Why “Fad” Detox Diets/Supplements are Useless

photo by ahmed

A recent study by American researchers also concluded that detox diets do no more than the body’s own natural system to get rid of toxins. They said most modern books and detox kits serve up “empty promises”.

Scientists and dieticians argue that the benefits people feel are not due to their body getting rid of excessive toxins but are due to changing from what is likely to have been a “poor” diet.

The quotes in this article are taken from an interesting report by the BBC news here. As Detox diets become all the rage, one has to wonder if they really do anything that a healthy diet wouldn’t also do? The answer is NO. These are just fads that are used to sell books or supplements. There are some supplements that may be of benefit to rebuild detox organs (such as milk thistle for the liver) or aid in more heavy metal removal (like bentonite clay) but all the claims of special roots and herbs, or special fruit drinks that speed up detoxification are just false promises. The body already knows how to detox, and if you want the fastest detox possible do a water fast.

Most of the pills, juices, teas and oils that are sold for their detoxifying effects on the body have no scientific foundation for their claims, according to the research. People would be better off drinking tap water and having an early night.

Eating a clean diet with periods of fasting will do the same amount of detoxification than any “special plan”. So why all the detox diets? Simple…

Clearing the system by detoxing promises all kinds of results and is now a multi-million pound industry, with products and supplements to help expel unwanted toxins. But making dietary changes is at the core of most.

The BBC also did their own 10 day study on taking 2 groups and testing if special “detox” diets actually do increase the amount of toxins removed from the body. Want to guess what happened?

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.

You can see the whole show here .

In short, forget all those detox herbs and diets. The best way is still to just eat healthy whole foods, do periods of fasting, regular exercise, remove toxins from your diet and lifestyle (less coming in) and you will be doing enough to get rid of toxins and help increase they health of your body. Oh…and add some lemon to that water, your liver (your main detox organ) and whole body will appreciate it!

Warm lemon water serves as the perfect good morning drink, as it aids the digestive system and makes the process of eliminating the waste products from the body easier. It prevents the problem of constipation and diarrhea from taking place, by ensuring smooth bowel functions. Lemon, a fruit popular for its therapeutic properties, helps promote your immune system and thus, protects you from the clutches of most types of infections. It also plays the role of blood purifier. Lemon is a fabulous antiseptic bestowed on us by Mother Nature.