Hold the juicer: Detox drinks are not the miracle solution you think

medium117674576It was her big day. Soon-to-be bride Neha Sharma* wanted it to be perfect in every way. But her belly flab was coming in the way of an Instagram-worthy photoshoot. So, she tried lemon-cinnamon water, green tea detoxes, and even an activated charcoal drink. Neha did lose some weight at first, but was too fatigued and irritable throughout the pre-wedding rituals. Once the wedding was done, she not only regained the lost weight but also got acid reflux because of too much citrus consumption.‘Detox’ drinks are all over social media and ecommerce sites. There are gut cleanse shots, juices that claim to ‘regulate’ blood sugar as well as ‘purify’ your blood, infusions that will ‘cleanse’ your liver, kidney, lungs and, of course, those magic words — help you with weight loss. Celebrities have also endorsed their favourites — Kim Kardashian swears by her charcoal ‘Fit Tea’, and closer home, actor Sreeleela, who did a dance number in ‘Pushpa 2’, says her go-to is a ‘green flag’ drink (spinach, cucumber, celery, green apple, ginger and lemon). Tamannaah Bhatia drinks lemon-cinnamon water while Malaika Arora’s morning ‘detox’ is fenugreek-carom-cumin seed soaked water.So, do detox drinks actually work or is it just hype? There is hardly any scientific evidence to back their claims because few studies have been done. But do we need to detox? Detox, short for detoxification, is a daily process vital for survival. Our kidneys, skin, liver and lungs work in tandem to eliminate toxins as part of regular bodily function. Dr Shweta Rastogi, chief dietician at Mumbai’s Guru Nanak Hospital, says no single-ingredient drink or combinations of herbs can bring about detoxification the way the human body can. “There is a perceived notion of improved energy levels, better digestion and a strengthened immune system. But the fact is that right eating, along with exercise and sound sleep, are the key to improving health rather than shots of coloured drinks,” she adds. And in case of a toxin build-up that the body can’t flush out on its own, only medical intervention can help, not drinks. medium nocaption117641356Dr Rastogi talks of a female patient aged 45 who came to her with complaints of low energy and gastritis. “She had been on a liquid detox programme for three days — with coriander water in the morning, vegetable juice and clear soup in place of meals, and herbal tea,” she says. The patient had lost 2kg but ended up gaining double the weight after resuming her normal eating pattern, with weakness and gastritis to boot, adds Dr Rastogi. Dr Amreen Sheikh, head dietician at Fortis Hospital, Mumbai, says such so-called detox drinks lack macronutrients like proteins, fats and carbs that are essential for sustained energy during daily activities. “While they may provide vitamins and antioxidants, they cannot replace a balanced diet,” she says.Also, many of these drinks are made of herbs that might potentially lead to organ damage. “During the pandemic, people across the country began using giloy to make copious amounts of kadha to boost immunity. This led to acute hepatitis and even liver failure among many. Similarly, drinking green tea in moderation works as an antioxidant. But if you have it in crazy amounts, that can also harm the liver,” says Dr Deepika Kedia, a consultant liver specialist from Kolkata. She also warns that store-bought ‘detox’ concoctions can have ingredients that aggravate underlying disease conditions.What about activated charcoal used in the Kardashian-endorsed Fit Tea? While it is medically used to treat poisoning as it binds to the poison and stops it from being absorbed in the body, consumption for health reasons is a grey area. Even a simple warm nimbu-pani in the morning may feel comforting but can cause your tooth enamel to erode.Dr Rupa Shah, a Mumbai-based veteran in lifestyle medicine trained from Harvard Medical School, Boston, cites a 2015 study published in The Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics which states that there’s no scientific evidence to support the claims of commercial ‘detox’ products. A 2017 review by the US National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health found that juicing and ‘detox’ diets can cause initial weight loss owing to low calorie intake, but people tend to gain weight once a normal diet is resumed. Besides, some ‘cleansing’ juices may not be treated to kill harmful bacteria, which can make children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems seriously ill. It also cautions against juices made from high-oxalate foods like spinach and beets, which can raise risks of kidney issues if drunk in large quantities. Laxatives and liquid ‘detox’ diets with herbal teas can lead to dehydration and serious electrolyte imbalance as well. ShowQuotesDr Vaibhav Keskar, consultant-nephrology, Fortis Hospital, Mumbai, says commercial detox products contain high amounts of sugar. “A healthy lifestyle is often all that is required to maintain good health. So, if you like that fresh lemonade or cucumber mint drink, enjoy it for its sake, not to detox your body,” he says.But then why do people say they feel better after ‘juicing’ or ‘souping’? Experts say that may be due to other reasons such as substituting processed foods with these drinks. “Drinking lemon water, cucumber-infused water or herbal teas also means more fluid intake,” points out Dr Shah. And it’s no secret that proper hydration supports digestion, energy levels and skin health as well.Functional nutritionist Tanya Malik says it’s important not to fall for fads. “Simply having a green juice followed by a burger is not detoxing — it’s just fooling yourself. Long-term health lies in sustainable practices, not fleeting trends.”*Name changed on request