Detox teas: scientists asked which toxins. Nobody could answer
- Claim
- DETOX TEAS: WHICH TOXINS?
- Catch
- LAXATIVES AREN'T HARMLESS
- Verdict
- YOUR ORGANS ALREADY DETOX
In 2009, the UK group Sense About Science (Voices of Young Science) asked the makers of 15 detox products what toxins they removed and what evidence they had. None could provide evidence for their claims or give a clear definition of what they meant by "detox." A 2015 critical review in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics found no compelling evidence that detox diets eliminate toxins or help with weight management; the handful of positive studies had flawed methods and small samples. Many detox teas contain senna, a stimulant laxative, so the "lighter" feeling is mostly water and stool, not fat. Your body already has a detox system: the liver breaks down harmful substances and healthy kidneys filter almost 150 quarts of blood a day (NIDDK). In 2020, the US Federal Trade Commission settled with detox tea seller Teami over unsupported weight-loss and health claims and sent warning letters to influencers who promoted it. The catch: medical detoxification is real, for poisoning, overdose or alcohol withdrawal, under medical care. And prolonged use of stimulant laxatives can cause dehydration, low potassium and laxative dependence.
SOURCES
- Klein & Kiat (2015), "Detox diets for toxin elimination and weight management: a critical review of the evidence," Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
- Sense About Science, Voices of Young Science (2009), "The Detox Dossier"
- US Federal Trade Commission (2020), Teami LLC settlement and influencer warning letters
- NIDDK, "Your Kidneys & How They Work"
For information only, not medical advice. If you use laxatives regularly or have kidney or heart problems, talk to your doctor.
