Every so often, someone will ask me this question after seeing ads for some ”detox,” colon cleansing program they’ve found on the internet.  These programs are based on the ritual consumption of various products, which allegedly eliminate the “toxins” that are making us fat and sick.  The toxins themselves are never explicitly identified, but are described in menacing terms: they’re all around us, in our air, food and water. 

The products will solve other problems hidden inside us, too.  The most popular sites feature lurid photos of horrible, gnarly growths eliminated from people’s intestines; electron micrographs of monstrous-looking parasites; and graphic testimonials from customers who insist that they used to be skeptics, but have become true believers…they’ve lost weight and feel great, now that all these horrible things have been exorcized from their bodies.

Needless to state, these ads are quite persuasive!  They’re explicitly designed to frighten you into purchasing the products.  But before you reach for your wallet, let’s do a reality check. 

To begin: what do these products consist of?  They’re basically blends of different natural fiber sources and combinations of herbs that have laxative effects.  All in all, I don’t doubt that they’ll give you that “get up and go” feeling: after all, most people eating a typical Western diet don’t consume enough fiber.  Constipation is a pretty common problem, and these products, taken as directed, will likely provide relief.

But does relieving constipation actually help your body eliminate “toxins”? It’s quite true that there are all sorts of troublesome compounds in the environment, such as dioxin(s), PCBs, and methyl mercury, and we are exposed to them on a daily basis.  Unfortunately, the toxic substances of greatest concern are the ones stored in tissues and/or eliminated relatively slowly from the body.  Detoxification products will do little to affect this process.  The fact that these sites never provide proof that their products produce significant reductions in common contaminants should tell you something.

What about those horrid parasites?  Indeed, the thought of having…things wiggling around inside you is pretty disgusting.  And it’s certainly not impossible to be infected with parasites such as pinworms, Giardia, tapeworms, and other creepy crawlers.  Self-treatment, however, is not the answer.  If you think you have a parasitic infection, then a trip to your doctor is in order: the treatment should be specific to the source to ensure they’re completely eliminated.  In some cases parasites can become invasive (i.e., invade other tissues in the body), so this isn’t a problem to take lightly.

Consuming more fiber is a good thing, but you don’t need expensive products to accomplish it.  The best solution to the health problems caused by a poor lifestyle, is – no surprise – to change your lifestyle.  Eating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds; drinking more water and getting regular exercise will not only get you “moving” again, but will provide a spectrum of health benefits that go far beyond what a mail order “detox” program can accomplish.