Debunking The Detox Myth | Arthritis Information

A group of over 300 young UK scientists and engineers who investigated the evidence behind claims made for products and diets, have started a public awareness campaign by publishing a dossier that shows the word "detox" has no meaning outside of the clinical treatment of drug addiction and poisoning.

Called the "Detox Dossier", the report describes the findings of the investigation by the Voice of Young Science (VoYS) network of over 300 early career researchers. They reviewed about 15 products, ranging from bottled water to face scrub, and found that many detox claims were "meaningless", said a BBC report.

It follows an earlier report titled "There Goes The Science Bit..." published with the charity Sense About Science about a year ago, where the authors exposed "dodgy" science claims by phoning manufacturers and asking questions about their products. After the first report was published the authors received offers of help and lots of examples where the word "detox" was used, and this led to the latest investigation.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/134385.php

People who use the Whole Lemon/Olive Oil drink experience benefits.[QUOTE=Jan Lucinda]People who use the Whole Lemon/Olive Oil drink experience benefits.[/QUOTE]

I have heard that from others, Jan Lucinda....

Yes, great benefits.Even if the lemon juice-olive oil concoction provides a benefit, that doesn't mean it's because of a "detox" effect. Could be something completely different causing benefits. What difference does it make if it's it's the detox effect, or if people can't agree on what "detox" means, if it's beneficial.

If you don't believe that things you ingest either become part of your body, or they are eliminated, why not eat some lead and plutonium?

what about those little foot pads that pull the toxins out of your feet???? that sounds so far gone....

Gimpy.. I firmly believe that the evil we spew forth has a profound affect on our inner person.....

[QUOTE=babs10]

what about those little foot pads that pull the toxins out of your feet???? that sounds so far gone....

Gimpy.. I firmly believe that the evil we spew forth has a profound affect on our inner person..... even verbal spewage

The leaflet explains how the human body already has a fantastic detox system, called the liver and the kidneys, and that there is no need to spend money on expensive treatments and products. Eating healthily and getting plenty of sleep is a better investment.

Tom Wells, a chemist and one of the investigators, told the BBC that:

"The minimum sellers of detox products should be able to offer is a clear understanding of what detox is and proof that their product actually works."

"The people we contacted could do neither," he said.

Another researcher who investigated a Garnier face wash that claimed to remove toxins from the skin said that the "toxins" were no more than the normal dirt, make up and skin oils that one might expect any face cleansing product to remove, reported the BBC.

Garnier said that all their products underwent "rigorous testing and evaluation to ensure that our claims are accurate and noticeable by our consumers."

On the leaflet they will be handing out to shoppers in London, the detox investigators said that shampoos, cleansers and moisturizers "can't help your body remove excess substances and are no better than any other other shampoos/cleansers/moisturizers" although they may be more expensive.

Putting a detox patch on your skin may make the area sweat more, and while very small amounts of chemicals may come out in the sweat, the effect is very small and makes little difference to the overall amount of chemicals in your body, they said.

The investigators also said that detox tonics can't improve your liver or kidney function, and if you have too high a dose of some of the detox supplements you could become very ill and even die. They could also interact with other drugs like the contraceptive pill and reduce their effectiveness.

And, said the investigators, although detox diets are often recommended after periods of excess, such as Christmas and New Year, the "best diet you can have at anytime is a normal, balanced diet".

One of the detox diet plans investigated was a five day plan from Boots, which according to the BBC claimed to detoxify the body and flush away toxins. One of the investigators, Evelyn Harvey, said that consumers would benefit just from following the healthy diet that was recommended with the product, they wouldn't need the product itself.

A spokeswoman from Boots told the BBC that their five day detox plan encouraged consumers to drink water and the product contained natural ingredients that fought against toxins and helped "protect from the dangers of free radicals".

[QUOTE=Gimpy-a-gogo]What difference does it make if it's it's the detox effect, or if people can't agree on what "detox" means, if it's beneficial.

If you don't believe that things you ingest either become part of your body, or they are eliminated, why not eat some lead and plutonium?

[/QUOTE]

Just maybe, if there is some real benefit, and we understand how and why, we might be able to develop treatments with even more potent benefits.
[QUOTE=JasmineRain]
[QUOTE=Gimpy-a-gogo]What difference does it make if it's it's the detox effect, or if people can't agree on what "detox" means, if it's beneficial.

If you don't believe that things you ingest either become part of your body, or they are eliminated, why not eat some lead and plutonium?

