“Detox your body naturally” is the kind of line that sells colon-cleanse teas, capsules and juice plans. It sounds like it means something specific. The evidence says otherwise. A 2015 critical review in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics (Klein and Kiat) looked at detox diets, which claim to help the body get rid of toxins and lose weight, and found “very little clinical evidence” to support them.
The few clinical studies that did report a detox benefit were, in the authors’ words, “hampered by flawed methodologies and small sample sizes”. The review also notes that, as far as the authors knew, no randomised controlled trial had tested a commercial detox diet in humans. So when a box promises to detox you, that review found no randomised trial of a commercial detox diet to back the promise.
What the products on the shelf actually do
Two kinds of ingredient are worth knowing before you buy a natural colon cleaning remedy. The ingredient panel tells you whether either one is in it.
Fibre-based products are what the NHS calls bulk-forming laxatives. Its laxatives page names Fybogel (ispaghula husk) as an example and says these increase the fibre in poo to make it bigger and softer, which triggers the bowel muscles to push it out. They take up to 3 days to work, and you need to drink plenty of fluids while taking them. This is a mechanical effect on stool. It is not toxin removal.
A 2022 meta-analysis (van der Schoot et al.) pooled 16 randomised controlled trials of fibre supplements in 1,251 adults with chronic constipation. Of those given fibre, 66% responded, against 41% on control, with psyllium and pectin showing significant effects. The better response showed up only at doses above 10g a day. The authors still advise caution because the trials varied a lot, and flatulence was higher in the fibre groups.
Senna is a different thing. If a tea or capsule lists it, you are taking a stimulant laxative. The NHS senna page says it works by triggering the bowel muscles to push poo out, takes around 8 to 12 hours, and should not be taken for more than 7 days unless a doctor or pharmacist has advised it. Side effects can include stomach pain, cramps and diarrhoea, and taking it for a long time with frequent diarrhoea can lead to low potassium in the blood. If a cleanse plan has you taking it for weeks, check it against that 7-day limit.
The boring version that has evidence behind it
The NHS advice on constipation starts with diet and routine, not a product: a healthy balanced diet with fruit, plenty of water and other fluids while avoiding alcohol, a gradual increase in fibre, and a daily walk or run. It also notes that you may see a difference within a few days, though sometimes it takes a few weeks. Its fibre page says adults should aim for 30g of fibre a day, while most eat about 20g.
Dates can be part of that, with one caution. USDA FoodData Central lists Medjool dates at 6.7g of dietary fibre per 100g. We found no checkable figure for Mazafati, so we won’t quote one. The NHS 5 A Day page counts a 30g portion of dried fruit, dates included, as one of your 5 A Day, but says it should be eaten at mealtimes rather than as a snack between meals, to reduce the impact on teeth. So put them with breakfast or after lunch, not on their own mid-afternoon.
The same NHS 5 A Day page says crushing fruit into juice releases the sugars it contains, that even unsweetened fruit juice is sugary, and that juice and smoothies should be limited to 150ml a day in total. For drinks, its sugar guidance suggests water, lower-fat milk or no-added-sugar drinks instead of sugary ones.
Reading the label instead of the front of the box
The word “natural” on the front tells you very little. The ingredient list is more useful, and the NHS points out that it always starts with the ingredient there’s the most of. Look for a fibre source such as ispaghula husk or psyllium, or a laxative herb such as senna, and you’ll know which of the two mechanisms above you are buying.
For wholesale buyers stocking dried fruit
If you stock a snack or wellness shelf, plain information is safer than a “detox” sticker, because the detox claim is the part the evidence doesn’t back. For Mazafati, also called Rotab Mazafati Bam, the honest facts are simple: it comes from Bam in Kerman province, Iran. It is dark, very soft and high in moisture, needs refrigeration, and is cold-stored so it can be sold year-round. Whoever you buy from, Kurma Bam Wholesale or another supplier, ask how the stock is kept cold on the way to you.
To see what we supply, start from our home page. Our guide to wholesale pricing for Rotab Mozafati Bam covers choosing stock and costing an order. For bulk enquiries and quotes, reach us through Contact Us.
A note on health questions
This article is general information, not medical advice. The NHS says to see a GP if constipation is not getting better with treatment, if you are regularly constipated or regularly bloated, or if there is blood in your poo. Persistent digestive problems are a conversation for a doctor, not a tea box.
References
- Klein AV, Kiat H. Detox diets for toxin elimination and weight management: a critical review of the evidence. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2015;28(6):675-86. PMID 25522674
- van der Schoot A, Drysdale C, Whelan K, Dimidi E. The effect of fiber supplementation on chronic constipation in adults: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 2022;116(4):953-969. PMID 35816465
- NHS. Laxatives. nhs.uk
- NHS. Senna. nhs.uk
- NHS. Constipation. nhs.uk
- NHS. How to get more fibre into your diet. nhs.uk
- NHS. 5 A Day: what counts? nhs.uk
- NHS. Sugar: the facts. nhs.uk
- USDA FoodData Central. Dates, medjool (FDC ID 168191). fdc.nal.usda.gov