Don’t buy detox, colon-cleansing, enzyme, or alkaline water products

The detox industry is massive, yet there is very little clinical evidence to back it up, and no proper trials have been conducted on commercially available detox diets. When researchers looked into whether diet pH, alkaline water, or cancer are linked, only one study met the criteria — and it found no connection.

Cost

Several hundred to several thousand yuan. Diets meant to “detox” by starving oneself can even lower blood sugar and cause nutritional deficiencies.

Benefit

One review concluded that “despite the booming detox industry, there is very little clinical evidence supporting these diets,” and that “no randomized controlled trials have been done on commercial detox diets.” Another systematic review examined diet pH, alkaline water, and cancer: after screening 8,278 studies, just one qualified for inclusion, and it showed no link either. The authors wrote, “It is not reasonable to promote alkaline diets and alkaline water to the public for cancer prevention or treatment.” These products seem cost-effective only because the assumptions “the body contains toxins needing removal” and “an acidic body state causes cancer” sound plausible from a physiological standpoint.

Notes

There is simply no evidence to support these products, which is why they receive a C rating. Removing metabolic waste is naturally the job of the liver and kidneys; as long as these organs are healthy, there is no need for any extra “detox” measures.

Sources · 2

1. Klein AV, Kiat H (2015). Detox diets for toxin elimination and weight management: a critical review of the evidence. J Hum Nutr Diet. doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12286
2. Fenton TR, Huang T (2016). Systematic review of the association between dietary acid load, alkaline water and cancer. BMJ Open. doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010438