Don’t buy products marketed for detox, colon cleansing, enzymes, or alkaline water

One review examined whether there is any evidence supporting detox diets. It concluded that while the detox industry is huge, there is very little clinical evidence to back it up, and no randomized controlled trials have ever been conducted on commercial detox diets. As for the claim that an “acidic body pH causes cancer,” a search of 8278 research papers yielded just one study that met the criteria — and even that showed no link.

Several hundred to several thousand yuan. Fasting as a way to “detox” can even lower blood sugar and cause nutritional deficiencies.

That same review reiterated that despite the rapid growth of the detox market, there is almost no clinical evidence supporting these diets, and no RCTs have been done on them. Another systematic review looked at whether diet, alkaline water, or an alkaline body pH influences cancer risk. After screening 8278 papers, only one qualified for inclusion — and it found no association. The authors concluded it is unreasonable to promote alkaline diets or alkaline water to the public as a means of preventing or treating cancer. These products seem worthwhile only because the ideas that “the body contains toxins needing removal” and “an acidic body pH causes cancer” sound plausible from a physiological standpoint.

This item falls under “no supporting evidence,” which is why it receives a C rating. Naturally produced metabolic waste is already cleared by the liver and kidneys; as long as these organs are healthy, there is no need for any extra “detox” measures.

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