The Body Detoxes Itself; Diets Do Not
Detox is the removal of harmful substances. In medicine it names a real clinical process, but the diet industry uses the word loosely.
Detox is short for detoxification, the removal of harmful substances from the body. The medical sense is real and specific: supervised withdrawal from alcohol or drugs, which can be dangerous without care. The commercial sense is looser, since the liver and kidneys already do this work continuously, and no juice or tea has been shown to add to it. The word *toxic* comes from Greek *toxikon*, poison used on arrows, from *toxon*, a bow.
- Removal of harmful substances. *An alcohol detox.*
- A clinical withdrawal programme. *A detox unit.*
- A commercial diet. *A juice detox.*
- Detoxify — the full verb. *The liver detoxifies.*
- Toxin — the substance removed. *A natural toxin.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | detox | A week's detox. |
| Verb | detox | He detoxed. |
| Full form | detoxification | Detoxification. |
| Verb | detoxify | To detoxify. |
| Greek | toxikon | Arrow poison. |
- He completed a supervised detox.Medical.
- The liver detoxifies continuously.Physiology.
- Toxikon meant poison for arrows.Etymology.
What the body actually does
- The liver converts many substances into forms that can be excreted
- The kidneys filter waste products into urine
- The lungs and skin remove some volatile compounds
- Medical detox manages withdrawal safely, especially from alcohol
- No food or drink has been shown to speed the process up
A shortening of *detoxification*, from *de-* plus *toxic*, from Greek *toxikon pharmakon*, poison for use on arrows.
Do detox diets work?
There is no good evidence that they remove toxins. The liver and kidneys already do that work continuously.
What does medical detox mean?
Supervised withdrawal from a substance, especially alcohol, where sudden stopping can be medically dangerous.