Veggie Blog

Books about detox often make bold promises. This one, by Bruce Fife, is described in its title as a guide to detoxify the body, stop disease, reverse aging and improve health. The old version of this post read like an advertisement, saying that you must detox right now or risk illness, and that the book would restore your body. I have not read the book, and I cannot judge its contents. What I can do is explain what the research says about the claims in the title, so that you can read any detox book with a clear head.

What does the book say?

According to the old review, the book explains how a home detox program works, features a diet of natural foods, and includes chapters on fasting and other natural methods of detox. The reviewer also noted that the author is a vegetarian and that this showed in some of his views. I could not verify these details, because I have not seen the book, so treat them as the old reviewer’s opinions. The Amazon box at the end of this post lets you look at the book’s description for yourself.

Can any detox program stop disease or reverse aging?

There is no good evidence that it can. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says there have been only a small number of studies of detox programs in people, and that those with positive results were of low quality. A 2015 review concluded that there was no compelling research to support the use of detox diets for weight management or for eliminating toxins from the body, and there have been no studies on long-term effects. Nothing in this evidence shows that detox stops diseases or reverses aging. Do not stop or delay medical treatment because a book promises a cure.

Are we really “bombarded” by toxins?

We are exposed to some harmful substances, such as tobacco smoke, heavy alcohol use and air pollution, and it makes sense to reduce them. But the old text went much further, claiming that “acid build-ups” develop in people who have lived an unhealthy lifestyle. I did not find any support for that in the sources I checked, and I have removed it. The body has its own systems for dealing with waste. MedlinePlus says the liver helps the body digest food, store energy and remove poisons, and the NIDDK says healthy kidneys filter wastes and extra water from the blood. See our post on what your body already does to clean itself.

What about fasting?

Fasting is a part of many detox books, and it is not risk-free. NCCIH lists fasting among the approaches used in detox programs and warns that some detox or cleansing programs can be unsafe and falsely advertised. People with diabetes, people who are pregnant, children and anyone taking medicine should not fast without medical advice. If you want to eat more healthily, you do not need a fast to do so. Compare this with natural body detox and body cleansing and detox, which give safer ideas.

How should you judge a detox book?

Ask a few questions. Does it promise to cure or prevent disease? Does it claim that “toxins” cause illness without naming them or showing how they are measured? Does it rely on testimonials? Does it push expensive products? Does it cite studies in respected journals? If the answer to most of these is yes, be careful. The FDA and FTC have acted against companies that sold detox products with false claims, according to NCCIH. A book that suggests eating more vegetables and fewer processed foods is harmless, but you do not need to buy anything to follow that advice. Our overview of what the evidence says about detox is a good place to compare. For the research summary, see the NCCIH page on detoxes and cleanses.

View this book on Amazon (affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you)