06-013 · EVIDENCE C · LOW-RISK READING
Don’t buy products marketed for detox, colon cleansing, enzymes, or alkaline water
不要买排毒、清肠、酵素、碱性水这类产品
Several hundred to several thousand yuan. Fasting as a way to “detox” can even lower blood sugar and cause nutritional deficiencies.
One review examined whether there is any evidence supporting detox diets. It concluded that while the detox industry is huge, there is very little clinical evidence to back it up, and no randomized controlled trials have ever been conducted on commercial detox diets. As for the claim that an “acidic body pH causes cancer,” a search of 8278 research papers yielded just one study that met the criteria — and even that showed no link.
C
Move “Don’t buy products marketed for detox, colon cleansing, enzymes, or alkaline water” to Future Me's calendar
The excuse
Future Me has a clearer calendar, more patience, and apparently the same responsibilities.
What feels good now
Today I keep a few minutes and avoid interrupting my default routine.
What the source says
The source summarizes the return this way: “One review examined whether there is any evidence supporting detox diets. It concluded that while the detox industry is huge, there is very little clinical evidence to back it up, and no randomized controlled trials have ever been conducted on commercial detox diets. As for the claim that an “acidic body pH causes cancer,” a search of 8278 research papers yielded just one study that met the criteria — and even that showed no link.” Evidence grade C. The original states the population, caveats, and sources; this is not a personal forecast.
Open the original entry, check who the evidence applies to, then pick one small step that fits.
THE ENGLISH EDITION
Original recommendation and evidence
13. Don’t buy products marketed for detox, colon cleansing, enzymes, or alkaline water
Cost: Several hundred to several thousand yuan. Fasting as a way to “detox” can even lower blood sugar and cause nutritional deficiencies.
In plain terms: One review examined whether there is any evidence supporting detox diets. It concluded that while the detox industry is huge, there is very little clinical evidence to back it up, and no randomized controlled trials have ever been conducted on commercial detox diets. As for the claim that an “acidic body pH causes cancer,” a search of 8278 research papers yielded just one study that met the criteria — and even that showed no link.
Benefit: That same review reiterated that despite the rapid growth of the detox market, there is almost no clinical evidence supporting these diets, and no RCTs have been done on them. Another systematic review looked at whether diet, alkaline water, or an alkaline body pH influences cancer risk. After screening 8278 papers, only one qualified for inclusion — and it found no association. The authors concluded it is unreasonable to promote alkaline diets or alkaline water to the public as a means of preventing or treating cancer. These products seem worthwhile only because the ideas that “the body contains toxins needing removal” and “an acidic body pH causes cancer” sound plausible from a physiological standpoint.
Evidence grade: C
Sources: Klein AV, Kiat H (2015). Detox diets for toxin elimination and weight management: a critical review of the evidence. J Hum Nutr Diet. <https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12286>; Fenton TR, Huang T (2016). Systematic review of the association between dietary acid load, alkaline water and cancer. BMJ Open. <https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010438>
Notes: This item falls under “no supporting evidence,” which is why it receives a C rating. Naturally produced metabolic waste is already cleared by the liver and kidneys; as long as these organs are healthy, there is no need for any extra “detox” measures.
Source links
Read the complete Chinese source and notes
13. 不要买排毒、清肠、酵素、碱性水这类产品
成本: 几百到几千元。靠饿肚子来「排毒」的那种，还可能把血糖饿低、把营养搞缺。
说人话: 排毒这个产业做得很大，可支持它的临床证据非常少，也没人拿市面上卖的排毒饮食认真做过试验。有人去查饮食酸碱、碱性水和癌症有没有关系，够格的研究只找到 1 篇，也没看出关联。
收益: 那篇综述的结论是「尽管排毒产业蓬勃发展，支持这些饮食的临床证据非常少」，而且「没有针对商业排毒饮食的随机对照试验」。另一篇系统综述专门查饮食的酸碱、碱性水和癌症有没有关系：翻了 8,278 篇文献，只有 1 篇够格收进来，结果也没看出关联。作者写的是「向公众推广碱性饮食和碱性水用于癌症预防或治疗是不合理的」。它看起来划算，是因为「身体里有毒素要排出来」「体质发酸会致癌」这两个前提听上去很像生理学
证据等级: C
来源: Klein AV, Kiat H (2015). Detox diets for toxin elimination and weight management: a critical review of the evidence. J Hum Nutr Diet. <https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12286>；Fenton TR, Huang T (2016). Systematic review of the association between dietary acid load, alkaline water and cancer. BMJ Open. <https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010438>
备注: 只能说「没有证据支持」，所以只给 C 级。把身体代谢产生的废物清出去，本来就是肝和肾在干的活。只要这两个器官没有生病，就不需要额外做什么「排毒」
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