[/QUOTE]Just maybe, if there is some real benefit, and we understand how and why, we might be able to develop treatments with even more potent benefits.[/QUOTE]

Well, if we're dismissing all "detoxes" as bunk, then I guess we won't be investigating and finding out anything about anything.

But I guess if people want to eat omega 6 rich factory farmed beef with a nice glass of fuzzy brown chemicals and believe it doesn't affect their health then dismissing all "detox" as bunk is certainly easier!I guess it really depends on what "detox" is referring to. My last "detox" was basically a very restricted doet with not supplements or anything like that, except a garlic, lemon olive oil drink once a week (which is basically salad dressing). It was the Dr Joshi Detox. After one week I felt like hell and after 2 I felt like a million bucks.

On another point, why are chemicals made in a lab and sold by pharmaceutical corporations incredibly potent and safe and able to rid your body of infections and bacteria and the like, while chemicals found in nature and sold by natural health remedy companies either inert or dangerous?not sure anyone "dismissed any detoxes as bunk" as you say...

is that why.. gimpy ... you feel the need to take something ALL THE WAY to the opposite realm??? huh?

or is your verbal regurgitation just your way of ridding your body of toxins, then? sheesh.

Holy exaggerations, Captain Hyperbole! All I said was that it wasn't clear if or how the lemon/olive oil stuff worked... and that perhaps more research into such things would yield benefits. I never said that all natural remedies were either inert or dangerous or that all synthetic preparations were safe and effective. Well, I am able to follow a thread so I am referencing the original article and then integrating what was said after.

I think it matters what you're doing to detox. The WL/OO drink was invented to help AIDS patients process toxins out of their bodies. There is a synergistic quality to combining those 2 ingredients. Same thing with the sulpherated protein combo.

If you are overwheling your body with 'unnatural' things like meds etc - how could it possibly hurt to help cleanse it?

Pip

I can't remember exactly how the lemon olive oil thing works, but one stimulates bile production and the other opens up the ducts.

It does seem to work, for anyone who has had liver or toxin issues. My enzymes recently went up a bit and I did that for about a week and they went right down again.[QUOTE=Pip!]I think it matters what you're doing to detox. The WL/OO drink was invented to help AIDS patients process toxins out of their bodies. There is a synergistic quality to combining those 2 ingredients. Same thing with the sulpherated protein combo.

If you are overwheling your body with 'unnatural' things like meds etc - how could it possibly hurt to help cleanse it?

Pip

[/QUOTE]

BUT..

if your meds work best in an accumulative way.... this would be detrimental.. no??

[QUOTE=babs10][QUOTE=Pip!]I think it matters what you're doing to detox. The WL/OO drink was invented to help AIDS patients process toxins out of their bodies. There is a synergistic quality to combining those 2 ingredients. Same thing with the sulpherated protein combo. [/QUOTE] That was pretty funny. I wonder where I can get a "detox tooth brush".

Snow owl, if it works for you I wouldn't worry about Lynn's opinion. I found a detox diet once or twice a year does wonders. Science actually really doesn't know a whole lot and we could wait 8 or even more years before we got any answers.
Babs -

What happens when you put too much additives into your car's gasoline? I think this is the same concept. Over time your car gets sluggish and doesn't work right. If you get rid of the junk and used pure gas then the car runs cleaner. So, if we think the same way about our meds, wouldn't we want ALL of our meds utilized and not leave some out because the body can't process it right because of all the other junk floating around in our bloodstream?

Pip

Well, I'm pretty sure mtx is stored by the body in the red blood cells, and I have no idea about other RA drugs. You really wouldn't want to use the liver to store anything. It's your body's "filter"There are signs on the wet and dry saunas of my gym that state, if you have an autoimmune disease, please consult your doctor before using, same with the hot tubs. Any idea why?Lorster, no idea. Maybe because heat promotes inflammation?I think the word "detox" is overused and misused. What exactly is being "detoxed" when one "detoxes"? How is this accomplished? How do you use the "detox" to get rid of the bad and keep the good? How do you know you're not flushing out vital nutrients? For that matter how do you know you're flushing out whatever it was you wanted to get rid of?

BTW - I just "detoxed" my shoes as I entered the house on our "detox" welcome mat. Now I have to "detox" the cat box and "detox" the laundry.

