Detox Diets: Good or Bad For You?

How do detox diets work?

Supporters of detox diets claim that they work by helping the body to flush out “bad” toxins faster, using natural herbs and remedies to aid the process. Some detox products also claim to act as a mild diuretic, making the kidneys produce more urine, in much the same way as alcohol, thus expelling more toxins.

However, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) states that “there is no evidence that the process of detox works”, and some experts believe that such diets simply promote unhealthy diets.

Professor Edzard Ernst, from the Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, told the FSA that “detox is implausible, unproven and dangerous”.

Are detox diets bad for you?

As well as having little evidence to support the claims of detox diets, critics claim that detox products can actually be harmful.

According to the FSA, “herbal supplements can contain a variety of ingredients, many of which have not been tested for safety or for safe dosage levels”. Some herbal products also interact with some certain prescription medicines, including blood thinners and the contraceptive pill, increasing or decreasing their effectiveness.

Detox diets can also have indirect effects, encouraging people to believe that they can simply “detox” after a period of unhealthy living, such as a week of heavy drinking. Limiting your diet to just a few types of food – as advocated in some detox diets – can also leave you lacking in certain vitamins and minerals.

Healthy living

You don’t need to detox to be healthier. A varied, balanced diet and regular exercise is the best way to maintain a healthy, happy body.

The British Dietetic Association said in January 2009 that “the idea of ‘detox’ is a load of nonsense. There are no pills or specific drinks, patches or lotions that can do a magic job.

“For the vast majority of people, a sensible diet and regular physical activity really are the only ways to properly protect your health.”

• Eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day
• Choose moderate amounts of meat, fish and pulses – including a portion of oily fish a week
• Base your meals on starchy foods such as bread, potatoes, pasta, noodles and rice
• Have two to three portions of dairy foods a day
• Limit the amount of fat, sugar and salt in your diet