The Truth About Detox – What Doctors and Critics Overlook

Join Dr. James Odell for Season 2 of the Science of Self-Healing Podcast! He's the medical and executive director for BRMI, as well as a practicing naturopathic doctor for over 35 years, and he's here to share with you his extensive knowledge of medicine from a different perspective.

The Bioregulatory Medicine Institute

The Science of Self-Healing Podcast

In this episode, we’re unraveling what it means to detox—a term that’s been hijacked by marketing, criticized by mainstream headlines, and misunderstood by nearly everyone in between. While flashy “detox cleanses” and miracle teas deserve skepticism, the dismissal of detox altogether ignores an important truth: detoxification is a real, ongoing biological process essential to health.

We’ll explore what detox actually means, how your liver, kidneys, gut, lungs, skin, and lymphatic system work together to keep you resilient, and why modern life challenges these systems more than ever. You’ll also learn about evidence-based ways to support natural detoxification—through nutrition, lifestyle, and botanical medicine—without gimmicks or quick-fix promises.

If you’ve ever wondered whether detox is fact or fiction, tune in. The reality is both simpler and more profound than the headlines suggest: detox isn’t a myth, it’s medicine.

Transcript for: The Truth About Detox – What Doctors and Critics Overlook

Hello and welcome to the Science of Self-Healing podcast, produced by the Bioregulatory Medicine Institute (BRMI). We provide unique insights into how you can naturally support your body’s ability to regulate, adapt, regenerate, and self-heal. I’m Dr. James Odell, your host and BRMI’s medical and executive director, with over 35 years as a naturopathic doctor. Please remember, this podcast is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for personalized care from a qualified health professional.

Before we begin, I’d like to invite you to our upcoming conference and retreat aboard Celebrity's cruise ship, Beyond. We’ll depart from Miami for a 7-night Caribbean cruise, visiting St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and the Dominican Republic. We’ve reserved Aqua Class Staterooms with exclusive amenities, starting at $2,284.50 per person (double occupancy), plus $295 for the conference with promo code BEYOND. Our conference, held on sea days, features a range of engaging talks and is open to practitioners and anyone interested in health. Space is limited—visit brmi.online for details and registration. We hope to see you aboard!

Detox: A Dangerous Scam or A Foundational Pillar of Natural Medicine?

In today’s podcast, we’re going to talk about what “detox” really means since this term has become complicated, controversial, and highly politicized. Depending on who you ask, it’s either a dangerous scam promoted by wellness influencers, or it’s a foundational pillar of preventive healthcare and natural medicine. 

Currently, the mainstream media increasingly dismisses the concept of detox as pseudoscience, as critics mock juice cleanses, herbal teas, and spa regimens that claim to eliminate mysterious “toxins” from the body. These articles often go viral for their punchy headlines: “The Detox Delusion,” “You Don’t Need to Detox—You Have a Liver,” or “Detox Is a Myth, and Here’s the Science.”

At first glance, this critique seems reasonable. After all, the body does have its own natural detoxification systems. We don’t need a $50 smoothie or a colon cleanse to survive a weekend of processed foods. But the deeper story is far more complex—and far more important. 

The dismissive narrative that detox is a myth may be well-intentioned, but it overlooks several crucial realities: that we live in an increasingly toxic world, that detoxification is a nuanced biological process, and that there is both scientific and traditional wisdom supporting natural ways to assist the body’s own elimination mechanisms.

This podcast topic is not a defense of gimmicks. It is a defense of physiology. It is a review into what detoxification really is, why it's misunderstood, and how natural medicine—backed by science—can offer safe, effective ways to support this essential function.

What Detox Really Means

Detoxification, at its most basic, refers to the biological processes by which the body neutralizes, transforms, and eliminates toxins. These may be internal (endogenous), like hormones or metabolic waste, or external (exogenous), such as air pollutants, pesticides, food additives, pharmaceuticals, or alcohol. Essentially, detoxification is a fundamental function of human biology, one that takes place every second of every day.

In conventional medicine, however, the term “detox” is used in a narrow, clinical sense. A “detox” is what happens when a patient overdoses on heroin and receives naloxone in the ER. It’s what happens when someone undergoes dialysis due to kidney failure. In this framework, detoxification is a medical emergency—a last-resort intervention.

