Exercise CHOICE in detox
October 18, 2012
SCIENTIFIC evidence to support
many detox products is “sketchy at
best”, according to CHOICE
spokesperson Ingrid Just.
The comments come on the back
of a CHOICE review of the top ten
off the shelf detox products
including: Bioglan Intense Cleanse,
Blackmores Kickstart Detox, Totally
Natural Quick Cleanse Detox
Program, 4321 10 Day Body Boot
Camp, 48hr Rapid Detox, Brauer 10
Day Detox, 4321 Slim Evolution,
Skinny Mini 5 Day Detox and
Weight Loss Program, QuickTrim
Fast Cleanse 48hr Super Diet Detox,
and Pure Natural Lemon Detox.
The review looked at the scientific
evidence behind product claims,
product ingredients, and product
regulation, and also enlisted
volunteers to trial the detox plans.
According to CHOICE’s findings, in
terms of ingredients, the majority
of the detox products contained a
combination of fruit and vegetable
extracts, liver tonics, laxatives and
traditional weight loss aids such as
caffeine.
“Some products we reviewed
contain ingredients such as Bitter
Orange that should be avoided by
people with high blood pressure or
Goji Berries that should not be
taken by people on the blood
thinner drug, warfarin,” said Just.
“This lack of pre-market testing of
these types of products is
especially concerning given the
health risks of some products, the
lack of independent peer reviewed
scientific evidence behind their
claims and their overall cost,” she
added.
Looking at the products in
relation to regulation, CHOICE
found that only three: Bioglan
Intense Cleanse, Blackmores
Kickstart Detox and the Skinny
Mini, were listed by the TGA, whilst
the remaining seven fell within the
Food Standards Australia and New
Zealand Health Claims Standard
(currently being updated).
Responding to the light regulation
of detox products CHOICE said “In
lieu of adequate regulation, the
onus is on consumers to look out
for words used in conjunction with
claims on these products, such as
“aids” and “assists”, effectively
buying leeway for the
manufacturers”.
Meanwhile, looking at the
volunteers responses, CHOICE
remarked that although some
reported feeling better at the end
of the trial, the majority put this
down to healthy eating and the
elimination of processed foods and
sugars.
“None said they would be willing
to pay for the products out of their
own money,” CHOICE said.
“People have this idea of a
detox diet as a way of dealing with
their guilt about having a diet that
previously contained sugars, fats
and or alcohol, but two wrongs
don’t make a right,” said the
Director of Health Kick Nutrition
and Dietetics, Melanie McGric.
“It may alleviate your guilt but it
is actually doing more harm than
good,” she added.
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