7 Detox Drinks: Harmless, Hyped, or Risky?
'Detox' is not a recipe
It is a marketing word. Your liver and kidneys already do the job. Judge each drink by what is actually in the glass.
Infused water: Generally harmless
For most people, lemon, cucumber or mint in water is just flavoured hydration. It does not remove the body's toxins.
Herbal tea:
Just tea
Ginger, mint or saunf tea is an ordinary drink, not a detox. Anything sold as detox tea needs its ingredient list read first.
Juice
cleanses: Hype
A juice-only cleanse is not the gut reset it promises. Most juicing removes much of the fibre from the original fruit and vegetables.
Senna detox
tea: Risky
Senna is a stimulant laxative, not a daily drink. Cramping and diarrhoea are common. 'Natural' on the box does not change that.
Activated
charcoal: Risky
There is no good evidence it detoxes a healthy body, and it can reduce the absorption of some medicines.
Detox
powders: Check
Check for laxatives, stimulants and clearly disclosed doses. A blend that will not name its amounts is not telling you enough.
Colon-cleanse
kits: Risky
Not a drink, a protocol. Aggressive cleansing can cause dehydration and electrolyte problems. It is not routine gut care.
3-question
label test
What is in it? What is it promising? Could it be a laxative? If the pack cannot answer all three, put it back on the shelf.
Before you buy
the next one
Photograph the label and run the three questions. For more guides like this one, visit
Happy Tummy.