The Detox Dossier

'Detox' has no meaning outside of the clinical treatment for drug addiction or poisoning. VoYS published a dossier on their hunt for the evidence behind detox claims made for products and diets, and began a campaign to alert the public.

• Like Voice of Young Science on Facebook, follow @voiceofyoungsci on Twitter and sign up to join the VoYS network.

• Top tip 1: Ask for Evidence. If you’re being sold a product or asked to believe a claim then you deserve to know whether it’s based on evidence – or imagination.

• Top tip 2: Detox. It’s a marketing myth – our body does it without pricey potions and detox diets.

• Top tip 3: Superfood. There is no such thing, just foods that are high in some nutrients.

• Top tip 4: Cleansing. You shouldn’t be trying to cleanse anything other than your skin or hair.

• Top tip 5: If it sounds too good to be true… it probably is.