Nutrition Myths: Detoxes, Colon Cleanses and Alkaline Water

These ideas are attractive for understandable reasons. People want a simple fix for tiredness, bloating, constipation, weight gain or a feeling of heaviness. The programmes often make people feel better in the short term, but this is mainly because they stop eating processed food, sugar, alcohol or large portions, or because laxatives and fasting cause water loss, which looks like weight loss on the scale. The old idea of "autointoxication", that waste in the colon poisons the body, was abandoned over a century ago. Marketing also uses real-sounding science words and personal testimonies, which are not good evidence.

Detox and cleanse products are heavily advertised on social media, in shops and by influencers, and many people try them, especially around holidays, before weddings and after Ramadan or Eid. Use is common, but the proportion who suffer harm is not well measured, because side effects are rarely reported.

Herbal remedies and traditional preparations are widely used in Saudi Arabia, including herbal teas, black seed, senna, and "slimming" blends sold in shops and online. Some are harmless, but others contain laxatives or undeclared ingredients, and herbal and dietary supplements are a recognised cause of liver injury worldwide. Please tell your doctor about everything you take, buy only SFDA-registered products, and report adverse reactions through the SFDA. After Ramadan and Eid, there is often pressure to "cleanse"; a gentle return to regular meals, water and walking is the best approach. Zamzam water and ordinary tap or bottled water are fine; you do not need alkaline water. If you are considering any fast or cleanse and have diabetes, kidney, liver or heart disease, or are pregnant, ask your doctor first.

There is no test for "toxins in the body" as these products describe them, and tests sold with these programmes, such as hair or stool "toxin" analyses, are not reliable. If you feel unwell, your doctor looks for real causes: a food and bowel history, blood tests (blood count, kidney function, salts, liver tests, thyroid, iron, coeliac antibodies), stool tests and, if needed, endoscopy or colonoscopy. Always tell your doctor which supplements, teas and cleanses you have used.

The evidence-based alternatives to a cleanse are ordinary, but they work.

• Let your body do its job: sleep 7 to 9 hours, be active most days, and avoid smoking.

• Keep alcohol low or avoid it, since alcohol is a real liver toxin.

• Do not skip meals or fast for days to "reset" the gut.

• Pass stool when you feel the urge. Normal habit varies from three times a day to three times a week, so daily bowel movements are not required.

• Be wary of social-media claims, before-and-after photos and paid testimonials.

A balanced diet does what a "detox" claims to do.

• Eat plenty of vegetables, fruit, legumes and whole grains for fibre, which keeps the bowel regular.

• Drink water through the day; you do not need alkaline water, special bottled water or "detox" juices.

• Limit sugary drinks, ultra-processed foods, processed meats and fried foods.

• If you want to lose weight, aim for gradual loss with a dietitian, not a crash diet. Rapid weight loss raises the risk of gallstones.

• After Ramadan or Eid feasts, return to regular balanced meals instead of punishing yourself with a fast or cleanse.

Natural does not mean safe. Many cleanse products contain laxatives, diuretics or other active ingredients.

• Avoid laxative teas and "slimming" or "detox" supplements; stimulant laxatives such as senna should be used only short term and under advice.

• Check every supplement with your doctor or pharmacist, particularly if you have liver, kidney or heart disease, are pregnant or take regular medicines.

• Regulators, including the SFDA and the US FDA, have repeatedly found hidden drugs in weight-loss and "natural" products. Buy only registered products and report problems to the SFDA.

• If you have constipation, ask for medical advice: there are safe, evidence-based laxatives and a doctor can check for causes.

Medical bowel preparation is a different thing from a "colon cleanse".

• Bowel preparation before colonoscopy is a short, supervised regimen to allow a clear view; it is not meant to be repeated for wellbeing.

• Colon hydrotherapy and enemas outside medical care are not recommended because of the risks described above.

• If you have persistent bloating, constipation, diarrhoea or other symptoms, your doctor can arrange blood tests, stool tests, endoscopy or colonoscopy to find the true cause.

• If you have been told that you have a liver or kidney injury after a supplement, specialists will monitor you with blood tests and treat complications.

A critical review of detox diets (Klein and Kiat, Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 2015) found no compelling evidence that they eliminate toxins or lead to lasting weight loss, and called for good-quality trials. The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health states that there is little evidence that detoxes and cleanses remove toxins or improve health. For colon cleansing, reviews of colon hydrotherapy report no proven benefit and describe adverse events such as perforation, infection, electrolyte disturbance and, in rare cases, death; oral sodium phosphate bowel purgatives have caused acute kidney injury and the US FDA warned against their over-the-counter use (2008). Colonoscopy bowel preparation is a medical procedure done under supervision and is not a model for a home cleanse. The body keeps blood pH within a narrow range, so no alkaline diet can change it; the claims that alkaline water prevents disease or cancer are not supported by good studies, and there is no strong evidence that alkaline water benefits gut health. The 2019 EASL guideline on drug-induced liver injury and national registries recognise herbal and dietary supplements as a significant cause of liver injury, including acute liver failure. Laxative misuse can cause low potassium and dependence. Where research is lacking we say so honestly: "no evidence of benefit" is not the same as "proven harm", but the potential harms are real and the benefits unproven.

Most people who stop a detox or cleanse recover within days, but serious complications can occur and a few are permanent. The good news is that the things that do improve digestion and energy are within reach: regular meals with fibre, enough water, activity, sleep and, when needed, a proper medical assessment of your symptoms.

• Are any of the supplements, teas or products I use harming my liver or kidneys?

• What is causing my bloating, constipation or tiredness, and which tests do I need?

• Is it safe to stop or reduce the laxatives I rely on?

• How can I lose weight safely without a crash diet?

• Which sources of nutrition information can I trust?

This guide comes from the Saudi Gastroenterology Association (SGA) patient library, prepared by the Approved for publication by SGA; individual clinician review is ongoing. Last reviewed: 2026-04-24. It is for education and does not replace your doctor's advice.