Dr. Çetiner’s Blogs (Dr. Beytullah Gültekin Çetiner)

Does Detox work?

The detoxification or shorly detox is becoming very popular nowadays for people struggling back their healthy life. This is very controversial issue. You can find many in favour of detox and the many the opposite. The following article describes the detox and summarizes a research with the heading ’Does Detox work?‘. I am actually planning a detox diet plan and collecting information at the moment. All suggestions are welcome.

What is Detoxification (or detox)?

A detox diet is a dietary regimen involving a change in consumption habits in an attempt to detoxify the body, by removal of toxins or other contaminants. Proponents claim it improves health, energy, resistance to disease, mental state, digestion, as well as aiding in weight loss. Many scientists, dietitians, and doctors, however, regard ‘detox diets’ as less effective than drinking a glass of water, and view ‘detox diets’ as generally harmless but a waste of money.

“Detox” diets usually suggest that fruits and vegetables compose a majority of one’s food intake. Limiting this to unprocessed (and sometimes also non-GM) foods is often advocated. Limiting or eliminating alcohol is also a major factor, and drinking more water is similarly recommended. [1]

Does Detox work?
Despite the high profile of detox diets, very little research exists to prove whether it has any measurable value. In this study, we put the diet to the test, finding out if following a strict detox plan can really reduce the body’s toxic load and enhance the efficiency of our body’s innate systems.
“relying on a detox isn’t the solution”

We took ten party animals to a country cottage retreat for ten days to see if a detox diet could recharge their internal batteries. The group was split into two and half the girls were put on a balanced diet, including red meat, alcohol, coffee and tea, pasta, bread, chocolate and crisps (in moderation), with the remainder following a strict vice-free diet.

Can a short, sharp shock really change the levels of toxicity in your body in just a week?

After testing the kidney and liver functions and measuring the antioxidant and aluminium levels in their blood we found there were no differences between the groups.

Which just goes to show, in a binge and purge culture relying on a detox isn’t the solution. Your body has its own way of regulating toxins and a week of suffering won’t change that so you are better off sticking to a balanced diet all the time. [2]

[1] Wikipedia- Detox

[2] BBC- Science and Nature

What are A-Level Exams?
The A-level Exam, an acronym for Advanced Level Exam, is a General Certificate of Education qualification in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, usually taken by students during the optional final two years of secondary school (Years 12 & 13*, commonly called the Sixth Form except for Scotland), or at a separate sixth form college or further education college, after they have completed GCSE or IGCSE exams. The qualification is recognized around the world and is used as a sort of entrance exam for some universities. (In Northern Ireland, classes are numbered differently - the final two years of optional secondary education are called Year “13″ and “14″.)

It is a non-compulsory qualification taken by students in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, students usually take Highers and Advanced Highers of the Scottish Qualifications Certificate. However, very few schools offer the A-level as an alternative (usually private schools).

A-levels are also taken in some Commonwealth countries, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Commonwealth Caribbean, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Gibraltar, Brunei, New Zealand, Malta, Zambia and South Africa. In India, the same system is followed, though the names of the exams are different. Due to respective changes in the systems, these examinations differ both in terms of content and style from the A-levels taken in the United Kingdom but the standard remains relatively the same. Nevertheless, the British GCE A-levels are taken all around the world, as many international schools choose to use the British system as the examinations are widely recognised. Furthermore, students may choose to sit the papers of British examination bodies at education centres such as British Councils around the world.

You can get more information about these exams from your local branch of British Council. More information is available here.

Jeddah Students Among Cambridge High Achievers 2007
I am very happy to hear that my daughters Emine Rumeysa Çetiner and Fatma Şeyma Çetiner both ranked first in the World in Business Studies in the A Level (AL) Exam and As Level Exam in June 2007 International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).

I asked them to place an interview herein on how to become a high achiever, and express their feelings *. They said they would be pleased to share their secrets with others when the time permits from their studies.
The following is the extract from ArabNews. The original article is here.

Jeddah Students Among Cambridge High Achievers
JEDDAH, 1 May 2008 — Students from local schools who excelled at the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), Advanced Subsidiary (AS) and A Level (AL) University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) were awarded certificates at a ceremony held in collaboration with the British Council here yesterday.

They included eight IGCSE students, two of them ranking third in the world, four AL candidates, with Emine Rumeysa Cetiner of Jeddah Al-Wadi International School ranking first in the world in business studies, and seven AS level students.

“I feel great,” Amir Ashraf of Al-Wadi International School (Boys), who ranks third in the world among high achievers in chemistry at IGCSE, told Arab News. He is keen on studying medicine in Canada.

The other IGCSE third world ranker is Zainab Omer Naeem El-Ahmadi (in Arabic) of the Manarat International School.

Khaled Jamal Al-Amoodi of Al-Waha International School received three certificates of excellence in geography, French as foreign language and math.

Pakistan International School’s (English Section) Syed Farhan Bukhari and Muhammad Shahrukh received brilliance awards for their achievement in AS and A Level examinations, respectively.

“The students achieved the best results in the June 2007 Cambridge examination session. The awards recognize students who have scored the highest marks in Saudi Arabia in a single subject at either IGCSE, AS or A Level,” said William Bickerdike, CIE’s regional manager.

Bickerdike, who is currently on a two-week visit to the Kingdom, presented the certificates. Richard Falvey, British Council’s regional examinations manager, is accompanying Bickerdike on his tour of the Kingdom.

P.S. Thanks to the friends for the congratulations

* Rumeysa has decided to share her experiences in her blog Rumeysa Cetiner and has written already her first on this issue in How to Study Smartly. Happy blogging Rumeysa. I hope the blogging will not cause goal displacement in your studies.