearty breakfast after denying yourself full meals for three days.
Dr. Mark Hyman, author of "The Blood Sugar Solution", tells Dr. Oz in a 2012 segment on the cleanse, "Food is medicine; you've got to put the healing foods in and unjunk your diet. And remember that food is information that really upgrades your software... When they un-junk their life and their diet, they're going to feel good, and they're going to go, 'You know, I really want to feel this good forever.'"
Cleanses such as Dr. Oz's 3-Day Detox have their detractors, however. LIVESTRONG.COM contributor and nutritionist Kelly Plowe, for one, warns against utilizing cleanses as fast dieting options. "I'm not a fan of cleanses, especially cleanses that are basically liquid diets lacking in any protein or fiber," Plowe says. "It doesn't teach healthy eating habits for the long term, and any results you experience -- less bloat, minimal weight loss, etc. -- are temporary," she says.
"Instead of these short term, quick-fix cleanses, we should focus on what we eat day in and day out. Aim for whole foods that are high in vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, complex carbs and healthy fats. This type of 'diet' will get you closer to those results you're after for the long term," she says.
In the segment, plant-based dietician and cleanse proponent Julieanna Hever recommends incorporating some cleanse habits into regular diets after completing the cleanse: "Swap out breakfast for one of these smoothies. Make sure you're getting a wide variety of fruits and vegetables into your everyday diet, and try to minimize the types of foods that got you toxic in the first place." See below for examples of the smoothie recipes
Get more information on Dr. Oz's 3-Day Detox Cleanse on the TV host's official show site.
Breakfast Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 tbsp. flaxseed
1 cup raspberries
1 banana
¼ cup spinach
1 tbsp. almond butter
2 tsp. lemon
Directions: Blend all ingredients together.
Lunch Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients:
4 celery stalks
1 cucumber
1 cup kale leaves
½ green apple
½ lime
1 tbsp. coconut oil
½ cup almond milk
1 cup pineapple
Directions: Blend all ingredients together.
Dinner Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients:
½ cup mango
1 cup blueberries
1 ½ cup coconut water
1 cup kale
1 tbsp. lemon
¼ avocado
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tbsp. flax seeds.
Directions: Blend all ingredients together.