Are all detox drinks healthy? Myths and Facts

Medically reviewed by: Ms. Neetha Pratheep, Sr. Consultant - Nutrition and Dietetics - Written by Jasni Salim - Updated on 10/06/2024

Some people believe that detox drinks can remove toxins from the body and help with weight loss. However, there is little proof that these drinks and diets actually detoxify the body.

Detoxification is a real medical process. Doctors use it to help people who are addicted to harmful drugs. In this case, detoxification means managing a person's condition when they are suffering from severe intoxication. It also helps with withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking addictive drugs.

The word "detox" is often used incorrectly. While detox drinks might improve health, help with weight loss, and support the body’s natural detox processes, this is different from medical detoxification.

What is Detox Drinks?

Healthy detox drinks are usually made from a mix of ingredients like fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. People believe these ingredients will help detoxify the body. The idea is that these drinks support the liver and kidneys in removing waste and toxins.

Detox drinks are usually used in detox or cleansing plans to help get rid of harmful substances, boost metabolism, and support overall health. Some people drink detox drinks for a short cleanse but others include them in their regular diets to stay healthy.

It is important to know that the effectiveness of detox drinks is debated by doctors and scientists. Their impact on health can be different for each person. There is no scientific proof that detox drinks actually help remove toxins from the body.

Common Myths on Detox Drinks

People often misunderstand the benefits of detox drinks. A common myth is that drinking detox drinks regularly leads to weight loss, but this is not completely true. Detox drinks aim to remove toxins from the body. While getting rid of toxins might lead to some weight loss, it does not specifically reduce body fat.

Another misconception is that people with low body weight should avoid detox drinks. In reality, detox drinks do not affect body weight much but they just help remove harmful toxins. It is important to know that adding detox drinks to your routine is not harmful.

Another common myth is that detox drinks are not suitable for children. This is not true. People of all ages can drink them to promote a healthy lifestyle. Even those without health issues can benefit from a daily detox drink to support overall well-being.

Facts About Detox Drinks

Even though detox drinks do not detoxify the body in a medical sense, they can still be healthy. According to the Office for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, three-quarters of people in the United States do not eat enough fruits and vegetables. Drinking beverages with fruits and vegetables as part of a balanced diet can help people get the nutrition they need.

A better name for these drinks might be "healthy detox drinks" or "smoothies." People usually use a food processor to make smoothies from raw ingredients. This is a convenient way to eat fruits and vegetables and keeps the fiber that juice alone does not have.

The Food and Nutrition Service says smoothies can be part of child nutrition programs to help kids maintain a healthy diet.

Benefits of Detox Drinks

Detox drinks contain different ingredients with some common ones being lemon, cucumber, ginger, and mint leaves. Each ingredient has a specific job. Lemon gives a boost of Vitamin C and helps with digestion. Cucumber hydrates the body and has antioxidants that reduce inflammation. Ginger reduces inflammation and helps with digestion by easing nausea. Mint leaves soothe digestive problems and add a fresh taste to detox drinks.

Mixing these ingredients in detox drinks can have many benefits like making your skin glow. Detox drinks help with digestion problems and kidney failure, balance the body’s pH levels, boost the immune system, and improve overall health. When your body is healthy, your mind is also healthy, you have more energy, and your complexion improves.

Other Things You Should Keep in Mind

To get these benefits, it is important to stay hydrated and give your body essential vitamins with detox drinks. When planning a detox drink, think about your health as some health issues might mean you should avoid certain ingredients. Detox drinks do not have to taste bitter. Rather you can change the recipes to suit your taste. Drinking detox drinks regularly can help your body, but it is important to see how they affect you personally.

Conclusion

The idea that you can speed up and improve your body’s detox processes by drinking detox water is unlikely. Even so, detox water is still a healthy drink with some benefits. However, you could probably get most of these benefits from drinking regular water. If you want to know anything more about detox drinks, you can visit Silverline Hospital.

We have many professional dieticians who will guide you on detox drinks properly. After talking with them, you can decide whether you want to add detox drinks to your daily routine or not. Our doctors are here to clear your doubts and give you the right suggestions for your healthy life.