Detoxing: Myths, Facts, and What Your Body Really Needs

Raise your hand if you’ve ever thought about doing a detox after a vacation, a holiday binge, or just a long weekend of not-so-great eating. Detoxing has become a wellness buzzword, often packaged in the form of juice cleanses, teas, supplements, and strict diets that promise to flush out toxins, reset your system, and have you glowing in 72 hours or less. But how much of that is fact—and how much is clever marketing? Let’s break down some of the most common myths about detoxing and shine a little truth on what your body actually needs to feel good, energized, and truly optimized.

Myth #1: You need a special detox program to cleanse your body.

Truth: Your body is detoxing 24/7—no juice cleanse required.

Your liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, and digestive system are already doing a stellar job filtering and removing toxins. It’s literally what they were designed to do. Think of your liver as the body’s ultimate bouncer, deciding who gets in, who gets kicked out, and making sure the VIP section (aka your bloodstream) stays clean. Yes, you can support your detox pathways, but your body doesn't need a radical reset to do what it's already doing.

Myth #2: Detoxing helps you lose weight.

Truth: Any weight lost on a detox is likely water—or worse, muscle.

Here’s the thing: if you go on a juice cleanse for three days and drop a few pounds, it’s probably because you're eating fewer calories, not because toxins are melting away. The scale might go down, but it’s mostly water weight. Once you resume regular eating, it usually comes right back. Even more concerning? Extreme detoxes can cause your body to break down muscle for fuel, which is exactly what you don’t want if your goal is long-term health or sustainable weight loss.

Myth #3: Detox teas and supplements are safe because they're “natural.”

Truth: “Natural” doesn’t always mean safe—or effective. 

Detox teas and pills often contain powerful laxatives, diuretics, or herbs that can mess with your digestion, dehydrate you, and even impact your heart and liver. Just because something comes from a plant doesn’t mean it’s harmless. Always read the label (and the fine print), and if a product sounds too good to be true— “Drop 10 pounds in a week!”—it probably is.

Myth #4: Fasting gives your body a chance to detox.

Truth: Fasting can have benefits, but it’s not a detox magic wand.

Intermittent fasting has been shown to support cellular repair and even reduce inflammation for some people. But using it to purge toxins? That’s not how it works. Fasting should never feel like punishment. If it fits your lifestyle and supports your health goals, great! But using it as a crash solution after a weekend of pizza and margaritas isn’t going to fix much.

Myth #5: You can sweat out toxins in a sauna or a workout.

Truth: Sweat is great—but it’s not your body's main detox pathway.

You do release small amounts of toxins in sweat, but the bulk of detoxing happens in your liver and kidneys. That doesn’t mean exercise and saunas aren’t beneficial—they are! Movement helps your circulation, digestion, lymphatic system, and mood. But if you’re hitting the sauna in hopes of "sweating out the bad stuff," just know your liver is doing most of the heavy lifting.

Should You Detox at All?

It depends on what you mean by detox. If your idea of detoxing is sipping lemon water for three days and eating nothing else? Probably not. But if you’re talking about giving your body a break from processed foods, alcohol, sugar, and other things that leave you feeling sluggish? That’s a different story. Sometimes, a “detox” is really just a gentle way to reset your habits. You don’t need to punish your body—you just need to support it.

How to Support Your Natural Detox System (No Juicing Required)

Eat more whole foods

Think fiber-rich veggies, leafy greens, berries, garlic, and cruciferous veggies like broccoli and cauliflower. These help support liver enzymes and keep digestion humming.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Water helps your kidneys flush out waste more efficiently. Add lemon, cucumber, or mint for added flavor 

Prioritize sleep

Your brain and body do a lot of detoxifying overnight. Make sleep a priority and your body will thank you.

Move your body regularly

Walking, yoga, strength training, and even dancing in your kitchen all help your lymphatic system and circulation do their job.

Reduce toxic exposure where you can

Choose cleaner personal care and household products, avoid smoking, and be mindful of alcohol and medications when possible.

Support digestion

A healthy gut helps your body eliminate waste effectively. Consider good quality pre and probiotics, fermented foods, and high-fiber meals.

The Last Bite

You don’t need to buy into extremes to feel better in your body. Detoxing doesn’t have to mean deprivation—it can mean nourishment, care, and getting back in tune with what your body truly needs.

So next time you’re tempted by a flashy detox plan promising “Dramatic results in just three days or less”, pause and ask: Is this helping me support my body—or is it just another well-marketed gimmick? Spoiler: You’re already equipped with the best detox system there is. You just have to support it with what it needs to function at its best!

Maybe you’re wondering how you should implement these supports into your daily life. Click the button below to book a free discovery session. Together we can design a plan to help your body detox naturally.