{"id":1742,"date":"2026-07-30T08:22:33","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T08:22:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/?p=1742"},"modified":"2026-07-30T12:08:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T12:08:14","slug":"detox-diets-fad-or-fact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/30\/detox-diets-fad-or-fact\/","title":{"rendered":"Detox diets: fad or fact"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some doom-scrolling on TikTok will show you that detox diets are more popular than ever, with influencers and gurus purporting that they make them glow from the inside out. These fads are nothing new (remember when we were all drinking water spiked with cayenne pepper?), but here\u2019s some bad news for all the Goop followers out there \u2013 your body is perfectly capable of detoxing itself without new-age diets. That said, it doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re all bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What is a detox diet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo called \u2018detox diets\u2019 are often used in an attempt to \u2018cleanse\u2019 the body of accumulated toxins from processed foods, alcohol and environmental pollutants, with the aim of boosting energy, aiding weight loss and improving gut health,\u201d explains Dr Charlene Wolberg, a general practitioner with a master\u2019s degree in nutritional science who practises at Netcare Linksfield Hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She explains that people turn to detox diets for several reasons: many hope to shed a few kilos quickly after indulgent periods like the holidays and to reset their eating habits; others believe these diets help eliminate harmful substances, such as chemicals and pesticides, from the body. Some seek benefits like improved energy, reduced bloating, clearer skin, and sharper mental clarity, while others embrace the idea of giving organs (particularly the liver and kidneys) a \u201cbreak\u201d so they can function more efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr Wolberg points out that one of the reasons detox diets have gained popularity over the last decade is social media hype. \u201cPeople prefer what they perceive to be quick, short-term solutions to their health issues, rather than committing to long-term lifestyle modification. They also want immediate results for their efforts.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The problem is, it just doesn\u2019t work like that. \u201cProper lifestyle changes need to be implemented for several years before actual health benefits are seen,\u201d admits Dr Wolberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Do detox diets actually detox your body?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFrom a medical scientific perspective,\u201d says Dr Wolberg, \u201cthere is no evidence that detox diets actively eliminate toxins more efficiently from the body.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She explains that various organs in the body play an important role in eliminating excess unwanted substances from the body. \u201cThese organs include the kidneys, liver, skin and gut. In a healthy individual, these organs perform vital functions, such as regulating fluids and metabolites.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>But it\u2019s not all bad news. <\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Dr Wolberg adds that there are some potential short-term benefits of a detox diet:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Eliminating or decreasing the consumption of ultra-processed foods. \u201cIn a recent study, the negative health implications of increased consumption of ultra-processed foods were highlighted. Individuals who had a large percentage of ultra-processed foods in their diet had lower odds of reaching the age of 70 with good brain health, physical function and living without chronic diseases.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Detox diets often promote increased consumption of fruit and vegetables. \u201cThese are important components of a balanced diet. They provide vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and dietary fibre.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increased water intake<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A psychological boost. \u201cThese diets can provide a sense of control or motivation to start a healthier lifestyle.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr Wolberg is blunt: \u201cDetox diets do not provide long-term health benefits. To achieve optimum health benefits through diet, an individual needs to be consistent with a balanced eating plan for several years.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What actually supports long-term health?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s growing evidence pointing towards the benefits of a largely plant-based diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA diet that emphasises fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, low-fat dairy products, fish and healthy fats is one of the dietary patterns linked to healthy ageing,\u201d recommends Dr Wolberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She warns that detox diets often promote the exclusion of certain food groups. \u201cUnless you have a properly diagnosed allergy to a food group, it should not be excluded from your diet,\u201d notes Dr Wolberg. \u201cIt is potentially harmful to simply cut out entire food groups, because each group provides specific essential nutrients.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr Wolberg also adds that including a fasting regimen in your diet can lead to dehydration<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">and electrolyte imbalances. \u201cFasting can lead to patients feeling tired, dizzy, and having poor concentration and a lack of energy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMany of the claims made about detox diets are exaggerated, not based on scientific evidence, and the benefits are short-lived,\u201d says Dr Wolberg. \u201cThere is no healthier substitute for a balanced diet, regular physical activity, reduced alcohol consumption, not smoking and having enough good quality sleep!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr Wolberg\u2019s advice \u2013 balance is key, and always talk to your healthcare provider before making any significant changes to your diet to determine what is safe and healthy for your particular needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Some doom-scrolling on TikTok will show you that detox diets are more popular than ever,&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":1743,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-food"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1742","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1742"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1742\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1744,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1742\/revisions\/1744"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1743"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}