What are Detox Cleaners?

Detox diets and cleaners promise to get rid of all the toxins and harmful chemicals present in the body. These include detox diets like apple cleanse, master cleanse, colon cleanse and the lemonade diet. Due to their use by movie and music stars, many of these cleansers have become very popular.

Principle

• Detox cleansers or detox diets are based on the principle that the everyday food contains a lot of toxins in addition to the nutrients which may cause nausea, fatigue, headache and disease, according to Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist, Dr. Michael Picco.

Functions

• Some of the detox cleansing programs promise weight loss, while others simply promise the detoxification of the system. The programs can last from three to 10 days.

Evidence

• There is no evidence that detox cleansers actually help in the removal of the toxins from the body, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most toxins are processed and eliminated by the liver and kidneys in the form of stools and urine.

Methods

• Detox diets focus on drinking more water and eating more fruits and vegetables. They also help in avoiding processed foods.

Side Effects

• Most detox cleansers or detox diets, focus on fasting, according to the Mayo Clinic. This leads to problems like headaches in the early stages. In the later stage, side effects may include irregular heart beat, low blood sugar and anemia.

Effectiveness

• According to ABC News, detox diets are not effective and are unsafe as they cause a disruption in the water balance, sodium balance and electrolyte balance in the body. They also cannot be adapted for long-term use.