But in holistic and naturopathic traditions, detoxification is seen as a continuous process that can be supported, regulated, and enhanced. It is not something we do once in crisis. It is something we live with—either consciously or unconsciously. The goal is not to replace the function of the liver and/or kidneys, instead it is to allow those organs to function optimally.

This basic difference in how we define detox lies at the heart of the myth-versus-reality debate. Critics are right to push back against pseudoscientific claims—but they are wrong to dismiss the entire concept because of it.

The Body’s Natural Elimination Systems

The human body is equipped with a beautifully integrated network of organs and systems dedicated to identifying, processing, neutralizing, and eliminating toxins. To fully understand how detoxification works, we have to look at these systems not in isolation, but as a unified whole.

The Liver

Let’s start with the liver. It is perhaps the most iconic detox organ—and for good reason. It performs over 500 functions, many of which are dedicated to metabolizing harmful substances. In Phase I detoxification, liver enzymes modify toxins, often creating intermediate compounds that are more chemically active—and potentially more dangerous—than the original substance. In Phase II, these intermediates are conjugated, or bound, to molecules such as glutathione, sulfate, or glucuronic acid. This renders them water-soluble so they can be excreted via urine or bile. The efficiency of this two-step process is influenced by everything from genetics to nutrition to environmental exposures.

The Kidneys

Next, we have the kidneys, which are often underappreciated. They are the body's filtration units. They process roughly 50 gallons of blood each day, selectively excreting water-soluble toxins, excess nutrients, and metabolic waste. Hydration, electrolyte balance, and blood pressure all directly influence how well the kidneys can do their job.

The Gastrointestinal Tract

We also have the gastrointestinal tract which plays a central role in detoxification. Bile secreted by the liver carries conjugated toxins into the intestines, where they should ideally be bound to dietary fiber and excreted in the stool. However, if the individual is constipated, or if fiber intake is low, these toxins can be reabsorbed into the bloodstream—a process known as enterohepatic recirculation—forcing the liver to process them again.

The Lungs

You might not think of the lungs as an organ of detoxification, since they are responsible for gas exchange, but they also eliminate volatile compounds like carbon dioxide, acetone, and alcohol vapors. Air quality and breathing patterns can influence this process significantly.

The Skin

Then we have the skin, while not a primary detox organ, which contributes by excreting urea, ammonia, and small amounts of heavy metals through sweat. This is especially relevant when other detox systems are sluggish or overburdened.

The Lymphatic System

Finally,  we have the lymphatic system which serves as the body’s drainage mechanism. It collects interstitial fluid, cellular debris, immune waste, and pathogens, returning them to the bloodstream for processing. Since the lymph system has no pump, it relies on muscle movement, hydration, and gravity. Sedentary lifestyles impair its function—yet another reason that movement is medicine.

Each of these systems is interconnected. When one is sluggish, others must compensate. When all are supported, detoxification becomes a seamless, effective background process—just as nature intended.

What the Skeptics Get Right—And What They Get Wrong

To understand why detox has become such a controversial term, we have to talk about how it has been commercialized—and subsequently critiqued. Over the past two decades, detox has become a marketing buzzword. Companies sell teas laced with senna and call it a “colon cleanse.” Influencers promote five-day juice fasts as miracle solutions to fatigue or weight gain. Wellness retreats advertise infrared saunas, coffee enemas, and liver flushes with no grounding in physiology.

These practices often rely on fear-based messaging: you are full of toxins, and only our product can save you. The toxins are rarely named, the science is rarely cited, and the outcomes are rarely measured. It’s no wonder that critics have reacted so strongly. In their view, detox is a Trojan horse for pseudoscience—and sometimes, they’re not wrong.

But the problem is not detox itself. The problem is the way it has been diluted and distorted. The anti-detox movement often throws the baby out with the bathwater, dismissing valid physiological principles along with the hype.

Even more importantly, many skeptics base their arguments on a simplified understanding of biology. They claim that the body is “perfectly capable” of detoxing on its own. But this assumes ideal conditions: optimal nutrition, clean air and water, low stress, balanced hormones, and an absence of environmental toxins. In the real world, few people enjoy such conditions. Most people are chronically stressed, undernourished, exposed to pollutants, and consuming ultra-processed diets. The idea that detoxification happens effortlessly in this context is more of a myth than the concept of detox itself.

