Detox​ drinks to extreme fasting: Doctors discuss why these health myths just won’t die

We’ve all heard them. Drink this detox juice and your body will “cleanse.” Skip meals for a few days and you’ll reset your system. Cut out entire food groups and you’ll feel instantly better. And even if a part of you questions it, there’s always that tiny voice that wonders, what if it actually works?That’s how these health myths stick around.But the problem is, they sound simple in a world where real health advice rarely is. It’s much easier to believe in a quick fix than to accept that your body already has systems, like the liver and kidneys, quietly doing the hard work every single day. Add to that the constant flood of social media posts, influencer tips, and “before-after” stories, and it gets harder to tell what’s real and what’s just… convincing. And most people aren’t being careless. They’re just trying to feel better, lose weight, or take control of their health.But over time, following these myths can do more than just waste money. They can delay proper treatment, mess with your nutrition, and create expectations that your body simply can’t meet.So the question isn’t why people believe them. It’s why we keep hearing them, even when we know better. TOI Health connected with Dr. Pranathi Kesara, Director, Preventive Health, Arete Hospitals and Dr. Sumana Y, Consultant, Dept of Wellness, Gleneagles BGS Hospital, Kengeri, Bengaluru to discuss why health related myths stick around and the damage they actually cause. Dr. Pranathi Kesara: One I hear constantly is that “detox” diets or cleanses can flush toxins from your body. People genuinely believe that drinking special juices or doing extreme fasting will rid their system of built-up chemicals. In reality, your liver and kidneys are doing that job all the time. No juice, tea, or supplement can replace those organs.Dr. Pranathi Kesara: These myths stick around because they’re easy to understand and sound appealing, like a quick fix. The truth is usually more complicated and not as easy to follow in daily life. On top of that, we keep seeing the same messages on social media and in ads, so it’s no wonder people hold onto them. Even well-educated patients can fall for them because they “feel right” or are reinforced by friends and family.Dr. Pranathi Kesara: How dangerous a myth really depends on which one it is. Skipping vaccines or delaying treatment for ongoing health problems can be serious. Other myths, like doing detox diets, usually aren’t dangerous right away, but they end up costing you time and money, mess with your nutrition, and set up unrealistic expectations about health. Over time, if you keep believing these myths instead of following real medical advice, it can prevent you from getting the care that actually helps.Dr. Sumana Y: Yes, there could be some myths which would not harm health significantly. However, it's good to clarify regarding it from a qualified health professional.Dr. Sumana Y: Differentiating myths from facts or false and true information would require a discussion with a qualified health professional or subject expert...Without backing of sound knowledge in that particular domain, people would not be able to differentiate and discriminate the accuracy of the information. With a lot of information being shared in social media by influencers, it's really important to check the reliability, accuracy and the correctness of the information before practising or adopting anything....It's a good practice to discuss, clarify and seek answers from qualified, trusted health experts.Medical experts consulted This article includes expert inputs shared with TOI Health by: Dr. Pranathi Kesara, Director, Preventive Health, Arete HospitalsDr. Sumana Y, Consultant, Dept of Wellness, Gleneagles BGS Hospital, Kengeri, BengaluruInputs were used to explain why health related myths stick around and what are the damages caused when people blindly follow them in daily life.