After I have a Coke. [QUOTE=lorster]There are signs on the wet and dry saunas of my gym that state, if you have an autoimmune disease, please consult your doctor before using, same with the hot tubs. Any idea why?[/QUOTE]

maybe treatment of autoimmune disorders is to inhibit the immune system, not stimulate it and the sauna would be detrimental to that treatment??? .

[QUOTE=lorster]There are signs on the wet and dry saunas of my gym that state, if you have an autoimmune disease, please consult your doctor before using, same with the hot tubs. Any idea why?[/QUOTE]

At my gym the signs say that anyone with a heart/circulatory condition, breathing difficulties, acute infection, pregnancy or any other *serious medical condition* (which is not defined...) should not use the saunas or hot tub. No specific mention of AI diseases.
[QUOTE=JasmineRain] I think the word "detox" is overused and misused. What exactly is being "detoxed" when one "detoxes"? How is this accomplished? How do you use the "detox" to get rid of the bad and keep the good? How do you know you're not flushing out vital nutrients? For that matter how do you know you're flushing out whatever it was you wanted to get rid of?BTW - I just "detoxed" my shoes as I entered the house on our "detox" welcome mat. Now I have to "detox" the cat box and "detox" the laundry.After I have a Coke.
[/QUOTE]

Jas, yes, my gym says those things too...it was just that the AI part caught my attention since I have it. I have never asked my doc about it. I may have to google it.

[QUOTE=SnowOwl]As in most things, common sense rules, someone with a health issue specifically worsened by heat shouldn't saunter into a sauna. Before MRI a common test for MS was to place the person in a tub of very hot water and see if it worsened their weakness and symptoms.

[/QUOTE]

the above is true, a hot bath will exacerbate MS symptoms, however when your body cools the symptoms subside, I use to LOVE to take a hot bath, it made me feel very weak, but I would fall into bed and sleep, Now I opt for showers, my shoulder and other joints make getting in and out of our tub hard. It is deep because it has jets and the pain and weakness not a good combo, hot tubs are out also.

The weakness from hot baths was one of my first symptoms actually.

You know I think alot of meds show up in a persons hair also....Original quote by IO: "My stalker stole my picture, so she can look like me."

Hey, you put it out on the net, it's fair game baby!!! Who knows where it will turn up???

I agree with Jasmine, if detox means clean I just detoxed my dishes.

When I was reading a detox treatment plan, it talked about all the bad, stale, "crap" in my digestive system. Some evil food from Christmas could be still stuck in your colon, or even a party before that. That never made sense to me and the only way I am going to get enema therapy is when I have to get a colonoscopy. Same with the fasting. I have too much to do to go without food for long.

Just because you feel good doesn't mean it removed something, it just gave you energy. Besides, that would fit in well with the placebo effect. You will feel great.

About the smoking, when I quit it came out in my sweat but I wasn't in a sauna or anything. Clothes got stained all weird places. I also hacked gunk for two or three months. Strange how that didn't happen when I was inhaling it daily but after I stopped.So nothing you ingest stays in you, and when you feel better it doesn't mean you've removed or cleansed anything out, but when you quit smoking stuff came out?

Or is the idea stuff goes in and out but nothing you could ever do would aid that stuff coming out? Even though you quit ingesting smoke and then the stuff came out?

The word "detox" is short for "detoxify", so it isn't confined to supplements you take to "cleanse". A more important aspect of "detox" is to stop putting toxic stuff in. So quitting smoking is a form of detox.

By the way, cigarette smoke paralyses the cilia in your esphagus and lungs so thats why it started breaking up and coming out after you quit (although in your case the gunk coming out was probably the placebo effect).Gimpy-a-gogo2009-01-06 18:28:22http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl3rDMv3ta8&feature=related

natural detox [QUOTE=JasmineRain] Can someone tell me how these "detox" treatments actually work, what is being removed, and how you ensure the good stuff stays behind?For instance, heavy metal chelation therapy uses compounds (EDTA, penicillamine, etc) that bind with the metal so that it can be excreted via the kidneys. Cholestyramine and similar drugs bind with bile so it gets pooped out, forcing the body to convert more cholesterol to bile because it's needed for digestion. The result is a net decrease in cholesterol levels. These "detox" treatments I understand.
[/QUOTE]

Well, I don't understand how EDTA and Cholestyramine work, but that doesn't mean I'm ready to claim that they don't work. If you're sincerely interested to know, why don't you contact the companies that make the products and ask them? Most companies have consumer information phone lines or emails. (I personally couldn't really tell you since I don't use commercially made "detox" products and don't know anything about them).

