A scale reading that drops fast in the first days of a "cleanse" looks like proof the cleanse is working. It isn't proof of fat loss, and nothing in the research shows it is toxin removal. The research points to two plainer causes: you are eating very little, and on very-low-calorie eating the body draws on stored carbohydrate that holds a lot of water. The weight tends to come back once normal meals return, which is what should be expected rather than a sign the effect wore off.
Where the quick drop comes from
A 2017 review of popular weight-loss methods (Obert et al.) looked at juicing and detox diets among others. The authors say these diets "tend to work" because they lead to extremely low calorie intake for short periods, but tend to lead to weight gain once a normal diet is resumed.
The water part is explained in an older paper on very-low-calorie diets (Kreitzman et al., 1992). Glycogen, the body's stored carbohydrate, is kept in the liver, muscles and fat cells in hydrated form, with three to four parts water. The paper notes that early changes in body potassium on a very-low-calorie diet mainly reflect glycogen being used up, and discusses the influence of this water-laden glycogen on weight fluctuations while dieting.
So the number on the scale during a juice-and-tea week is partly a water reading. Once a normal diet is resumed, the weight tends to come back, as the Obert review notes, and the Kreitzman paper also discusses an exaggerated regain if carbohydrate loading occurs.
The "toxin" part
The body already has organs for this. MedlinePlus, from the US National Library of Medicine, says your liver helps your body digest food, store energy and remove poisons. The US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases says your kidneys remove wastes and extra fluid from your body.
The evidence for the products themselves is thin. A 2015 critical review (Klein and Kiat) found very little clinical evidence for detox diets and said the handful of studies reporting benefits were hampered by flawed methods and small samples. The authors knew of no randomised controlled trials testing commercial detox diets in humans. The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) also cites a 2015 review that found no compelling research to support "detox" diets for weight management or for eliminating toxins from the body.
When the water story turns risky
NCCIH lists a few problems worth knowing before starting. Programmes that include laxatives can cause diarrhoea, and acute diarrhoea can lead to dehydration. Drinking large quantities of water and herbal tea and not eating any food for days in a row could lead to dangerous electrolyte imbalances. Harmful effects of colon cleansing are more likely in people with a history of gastrointestinal disease, colon surgery, severe haemorrhoids, kidney disease or heart disease.
What a few days of whole food is actually good for
None of that makes a few days of eating more vegetables and drinking more water pointless. It's a fine habit on its own terms. The NHS says choosing foods with fibre can help with digestion and prevent constipation, and that eating plenty of fibre is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer. It just isn't doing the specific job the word "detox" implies.
Dates are one easy way to add fibre. The NHS counts foods with 6g or more of fibre per 100g as high-fibre, and USDA FoodData Central lists Deglet Noor dates at 8.0g of dietary fibre per 100g. The same NHS page has one caution: dried fruit is sticky and can increase the risk of tooth decay, so it is better eaten as part of a meal than as a between-meal snack. For more ways to keep fibre up day to day, see our post on keeping a high-fibre diet.
A plainer way to think about it: eating whole foods for a few days is a reasonable reset on its own, without needing a marketing word attached to explain why.
See also Kurma Bam Wholesale. Background on the company is on About Us, and direct questions go through Contact Us.
This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have a bowel, kidney or heart condition, have had colon surgery, or have diabetes, talk to your doctor before trying any cleanse or fast.
References
- Obert J, Pearlman M, Obert L, Chapin S. Popular Weight Loss Strategies: a Review of Four Weight Loss Techniques. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2017;19(12):61. PMID 29124370
- Kreitzman SN, Coxon AY, Szaz KF. Glycogen storage: illusions of easy weight loss, excessive weight regain, and distortions in estimates of body composition. Am J Clin Nutr. 1992;56(1 Suppl):292S-293S. PMID 1615908
- Klein AV, Kiat H. Detox diets for toxin elimination and weight management: a critical review of the evidence. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2015;28(6):675-86. PMID 25522674
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. "Detoxes" and "Cleanses": What You Need To Know. nccih.nih.gov
- MedlinePlus. Liver Diseases. medlineplus.gov
- NIDDK. Your Kidneys & How They Work. niddk.nih.gov
- NHS. How to get more fibre into your diet. nhs.uk
- USDA FoodData Central. Dates, deglet noor (FDC ID 171726). fdc.nal.usda.gov