# Do I need to detox my body? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 7, 2007, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198 "2007-06-07T23:42:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/1 "2007-06-07T23:42:18Z")
I haven’t been too kind to myself lately. My diet has been utterly horrid for a few months. We are talking Moon Pie, Big Mac, Ramen Noodle, Root Beer, bourbon, Cheez Whiz, cookie dough, beer and orange circus peanuts bad. I have probably ingested enough toxins and preservatives that if I die in the next month embalming will not be necessary. Yeah yeah so I am turning over a new leaf. Should I follow some detox program to clean out my system? I really feel sluggish and gross. Or is detox a fad soon to be relegated to history’s dustbin with The Grapfruit Diet and Deal a Meal? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/2 "2007-06-07T23:50:06Z")
No. We have covered this several times. There is no way to do a detox like they describe. Say, what are these selective “toxins” that you wish to sweat out/ burn off and what is the biochemical mechanism by which that works? Nobody knows because they just made a bunch of shit up and it apparently is good enough to get past the BS meter even of some Dopers. Real detoxing is just a good diet and some excercise maintained over time. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/3 "2007-06-07T23:50:53Z")
According to Dr. Drew on Loveline, detoxing is a fad. What, exactly, are the toxins you have in your system from the food you have eaten? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/4 "2007-06-07T23:58:40Z")
Your body detoxes itself - that’s what your liver and kidneys are for. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/5 "2007-06-08T00:15:28Z")
If you have the opportunity watch the Penn and Teller Bullshit episode on Detoxing. You won’t want to bother afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/6 "2007-06-08T00:19:42Z")
My rule of thumb: if you can’t name one specific toxin that you’re getting rid of and there’s no established medical procedure for getting rid of that toxin, it’s BS. Real detoxification can’t be done by means of diet, fasting, or anything like that- anything that claims to accomplish detoxification by such means is BS. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/7 "2007-06-08T00:31:17Z")
The only thing you’ve mentioned that I think would qualify for real detox is the bourbon and beer, and that’s only necessary if you get the shakes when you’re not drinking or something like that (if that is the case, you should go to the hospital, because you can die from that). Otherwise, just stop eating the unhealthy stuff that you want to stop eating and start eating healthy stuff, and don’t worry about accumulated toxins. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/8 "2007-06-08T01:03:51Z")
[QUOTE=Tristan] What, exactly, are the toxins you have in your system from the food you have eaten? [/QUOTE] According to **Cecil** , it may be the [circus peanuts](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_222b.html). ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/9 "2007-06-08T01:33:30Z")
So are you saying I should detox or not? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/10 "2007-06-08T02:20:03Z")
[QUOTE=newcrasher] So are you saying I should detox or not? [/QUOTE] You have no chance to survive; make your time. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/11 "2007-06-08T02:44:09Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] You have no chance to survive; make your time. [/QUOTE] Fabricati Diem, Pvncti Agvnt Celeriter! or Make the Day, the Moments Pass Quickly Often just shortened to: Fabricati Diem, Punc! ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/12 "2007-06-08T05:42:27Z")
Nothing wrong with eating a bunch of celery and other bulk/high fiber foods. It won’t fix everything, but your colon will thank you. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/13 "2007-06-08T06:00:08Z")
A few large glasses of water with that orange fiber stuff and some Probiotics might do you some good. But that is just because your diet has no fiber at all. As well as a hour in the sauna. But that is more because it will feel good. Stop eating so much crap. Excercise a bit. Get more fiber in your diet. ---
**Author:** ![Chataway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b782af/32.png) [@Chataway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chataway)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/14 "2007-06-08T07:54:53Z")
Detoxing is not a fad. Sorry people. Detoxing is good for you. You can do this very simply. Drink more water - good water, not from the tap. Take some probiotics - acidophilus, etc. You can find these in a health food store - they should be refrigerated. Eat more fruits and vegetables. If you want to do some sweating in a sauna it won’t hurt, but isn’t necessary. ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/15 "2007-06-08T11:18:48Z")
Pvcti etus prubium deua cvst djago sin! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/16 "2007-06-08T11:46:40Z")
[QUOTE=Chataway] Detoxing is good for you. You can do this very simply. Drink more water - good water, not from the tap. Take some probiotics - acidophilus, etc. You can find these in a health food store - they should be refrigerated. Eat more fruits and vegetables. [/QUOTE] If I do this, what specific toxins will be removed from my body? ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/17 "2007-06-08T13:31:27Z")
[QUOTE=Chataway] Detoxing is not a fad. Sorry people. Detoxing is good for you. You can do this very simply. Drink more water - good water, not from the tap. Take some probiotics - acidophilus, etc. You can find these in a health food store - they should be refrigerated. Eat more fruits and vegetables. If you want to do some sweating in a sauna it won’t hurt, but isn’t necessary. [/QUOTE] Why not just drink more water & add eat more fruits & vegetables? Maybe substitute some whole grains for refined ones? Get more exercise? What “good” waters do you recommend? Doesn’t the [bottled water fad](http://www.allaboutwater.org/environment.html) have environmental impact? > [@](#): > > According to a 2001 report of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), roughly 1.5 million tons of plastic are expended in the bottling of 89 billion liters of water each year. > > Besides the sheer number of plastic bottles produced each year, the energy required to manufacture and transport these bottles to market severely drains limited fossil fuels. Bottled water companies, due to their unregulated use of valuable resources and their production of billions of plastic bottles have presented a significant strain on the environment. ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/18 "2007-06-08T14:21:45Z")
[QUOTE=Chataway] Detoxing is good for you. [/QUOTE] Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/19 "2007-06-08T15:01:44Z")
[QUOTE=Chataway] Detoxing is not a fad. Sorry people. Detoxing is good for you. You can do this very simply. Drink more water - good water, not from the tap. Take some probiotics - acidophilus, etc. You can find these in a health food store - they should be refrigerated. Eat more fruits and vegetables. If you want to do some sweating in a sauna it won’t hurt, but isn’t necessary. [/QUOTE] Um. That’s not ‘detoxing’. That’s just following a healthier regimen. True ‘detoxing’ (going on fasts, taking laxatives, having enemas, etc.) is absolutely a fad. ---
**Author:** ![Chataway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b782af/32.png) [@Chataway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chataway)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198/20 "2007-06-08T15:16:37Z")
Research clearly proves that our bodies are not capable of eliminating all the different toxins and chemicals we inhale and ingest every day. They simply accumulate in our cells (especially fat cells), tissues, blood, organs (such as the colon, liver and brain) and remain stored for an indefinite length of time causing all kinds of health problems. Source: [DrNatura® | Cleansing & Detoxing Products | Official USA Store](http://www.drnatura.com/?ovchn=GGL&ovcpn=Google&ovcrn=detoxing&ovtac=PPC&gclid=CKXWqMjkzIwCFR5BSgod9lUBWQ) I’m not recommending the above site, it just had a very good explanation about toxin build up in the body. Good water: I’m not willing to ingest fluoride or chlorine or whatever else is being put in municpal water. I personally distill my own water. Also, if you recycle then the plastic bottles are being made into something else. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-detox-my-body/407198.md?page=2)