ANH press release

[Guest guest]

Today, an " independent charitable trust " called Sense About Science

issued a release which heavily critisised detox diets and

supplements. See BBC News website for typical reporting. The ANH

has responded with the following release:

 

ANH Press Release

 

DETOXING: WHO SAYS IT'S A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY?

 

Sense About Science, an independent charitable trust which claims to

respond to the misrepresentation of science and scientific evidence

on issues that matter to society, has made a full frontal assault on

detox diets and food supplements.

 

In a release made today, the trust says that following a detox plan

is a waste of time and money and that many supplements do not have

any effect and the body can recover from Christmas excess on its own.

 

The Alliance for Natural Health (ANH), an independent pan-European

and international alliance of scientists, doctors, practitioners,

consumers and innovative natural products companies, believes that

far from clarifying the issue, Sense About Science's release on this

matter will confuse consumers even more.

 

Dr Robert Verkerk, Executive and Scientific Director of the ANH,

said, " Broad brush generalisations are a recipe for public

confusion. What Sense About Science should have said is, in

accordance with their own stated remit, that there are a wide range

of products available that claim to support the body's excretion of

toxins. Some are supported by very solid scientific claims, while

others are not. Consumers who have concerns over their accumulated

burden of chemicals, wish to lose weight or support liver or immune

function should look to the scientific substantiation given by the

manufacturer when making decisions on which product to buy. Sense

About Science is utterly misinformed if it thinks there is limited

or no scientific evidence showing that particular natural products

are able to promote particular metabolic processes that accelerate

detoxification or excretion. There is convincing literature showing

the effectiveness of specific herbs and forms of fibre. "

 

In an ideal world, a nutritionally sound body will have a fully

functioning detoxification system with gut, liver, other organs and

cells `capable of clearing out harmful substances'. However, in the

modern, industrialised world this is not always the case, hence the

high rate of cancer which, scientists agree, has been shown to be

caused in over 80% of cases by environmental rather than genetic

factors.

 

Inappropriate dietary habits and lifestyle, exposure to pollutants,

lack of exercise and high stress contribute to a sub-optimal

metabolism that is further impacted by the excesses of the festive

season. The assertion made by Sense About Science that all one

needs is tap water and a good night's sleep to feel refreshed, adds

further to potential consumer confusion, and dramatically over-

simplifies the lifestyle reform that is fundamental to reducing

risks of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease that are

currently overburdening the healthcare system.

 

Apart from the fact that the chlorine in tap water gives rise to

undesirable compounds when mixed with organic materials in the gut,

it can also contain various salts of heavy metals, aluminium salts

and fluoride in some areas of the UK.

 

The ANH is particularly surprised at this reference by Sense About

Science to the benefits of tap water, despite a considerable body of

scientific evidence of the potential harmfulness of chlorine,

chlorine by-products and other contaminants in tap water. For

example, a Johns Hopkins study on 285,631 Norwegian births between

1993-1998 showed a clear association between the presence of

chlorine and various by-products and an increase in the rate of

birth defects. Additionally, several other epidemiologic studies

have indicated that there may be a risk of cancer from ingestion of

chlorinated tap water. Other studies have shown that chlorine in tap

water may reduce sperm counts.

 

The ANH supports the view of most health authorities that every

adult should consume at least two litres of water each day, but

argues that this water should be of a known purity to minimise risk

of contamination.

 

The ANH, within its stated remit of `good science and good law',

would urge consumers to survey the wealth of available scientific

literature on detoxing, before swallowing, hook, line and sinker

what Sense About Science would have us believe.

 

Dr Verkerk added: " Perhaps Sense About Science might wish to

consider researching the effect of their press release on people's

New Year resolutions. It's quite possible that people who had fully

intended to kick off the year with a detox and improved diet might

now be put off. I feel it is somewhat ironic that this release has

been received on the day Dr Gillian McKeith goes to air to discuss

her New Year Detox at 8 pm tonight on Channel 4. "

 

ENDS

 

CONTACTS

 

For further information, including interviews, background documents

and images, contact:

 

Alliance for Natural Health

www.alliance-natural-health.org

 

D