Unless you believe only chemicals made in labs do anything, and chemicals found in nature are inert.

This whole thread seems inane to me. Really, the original article is really just pointing out that the word "detox" is relatively undefined and used in a lot of different ways. So what? It doesn't mean that things labeled as a "detox" product can't be beneficial.As most threads tend to, this thread evolved as it went on. There is no law that says a thread must only discuss the topic of the original post. I don't know much about "detox" products or how they supposedly work, hence the question. I foolishly thought that some of the detox proponents here might have some answers. I guess I was wrong.

And I never said that "only chemicals made in labs do anything and chemicals found in nature are inert." Perhaps you've not seen my tagline - you know, the part that says fish oil is my miracle drug?

I also never said that a product labeled as "detox" couldn't be beneficial.

Talk about logic flaws.
talk about twisting. [QUOTE=babs10]talk about twisting.[/QUOTE]

Which post are you referring to?
[QUOTE=JasmineRain] [QUOTE=babs10]talk about twisting.[/QUOTE]

Which post are you referring to?
[/QUOTE]

Jas.. I am refering to the post that you were refering to... Gimpy's post that changes everything you write around.. so that YOU feel the need to defend and clarify.. that's why I call her Twister!

Gotcha. that's why I call her Twister![/QUOTE]

How cute. Is this a bit junior high?[QUOTE=lorster] that's why I call her Twister!

[/QUOTE]

How cute. Is this a bit junior high?[/QUOTE]

Really, do you say that when Gimpy calls people passive/aggressive? I don't recall you commenting on that, but I could be wrong [QUOTE=lorster] that's why I call her Twister!

[/QUOTE]

How cute. Is this a bit junior high?[/QUOTE]

nope....

a bit true.

and disrespectful

babs102009-01-07 11:21:30 [QUOTE=JasmineRain] As most threads tend to, this thread evolved as it went on. There is no law that says a thread must only discuss the topic of the original post. I don't know much about "detox" products or how they supposedly work, hence the question. I foolishly thought that some of the detox proponents here might have some answers. I guess I was wrong.And I never said that "only chemicals made in labs do anything and chemicals found in nature are inert." Perhaps you've not seen my tagline - you know, the part that says fish oil is my miracle drug?I also never said that a product labeled as "detox" couldn't be beneficial.Talk about logic flaws.
[/QUOTE]

Yeah, really, talk about twisting. I never said you did, I said "UNLESS YOU THINK...."

Do you guys need English 101 again, or did you miss that in grade school because you were all conspiring at the Tasty Freeze? [QUOTE=babs10] that's why I call her Twister![/QUOTE]

It's okay, Lorster, Blabs has shown everyone why it's not disrespectful to call people names. I'm so glad she has enlightened us with her adult perspective!

Seriously, though, from my perspective it's her that twists everything I say. [QUOTE=Lynn49] [QUOTE=lorster] that's why I call her Twister!
[/QUOTE] How cute. Is this a bit junior high?[/QUOTE]

[/QUOTE]

Lynne, when I call people "passive-agressive" I'm speaking clearly what I mean, owning what I say and what my opinions are, and not masking everything or pretending to be nice when I'm not by being passive-aggressive about it.

That's a concept that's clearly alien to you.Blah,

Blah Blah Blah blah...Blah Blah blah blah blahhhhhhh....blab, yammer yammer yammer , Yammer, blah blah......Blah BLah Blah blah

BEST Wishes, Lisa

[QUOTE=Gimpy-a-gogo] Lynne, when I call people "passive-agressive" I'm speaking clearly what I mean, owning what I say and what my opinions are, and not masking everything or pretending to be nice when I'm not by being passive-aggressive about it.

[/QUOTE]

YOU KNOW.. they say that laughter is the best medicine... Got my share today for sure!!

Blabs, thanks for showing us all how to be so mature. I really appreciate the way you've shown me the error of my ways. If only everyone could be like you, what a wonderful world it would be.

I think I love you.Put

the

crazy

tonic

down...

Now slowly back away.

Take a deep breath.

B-r-e-a-t-h-e.

Ok.

I hadn't really heard of detox in this way until I read this thread... and now I'm just confused.

Hope everyone is having a superfantastic and extra-comfortable day!!ya know when a person uses that mask of superiority, they are only compensating for the sense of self that is lacking. this very dangerous thought habit lies at the root of all conflict and war.So sending light and clarity to ya gimp and hope some laughter comes your way.