During the first few weeks of the year we’re often bombarded with detox adverts that come with enticing claims: lose weight fast, boost your immune system, flush out nasty toxins, make your skin glow. But what does the science say? Is detoxing even needed?
What is a detox?
The word ‘detox’ was originally used to describe a treatment for drug addictions but is now used to mean ‘cleanse’, and in nutrition to describe one of three typical diet regimes:
→ A liquid diet of specified juices, teas, smoothies, or soups, usually with supplements thrown in.
→ A restrictive diet that cuts out alcohol, caffeine, sugar, red meat, processed foods, fatty foods, wheat and dairy, and includes only certain types of fruit, veg and water.
→ A suite of supplements and…
