Is it necessary to detox?

And do we need help to get rid of them? Here's the truth behind four detox myths. Myth: Your body needs help to detox. Fact: Your body does not need a detox program.

mdanderson.org - 4 detox myths: Get the facts - MD Anderson Cancer Center

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A detox for your body can sound like a great idea. Who wouldn’t want to do all they can to remove toxins from their system?

Marketers of detoxification products, diets and supplements claim they can cleanse your system and provide all kinds of benefits: more energy, better digestion, reduced inflammation and, of course, weight loss. But are our bodies really full of toxins? And do we need help to get rid of them? Here’s the truth behind four detox myths.

Myth: Your body needs help to detox.

Fact: Your body does not need a detox program. It is designed to detoxify itself.

Toxins in your body come in two forms:

endotoxins — byproducts your body makes, such as lactic acid, urea and feces exotoxins — toxins that come from outside your body. These include chemicals from cleaning products and cosmetics, pollutants from the air or water, and pesticides on food. “The liver is our detoxification machine. It’s made to do this,” says liver cancer specialist and surgeon Thomas Aloia, M.D. “Detoxifying the normal things we eat, breathe and ingest is part of its job and keeps us alive.” The most important thing you can do to help your body rid itself of toxins is take care of your liver. That means maintaining a healthy diet so this important organ doesn’t get overwhelmed. “The key is moderation. Don’t pack your liver full of fat, sugar or alcohol , so the machine keeps doing its job well,” Aloia says. “It will handle all the things it needs to handle as long as it’s a healthy organ.”

Myth: A detox can restore health.

Fact: If you overindulge too often, that can damage the liver over time. And that’s something no detox can repair. Fried foods and sugary drinks are difficult for the liver to process, and too much of each of these things become fat in the liver. Once that fat starts to develop, it’s there for good. Even if you lose body weight, the fat in your liver will stay. This is what is known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease .

If you drink alcohol, that can add more fat to your liver.

“That fat in the liver is on a one-way street. It can get in, but it can never get out,” says Aloia. “But you can stop adding more fat by eating a healthy diet and limiting alcohol.” And if you switch to a healthy, plant-based diet of lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, you will likely get all the benefits detox products claim to offer. This includes reduced inflammation , improved digestion, more energy and a boost to your immune system.