Detox Products to Lose Weight

"Detox" is a word with pleasant associations. It's used to describe supplements, diet programs and other products that purportedly target weight loss and give you other health benefits. However, before you buy a detox product for weight loss, it's helpful to understand the meaning of the word "detox" itself. According to the Voice of Young Science, a group of research scientists, the word "detox" is undefined outside of strict medical applications.

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Detox Meaning

"Detox" refers to specific medical treatments used by conventional health practitioners to treat alcohol, drugs and specific poisons in your body, says Harvard Medical School and VoYs. Apart from this application, the word "detox" is medically meaningless. Physician and writer Ben Goldacre refers to the word "detox" as a "marketing invention." In the context of dieting, most detox products such as herbal supplements, natural laxatives and diet kits purportedly extend their benefits to purging your body of "toxins" that purportedly collect inside your intestines. A side effect --- or perhaps the ultimate goal --- of "detoxification" or "cleansing" is often to lose weight with less hassle.

Popular Detox Programs

Harvard Medical School lists the Master Cleanse, a liquid fasting diet, as one of the more popular diets designed to lose weight, increase energy and tackle health problems such as arthritis and fibromyalgia. This detox involves nothing more than the purchase of a book and a few items from the grocery store, but Master Cleanse "kits" are available for sale through various etailers. For 10 days, those on the Master Cleanse drink a quart of salt water every morning and drink 60 more ounces of water, lemon juice, cayenne pepper and maple syrup throughout the day. The reason you lose weight on this diet is because of its low carbohydrates and overall laxative effect, according to Harvard Medical School. You gain the weight back after you resume eating normally.

Cleansing Products

Another detox product that may not be specifically marketed for weight loss are colon cleansing kits, which typically contain fiber supplements, natural laxatives, enemas and other herbal supplements. These products work similarly to liquid diets like the Master Cleanse, without the express need for fasting. Other health claims may be attached to these products --- that they remove "parasites," for example. Bloating, diarrhea and stomach cramps are side effects associated with these products, says Stephen M. Barrett of the National Council Against Health Fraud. He goes onto explain that the fiber in the supplements molds itself to your colon; when expelled with laxatives, this gives you the impression that you've been retaining excess fecal matter. According to Harvard Medical School, these herbal supplements and laxatives tend to cost between $20 and $70 if purchased from an etailer as of 2010, with the recommended use time being up to three months.

Other Detox Products

Some detox diet programs involve a larger purchase than the Master Cleanse. Fasting diets, which can range from seven to 10 days, often include the use of herbal supplements that you purchase over the Internet. The fast is then followed up by a diet of vegetables, fruit, fruit juices and water. There's little evidence to suggest that these diets and supplements give you any specific benefits, according to Mayo Clinic nutritionist Kathy Zeratsky. Detox food pads are one of the more curious products that have been marketed for weight loss and cellulite removal, as well as a treatment for numerous medical conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis and a depressed immune system. Some manufacturers caught the attention of the Federal Trade Commission, the regulatory agency responsible for making sure that advertisers don't use marketing claims that are false or misleading. In November 2010, the FTC announced that a federal judge had banned one detox foot pad manufacturer from making or selling any type of dietary supplement, food, drug or device.

Cautions

The FTC cautions you against "miracle claims" that assert you can take a supplement and lose weight without effort --- these are patently false. Always keep in mind that herbal supplements are classified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as dietary supplements, not weight loss medications, so the marketer cannot legally assure you that it will cause weight loss. Detox products to lose weight may sound promising if you've gone on a protracted calorie splurge. However, there are no "toxins" in your body these products can remove, says the VoYS; your liver, kidneys and colon get rid of dangerous substances. Rather than putting your trust in the word "detox," Harvard Medical School advocates eating a healthy diet, adding exercise to your routine, getting enough sleep and seeing your doctor for routine check-ups.