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The truth about oil pulling, apple cider vinegar, and other trendy cleanses

Want to put some pep in your step this year? Just swish some oil around in your mouth. Or get a lymphatic massage. Or guzzle some apple cider vinegar. Or lock yourself in a sauna. Or all. Or none. Or… If you’re confused, you should be. The array of so-called health cures that claim to purify your system, cleanse your aura, and just generally give you healthier vibes can be as dizzying as your desire not to get off the couch. But do any of these viral “cleanse” tactics actually help your body?

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Featured

 Can You Really Cleanse Your Body of Toxins?

Fat, fatigue, headaches, and memory problems are just some of the modern maladies often attributed to a build-up of toxic substances in the body. Melinda Beck joins Lunch Break with a look at whether we're really full of toxins, and where the real dangers lie.

 The Sneaky Allure of a Detox

A cleanse might make you feel better, but not for the reasons you may think. There is a potential placebo effect that comes with being on a cleanse, Dr. Ring said. If you’re convinced that a cleanse will make you feel better, you may persuade yourself that you really are benefiting from it.

Articles of Interest

Cleanses are Bad for Your Mind, Too

If wellness bloggers and influencers are to be believed, detoxing can help one feel more energetic, relaxed, and revitalized as well as give people a positive outlook on life. I feel none of this and despite my prolific research, I found virtually no scientific evidence that remotely suggests detoxes, cleanses, or clean eating diets make you a happier human.

Colon Cleansing: Not So Cleansing After All

How clean is your colon? If you’re tempted to find out by getting a colon cleanse, don’t bother. You’re quite likely to develop complications from the procedure and there’s no evidence that flushing out your colon has any health benefits. That’s the conclusion researchers reached after reviewing 20 studies on colonic cleansing.

Should You Do a Cleanse? Here's How to Find the Best One for You

You hear all kinds of news about cleanses—why? One reason may be because there all kinds of cleanses, from juice-only to raw foods.

The Debate Over Juice Cleanses and Toxin Removal

How much do restricted diets and other techniques help? How badly do we need to detox?

Why fasting won’t cleanse your body – or beat cancer

Every few months, a new “miracle cure” for cancer trends on social media. From superfoods and supplements to extreme diets, the promises are always bold – and almost always misleading. The latest claim suggests that a 21-day water fast can “starve” cancer cells and trigger the body to heal itself. It sounds simple, even empowering: stop eating and your body will do the rest. But biology is rarely that simple. Cancer is not a single disease, and metabolism does not switch neatly between “sick” and “healthy.” While fasting can affect how our cells use energy, there is no scientific evidence that it can eradicate tumours. In fact, prolonged fasting can be dangerous, especially for people already weakened by cancer or its treatments.

You Asked: Are Cleanses Healthy?

Not only is the hard science on cleanse diets missing, but Dubost also says the premise underlying these drinks—that you can somehow flush your system of pollutants—doesn’t pass a basic sniff test. “Your body has built-in mechanisms for detoxification, including your liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal system,” she says. “Swallowing some kind of solution isn’t going to further enable those organs, so the whole premise of detoxifying is inaccurate.”

Your detox might do more harm than good to your body

No quality studies support the long-term benefits of cleanses. And while experts say there may be some short-term benefits, they come with sizable caveats.

Resources

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