Fresh fruit juices Researchers for the charitable trust Sense About Science looked at 15 detox products ranging from tonics to bath accessories and found that most detox claims were meaningless and some were even dangerous.
The research was carried out by over 300 young scientists from the Voice of Young Science network. Their findings urged people to save their money and instead eat a balanced diet and get a good night's sleep.
'While companies and individuals now use the claim 'detox' to promote everything from foot patches to hair straighteners, they are unable to provide reliable evidence or consistent explanations of what the 'detox' process is supposed to be,' said the report.
''Detox' as used in product marketing is a myth,' the team conclude. 'Many of the claims about how the body works were wrong and some were even dangerous.'
The scientists have put together an advice leaflet which will be distributed to shoppers in central London, debunking some of the popular 'detox' myths and encouraging people not to spend their money on expensive products and treatments.
Included in the research were 'detoxing' shampoos, which were found to do little more than give the hair a good clean and were no better than more basic and often cheaper alternatives. 'Detoxing' supplements and patches also did not live up to the claims made by their producers and the team warned that taken in high doses some could cause illness and even death.
The scientists point out that our bodies have their own 'detox' mechanisms that are very good at getting rid of all the nasties that we might ingest over the festive season.
'The whole concept of detox is unhelpful, no-one knows what it means and it is mostly just used as a marketing tool,' says Ursula Arens, registered dietician and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association. 'The liver and the kidney work with splendid efficiency to remove toxins from the body and there is no evidence that any detox products can help speed up the process.'
Arens points out that many detox diets are very extreme and can leave you feeling weak and shaky. She recommends that if you are feeling a bit bloated from your Christmas excesses you should try a few weeks of eating plain, unprocessed foods and cutting out snacks, sweets and treats. Avoid alcohol and try and do some moderate exercise like walking or swimming.
Sense About Science