What the Research Really Says

Contrary to popular belief, there is a growing body of research that supports the idea that we can enhance natural detoxification through dietary, lifestyle, and botanical interventions.

So, let’s start with dietary interventions first. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and cabbage are rich in glucosinolates—sulfur-containing compounds that break down into biologically active molecules like sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol. These compounds have been shown in both animal and human studies to induce Phase II detoxification enzymes, aiding in the metabolism of estrogens, xenoestrogens, and carcinogens. In one study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, participants who consumed broccoli sprouts daily had higher levels of detoxification markers in their urine, including benzene byproducts.

Dietary Fiber

Dietary fiber is also really helpful for supporting detoxification - particularly soluble fiber found in oats, flaxseeds, apples, and legumes, which binds to bile in the intestine. Since bile contains fat-soluble toxins that the liver has processed, consuming fiber reduces the risk of these toxins being reabsorbed. A high-fiber diet has been associated with lower circulating levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), according to research in Environmental Health Perspectives.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants play a critical role as well. The detoxification process, particularly Phase I, often creates free radicals as a byproduct. Without adequate antioxidant protection, these free radicals can damage liver cells and impair enzyme function. Nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and polyphenols from green tea and turmeric help neutralize these reactive intermediates, supporting the detox process at a cellular level.

Lifestyle Interventions

Okay. Let’s talk about lifestyle interventions for a minute. Even sauna therapy has scientific merit. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health showed  that sweat induced by sauna use can eliminate measurable levels of heavy metals like arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury—compounds that are otherwise difficult to excrete.

Botanical Medicine

And lastly, botanical medicine also has a long tradition of detox support. Milk thistle, for example, contains silymarin, which not only protects liver cells but has been shown to regenerate hepatocytes. Dandelion root stimulates bile production, aiding fat digestion and liver clearance. Burdock root is believed to assist in lymphatic drainage and has mild diuretic properties that support kidney detoxification.

These interventions are not magical - nor are they  instant. But they are evidence-based, time-tested, and physiologically appropriate. They reflect the principle of working with the body, not against it.

How We Can Change the Detox Narrative to Talk About Detox Responsibly

One of the greatest challenges for natural health professionals is how to speak about detoxification in a way that is accurate, ethical, and compelling.

Instead of using vague terms like “flushing out toxins,” we should talk about the specific organs and pathways involved in detox. Instead of promising radical change in 72 hours, we can describe detox as a long-term process of cellular housekeeping, enzyme optimization, and elimination balance.

Instead of using fear, we should use empowerment. Detox is about restoring the body's ability to function in a challenging world. We can discuss signs of impaired detox—such as fatigue, headaches, hormone imbalances, digestive sluggishness, and skin issues—without claiming that every problem is due to “toxins.”

In other words we should think of detox as something worth supporting.

The debate over detox has become more polarized than productive. On one side, we see the commercialization of fear,commonly on Instagram and Tik Tok,  and on the other hand, we see a knee-jerk dismissal of any attempt to work with the body’s natural intelligence.

It’s time to return to a middle path—one rooted in both scientific literacy and traditional wisdom. Detoxification is real. It is happening in your body right now. And while your body can perform this function without your conscious input, it cannot do so optimally when burdened by modern stressors, nutrient deficiencies, and chemical exposures.

Supporting detox is not about buying into a trend. It’s about respecting the body, listening to its signals, and providing the tools it needs to heal, eliminate, and renew. This is not a myth. This is medicine—natural medicine at its best.

Well, that’s all for today's episode. Until next time, be well.

Bioregulatory medicine is a total body (and mind) approach to health and healing that aims to help facilitate and restore natural human biological processes. It is a proven, safe, gentle, highly effective, drugless, and side-effect-free medical model designed to naturally support the body to regulate, adapt, regenerate, and self-heal. BRMI is a non-commercial 501(c)(3) foundation and will expand and flourish with your support. Our goal is to make bioregulatory medicine a household term.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for the direct care of a qualified health practitioner who oversees and provides unique and individualized care. The information provided here is to broaden our different perspectives and should not be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.