Fasts Don’t Detoxify Body, Experts Say

Q: Is it a good idea to fast occasionally to detoxify my body?

A: There is no evidence that fasting removes any type of toxins from your body. The digestive system does that very well all by itself. The notion that stagnation and decay in the colon produce toxins that poison the body is an ancient one, but one that was discredited long ago, according to the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter. Total fasting can result in an initial weight loss, but most of the loss is fluid and is replaced when you resume eating.

There is no harm in a 24-hour fast, but after that period, fasting can cause fatigue, headaches, irritability, nausea, low blood pressure and problems with heart rhythms.