What is all this talk about detoxing the body?

[jordan_o]

Alright, I have another question for you guys. Is there any truth whatsoever to the idea that toxins and metals build up in the body and need to be cleaned out through 'detoxification remedies'? My first insinct was to call ******** because it sounds so much like a salespitch for some herbal remedy that can be bought at the natural medicines store.

I also called ******** because my stepmom and her daughter were upstairs watching Montell and Sylvia Brown just told some lady that she needed a detox because there were toxins and metals built up in her body.

Am I right or am I right?

 

[Frinkiak7]

Jordan, your instincts are correct. "Detox" schemes are bunk. Here's a little bit on the subject:

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/detox.html

 

[jmercer]

I didn't click on the link... and most detox bs is exactly that - bs. But there is a grain of truth to the concept.

In example - ingestion of garlic can help eliminate lead from a system. (see here for more info)

Then there's Chelation Therapy for removal of heavy metals...

QuackWatch
CT is distinguished from approved use of EDTA for indicated conditions. Chelation for hypercalcemia and heavy metal poisoning is approved and effective. It consists of repeated intravenous infusions of sodium EDTA (ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid), the same material used as an anticoagulant in blood count tubes. The anion EDTA is negatively charged and exchanges its cation for another for which it has greater affinity. The calcium disodium salt exchanges calcium for lead and other heavy metals. It is approved for lead poisoning. The sodium salt exchanges sodium for calcium and is approved for hypercalcemia [4]. This is the molecular form used in CT.

 

[Skepiroth]

Then there's Chelation Therapy for removal of heavy metals... [/B]

Fun fact = in molecular biology EDTA is used to deactivate enzymes (many of which require the presence of cationic metals) while keeping the DNA intact. Don't you want to inject yourself full of the stuff now (that is if you DON'T have lead poisoning)?

 

[Bikewer]

Other words to look out for include "deep cleansing" or "cell cleansing".

A book I had some years ago on the vitamin industry noted that almost none of these people will actually describe the "toxins" that they are supposedly removing.

 

[Shrike]

quote:

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Originally posted by jmercer
Then there's Chelation Therapy for removal of heavy metals...

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But I like heavy metal(s)...

 

[ObscureReferenceMan]

Every time I hear the claims of the de-tox crowd, I am reminded of South Park, and can hear Stan ask, "What do these toxins look like?"

 

[Red Siegfried]

Every time I hear the claims of the de-tox crowd, I am reminded of South Park, and can hear Stan ask, "What do these toxins look like?"

And then Stan's mom said, "Don't be a smartass, Stan."

 

[wahrheit]

While the detox quackery over here is just as popular as in any other (western?) country, it's easier for a skeptic to reply when confronted by believers or friends interested in that topic.

The German term used by the quack industry is "Entschlackung" (verbatim de-slagging). So when someone comes up to me and mentions it, I kindly ask him what "Schlacke" (slag, cinder) he wants to remove from his body since he seems to believe he is a blast furnace in an iron foundry.

Before the quacks invented the idea of detoxing your body the above German term was used in the original, technical meaning only. Sadly, the made-up quack meaning of it was added to several encyclopedias meanwhile.

 

[edthedoc]

If someone recommends some sort of toxin eliminating treatment, just ask them what toxins they're talking about: if they can't name any, it's bollocks (if they can name some, it's probably still bollocks but they've done a bit of research!).

Personally, I've got two very good systems of eliminating toxins from my body: they've worked for years and still seem to be working fine, don't cost anything, and I carry them around with me all the time: my liver and kidneys.

 

[Kenny 10 Bellys]

Speaking from experience as a fat person, I know just how self deluded some people will get when it comes to losing weight and detoxing. Anything promising to help will attract a crowd of lazy morons desperate for a cure. Anything short of eating less and excersizing of course, the only sure way to get and stay slim.

If people are ready to believe that their colons really contain many pounds of undigested food and toxins rotting away then they deserve to have their money taken from them in this way. Maybe it's Gods way of punishing the gullible?