Detox programs sold in health food stores may promise to flush away the toxic residues from poor diets, but critics say they could prove more of a danger than a benefit.

There are many detox choices, ranging from simple dietary changes to extremes that use laxatives and enemas. Most take from a week to a month.

As natural health products, the products avoid the scrutiny of Health Canada.

Dr. Vince Bain

The liver is highly effective at removing toxins, without high-priced cleansers, said liver specialist Dr. Vince Bain of the University of Alberta Hospital. Bain doubts many of the products are helpful.

He said the liver has hundreds of enzymes to do its job and a healthy diet is a safer, more effective path to a healthy body.

"When toxic things get absorbed from the gut, they always have to go through the liver before they can get anywhere else in the body," said Bain.

Jenna Flick

• FROM JAN. 15, 2002: Herbal detox not good for your health: diet experts

While Health Canada has begun to study and regulate products used in detox kits, Bain said there are no guarantees they are effective or necessarily safe.

Jenna Flick of Whole Foods Market in Toronto sells the products and swears by her detox diet.

"You feel pretty good," said Flick. "You have a lot of energy, you have a lot of mental clarity, you sleep better, your moods are elevated."

Dana McCauley is a food consultant and author in Toronto who wanted first-hand experience with the trend. After she was tied to the toilet for 2½ weeks, she gave up on detox and vowed never again.

"It made me feel foolish because I had basically gone from feeling fine to feeling wretched," recalled McCauley. "I had to say to myself, you know was this the best $27 I ever spent? No, not at all."