Before you Splurge on a ‘Miracle Cleanse,’ Hear What This Doctor Has to Say
W/H: Are You Wasting Time and Money ‘Cleansing’ Your Gut?
“There’s no magic” when it comes to gut health, Dr. Janice Fields, a Michigan gastroenterologist, told The Root. Still, detox teas, sea moss and magnesium supplements circulate through TikTok feeds, group chats and neighborhood spaces in Black communities, marketed as quick fixes for everything from bloating and weight gain to low energy. Before you spend your money on a “miracle cleanse,” consider what these products actually do.
On an October 13 “Health Matters” podcast, Mayo Clinic experts took on gut-health myths, including detox and parasite cleanses. To dig deeper, The Root went straight to Fields about what these products deliver and whether they are worth the money.
The Promise vs. Reality
Spoiler alert: “There is no product that will remove toxins from the body,” according to Fields. Marketing often goes further than relief from gastrointestinal symptoms, claiming everything from mental clarity to overall wellness. Some products even suggest they can rid the body of harmful bacteria while restoring the good bacteria your gut needs. But claims don’t prove improved digestive health. Point blank, some just trigger diarrhea.
“If it sends you to the bathroom, makes you have a bowel movement, it’s doing just that,” Fields said. The waste was already there. It has just been, shall we say, liquefied. “It’s pulling out mostly water,” she added. That waste was already in your gut, and the cleanse isn’t reaching into your cells to pull out hidden toxins. As she explained, the stool contains very little that wouldn’t have come out naturally.
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A Cleanse May Be a Laxative in Expensive Packaging
One market report projects overall U.S. digestive-supplement sales will exceed $4 billion this year. Before you pay a premium for a detox product, Fields suggests reading the label. Some pricey products contain common laxatives like senna that you can find at a drugstore for much less.
Relieving constipation isn’t the problem. Fields’s concern is regular use of these products based on the myth that they remove toxins. Relying on stimulant laxatives can make it harder to have bowel movements naturally. If constipation persists, she recommends talking with a medical professional about what’s causing it and your options for relief.
Can You “Reset” Your Microbiome?
Fields said gut bacteria are dynamic and can change with antibiotics and other medications, illness, where you live, and hormonal shifts as you age. But scientists aren’t clear on what those changes mean. Fields noted that tests don’t count every bacterial species in your gut or show that an over-the-counter cleanse has given it a beneficial “reset.”
What You Can Do Instead
If you’re looking for a gut reset, start with the problem you’re trying to solve. If it’s constipation, Fields suggests looking at the fiber in foods you already eat. For example, she noted that an apple has more fiber than an orange. Chia seeds, flaxseed and psyllium husk are other options. Add fiber gradually. Extra gas is common at first, and you may tolerate some foods better than others.
Look beyond food, too. Fields said alcohol can contribute to bloating or loose stools. She also emphasized paying attention to your body, while prioritizing hydration, exercise and rest.
Don’t use a cleanse to explain away a new or persistent symptom. Fields said any blood in the stool deserves a conversation with a medical professional. Unexplained weight loss, severe pain with fever or an abrupt change in bowel habits that doesn’t resolve also warrants a conversation.
A cleanse may make you poop, but as Fields said, “the science is still ongoing.” If you’re reaching for a fix because your gut feels “off,” it may be better to put away your credit card and find out what’s going on.
