NUTRITION
DETOX DIETS:
FAD OR FACT
BY CHARIS TORRANCE
DETOX TEAS, JUICE CLEANSES AND TIKTOK TRENDS PROMISE MIRACLES, BUT YOUR BODY ISN’ T BUYING IT. BEFORE YOU DITCH ENTIRE FOOD GROUPS, HERE’ S WHAT DOCTORS REALLY SAY ABOUT DETOX DIETS, QUICK FIXES AND WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS FOR LONG-TERM HEALTH.
Some doom-scrolling on TikTok will show you that detox diets are more popular than ever, with influencers and gurus purporting that they make them glow from the inside out. These fads are nothing new( remember when we were all drinking water spiked with cayenne pepper?), but here’ s some bad news for all the Goop followers out there – your body is perfectly capable of detoxing itself without new-age diets. That said, it doesn’ t mean they’ re all bad.
WHAT IS A DETOX DIET
“ So called‘ detox diets’ are often used in an attempt to‘ cleanse’ the body of accumulated toxins from processed foods, alcohol and environmental pollutants, with the aim of boosting energy, aiding weight loss and improving gut health,” explains Dr Charlene Wolberg, a general practitioner with a master’ s degree in nutritional science who practises at Netcare Linksfield Hospital.
She explains that people turn to detox diets for several reasons: many hope to shed a few kilos quickly after indulgent periods like the holidays and to reset their eating habits; others believe these diets help eliminate harmful substances, such as chemicals and pesticides, from the body. Some seek benefits like improved energy, reduced bloating, clearer skin, and sharper mental clarity, while others embrace the idea of
52 INBOUND SA / MARCH 2026