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4. Clay Cleanse Diet
Some people have taken to eating clay to ‘cleanse’ the intestines and lose weight. The theory is that eating clay will keep you full for longer and will bind to and remove harmful toxins and heavy metals from the intestinal tract. The clay that is usually used is bentonite clay from aged volcanic ash and is consumed as a powder or slurry.
While there is no proof that consuming clay helps you lose weight, there are certainly serious risks associated with it. On the milder side, clay binds to nutrients, proteins, and metals. It can slow down digestion, the absorption of nutrients and lead to constipation, nausea, bloating and abdominal pain.
As the clay lines the intestinal tract, it can slow down the absorption of antibiotics and other medications. This is particularly a risk for people on medication, such as heart patients. It can affect drug effectiveness and in some cases make them toxic.
The clay can bind to essential minerals and proteins, like iron, calcium, and vitamins and can precipitate deficiency in these elements. The other real risk is that the clay is not produced in medicinal or food grade facilities. It may contain dangerous contaminants, such as arsenic, lead or cadmium, and could lead to poisoning with these.
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