Horse 410 - Detox?

I was walking through the local newsagent where I work (a bad practice I know) and noticed that this week in particular, a lot of the women's magazines seem to be advocating the benefits of "detox". I think in all honesty that detox is scientifically unsound, and the reason for this is largely based on how brilliantly built the human body is.

Detoxing and fasting both hinge on an old medical premise (circa 1900s and before) about the body building up waste but this is simply not true, in general. We do build up those nasties in our arteries from improper diets, so, in a way, oats, olives and walnuts may be called "cleansers" (with science backing them up) if eaten regularly. However, we do not clog our intestines, as the old medical profession once believed.

Ditto for the necessity of liver cleansing, fasting etc. The energy spent on these measures (that carry some risk) is better directed at eating a good diet, in moderation. It's true that "cleansing" and fasting may feel invigorating, acting similarly to altering the state of consciousness, but that feeling should not be confused with improvement in health. As for clearing the system from environmental pollutants, no-one has ever proved these measures do that, and it's highly unlikely.

The liver and the kidneys are both amazing instruments. The liver acts as a giant scrubber whilst the kidneys are an expunging system for the chemicals that for the most part the liver removes. Whilst it is true that these organs can be damaged it requires a concerted effort to do it in a short period or increasingly as people's lifespans are increasing, this may be due down to the process of aging.
That is not to say that the entire theory of detox should be thrown out entirely. Industrial workers during the end of the 19th century were developing diseases due to increased levels of heavy metals in their workplace. Chelation therapy involves the ingestion of agents specifically designed to attract the metals in question such that the liver and the kidneys can do the job intended.

One thing I find quite worrying is some of the effects of something that happened nearly 20 years ago. When the reactor at Chernobyl failed, it released a cloud of Strontium-90; this found it's way into the ground water after being widespread throughout Eastern Europe.
Strontium-90 replaces calcium in fatty acids, which in cow's milk will replace the calcium deposits found in human bone; as far as I know, there is no plan of cure or even a solution found to this as yet. At any rate we're talking about a specific cure for a specific ailment.

Our liver and kidneys like so much of the human body is far more capable of removing toxins and impurities than anything science has managed to develop. The only equivalent is the use of dialysis techniques and machines which at best are about as 40% as effective as the equipment we were given at birth.

So called detox is about being sensible in the first place. A reasonable diet should cure all problems before they've begun. Perhaps detox is sold to the gullible with the express purpose of making people feel guilty?

I should create a list of things that are bunk, detox is one such thing.