{"id":587739,"date":"2026-04-05T20:47:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T20:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/587739\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T20:47:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T20:47:10","slug":"how-to-detox-your-body-for-free-without-juice-teas-or-flushes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/587739\/","title":{"rendered":"How to ‘detox’ your body for free without juice, teas or flushes"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article originally appeared on PolitiFact<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s time for spring cleaning \u2014 is it also time for a detox?<\/p>\n

The idea of starting fresh and clearing toxins and gunk from our bodies sounds good. And if you’re in the mood for a change, a profitable marketplace welcomes you.<\/p>\n

Detox teas. Detox foot pads. Detox diets. Juice cleanses. Colon flushes. Supplements to remove toxins from the body, reset gut health, or “flush” out certain organs like the colon, liver, or kidneys. A multitude of products offer to get your insides squeaky clean.<\/p>\n

WATCH: Cleanses? Supplements? How to tell fact from fiction with gut health advice<\/a><\/p>\n

But here’s the thing: Most people don’t need outside products to “detoxify” their bodies.<\/p>\n

That’s because the human body already has a robust natural system for clearing unwanted chemicals out of the body, and there are ways to support and facilitate those existing processes.<\/p>\n

The best part? It’s free.<\/p>\n

Here’s what experts say about why you should forgo those appealing-sounding “detoxes” and “cleanses” and embrace your body’s existing superpowers.<\/p>\n

Detoxes don’t have evidence, and can be unhealthy<\/p>\n

Promoters of detox products and cleanses credit them for producing many health benefits, but scientists haven’t found\u00a0evidence<\/a>\u00a0to back that up.<\/p>\n

“For healthy adults, there is no strong evidence that detox diets, liver cleanses, or colon cleanses improve health,” said Wesley McWhorter, a registered dietician and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.<\/p>\n

That’s not to say you might not experience a change after, say, following a seven-day juice regimen. But there are other reasons as to why that may make you feel better: Maybe you’re eating more fruits and veggies than normal, consuming fewer calories, or following a new routine that gives you a new sense of balance.<\/p>\n

WATCH: How ‘thinly veiled’ social media ads are influencing what we eat and drink<\/a><\/p>\n

“What people are usually experiencing isn’t a true ‘detox.’ It’s more of a reset in their diet or overall lifestyle,” said Dr. Michael Richardson, family medicine physician and medical director of Bespoke Primary Care, in Wellesley, Massachusetts.<\/p>\n

Many of these cleanses also come with risks \u2014 and may have the opposite effect of “detoxing.”<\/p>\n

If a detox involves restricting food intake, it can lead to unsafe weight loss and a deficiency of important nutrients.
\nCertain\u00a0colon cleanses<\/a>\u00a0or laxatives can cause\u00a0dehydration<\/a>\u00a0and temporary electrolyte imbalances.
\nDepending on a person’s health, juice\u00a0cleanses<\/a>\u00a0that are made with\u00a0high-oxalate<\/a>\u00a0foods like spinach and carrots can\u00a0harm the kidneys<\/a>.
\nSupplements aren’t\u00a0reviewed<\/a>\u00a0by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for safety or effectiveness\u00a0before they are sold<\/a>. That can mean a product could contain harmful ingredients or interact negatively with existing medications which can\u00a0hurt the liver<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 even if it is advertised as “natural.”<\/p>\n

“Beyond the lack of evidence, they often taste terrible and can leave people spending a ton of time on the toilet,” McWhorter said.<\/p>\n

Plus, you may just be wasting your money.<\/p>\n

How does the body ‘detox’ itself?<\/p>\n

The body’s in-house detox system is mainly operated by the kidneys and the liver.<\/p>\n

“Our liver is going to be our workhorse in clearing various toxins, including alcohol, medications, other things,” Richardson said. “Our kidneys are filtering our blood which leads to urine so we can also release toxins through there.”<\/p>\n

Certain medical conditions \u2014 such as kidney or liver disease \u2014 impair those two organs and make it harder for the body to clear out waste. But those conditions are addressed with medical treatments, like dialysis \u2014 not supplements or over-the-counter detoxes.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Gut microbes found in hunter-gatherers shift with the seasons<\/a><\/p>\n

Lungs, like ovens, are also\u00a0self-cleaning<\/a>, but do better when they aren’t exposed to polluted air in the first place through activities such as smoking, vaping or inhaling chemicals.<\/p>\n

The digestive system helps rid the body of waste, but it is\u00a0mostly<\/a>\u00a0focused on\u00a0nutrient absorption<\/a>, passing the bad stuff off to the kidneys and liver to break down.<\/p>\n

Lastly, contrary to popular belief, you\u00a0don’t<\/a>\u00a0“sweat out” toxins or heavy metals. You just sweat out sweat.<\/p>\n

How to detox for free<\/p>\n

Here’s how you can detox for free: Support your body’s existing systems.<\/p>\n

Stay hydrated.\u00a0“Our kidneys love water,” Richardson said. “Staying hydrated is going to make you feel better, dilute any kind of poor toxins, and help you clear things faster.” Water is\u00a0important for your circulation<\/a>\u00a0to carry nutrients to the kidneys and to rid the body of waste through urine.<\/p>\n

Not including the water we normally get from our food, the\u00a0Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics<\/a>\u00a0recommends nine cups a day for women, and 13 cups for men.<\/p>\n

To make sure you are getting enough, keep an eye on the color of your urine. You are aiming for pale yellow.<\/p>\n

Take care of your liver.\u00a0That means limiting alcohol consumption and paying attention to your diet.<\/p>\n

Enjoying a few drinks off the clock asks our livers to get to work. And although the liver can handle\u00a0moderate alcohol<\/a>\u00a0consumption,\u00a0binge drinking<\/a>\u00a0or consistent\u00a0heavy drinking<\/a>\u00a0over years can do long-term damage.<\/p>\n

Pay attention to warnings that say not to drink alcohol while taking certain medications.\u00a0When you ignore that\u00a0advice<\/a>, you can double your\u00a0liver’s workload<\/a>. Give it some rest instead.<\/p>\n

Maintain a healthy diet and weight.\u00a0Excess body fat can end up being\u00a0stored in the liver<\/a>, impairing its function and\u00a0causing damage<\/a>. It’s important to eat lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, and limit\u00a0added sugars<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Eat fiber-rich foods.\u00a0Fiber can help “feed<\/a>” the good bacteria in your gut in addition to keeping your bowel movements more regular.\u00a0 Fiber-rich diets have also been\u00a0linked<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0liver health<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There are a few other tips that might help you feel better overall, even if not directly tied to “detoxing.” Getting plenty of sleep \u2014 seven to nine hours for most adults \u2014 gives your body a chance to\u00a0reset<\/a>. Plus,\u00a0regular exercise<\/a>\u00a0of about 30 minutes a day for five days a week can help all of your\u00a0body’s systems<\/a>\u00a0run more\u00a0smoothly<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“It may not be as sexy, but general balance and moderation are what really support health,” McWhorter said. “Staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet with enough fiber, limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking, being physically active, and getting enough sleep do far more than any detox product.”<\/p>\n

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