the detox myth: naturopathic doctors say there’s no ‘quick fix’ for cleansing the body of pervasive pollutants
but with the right support, the body’s natural detox system can help expel environmental toxins
published jul 15, 2026
4 minute read
4 minute read
“just by stopping exposure, your body is slowly eliminating things that it's been exposed to in the past,” says dr. paul hrkal, nd. nick kozak
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when we think of “environmental toxins” the big culprits come to mind. industrial smokestacks, big tanker oil spills, mercury contamination in fish — not your daily beauty routine.
but increasingly, canadians are concerned about everyday toxin exposure from microplastics, food additives and cosmetic preservatives raising questions about potential long-term harm to health.
a long list of human-made, pervasive chemicals are believed to be endocrine disruptors. they may alter the body’s natural hormone balance, negatively impacting long-term health, energy levels and weight management.
“we’re almost like in a fishbowl. our world is filled with this stuff. it’s stuff we’re wearing. it’s stuff we’re putting on our skin. it’s stuff we’re eating. it’s stuff we’re drinking. and it can be overwhelming,” says dr. elias markou, nd, author of the detox myth.
the cumulative effects of chronic exposure
the problem of environmental toxins is borne out by the data.
statistics canada reports the majority of canadians have traces of parabens, which are common preservatives used in personal care products, in their system. what’s more, data from 2018-19 found almost all canadians aged 6 to 49 had detectable levels of phthalates, which are used in solvents and plastic production.
health canada has flagged some parabens used in natural health products and cosmetics as potential contributors to negative health effects on the thyroid, liver, kidneys and reproductive systems. nonetheless, these parabens remain in many products canadians use daily.
the agency also states that phthalates don’t pose a health risk at current levels of exposure, except for dehp (di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate). dehp is strictly regulated in canada.
while many everyday toxins do not pose immediate danger to human health, some may cause cumulative negative effects over time.
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“the issue with humans is you don’t know when you’re going to hit those levels,” says dr. markou. “eventually you will come to what i call a critical mass in your body where these chemicals have reached that level where now they’re trickling into a system and creating pathology.”
dr. markou uses the impacts of toxins on metabolic function and weight loss as an example.
“we know from evidence-based medicine that bpas, phthalates, ddt, triclosan, parabens, and pcbs, are going to accumulate over time. they are what we call obesogens. they’re plastic derivatives from gasoline production and they enter our systems and can change our thyroid, how our insulin works and the signal of satiety in the brain.
“but chronic disease happens many years after exposures occur. so a lot of people start to see these effects in their 40s, 50s and 60s,” says dr. markou.
the body’s built-in detox systems
since environmental toxins are pervasive, many canadians are overwhelmed at the idea of reducing exposure to protect personal health.
dr. paul hrkal, nd, acknowledges this concern. “you’re never going to totally live in a toxin-free world,“ he says. “that’s not the reality of humankind right now. but i do think that it begs the question of what individuals can do to stop this from coming in.”
he says we can start by looking at our natural detox systems.
“your body is detoxing every second of every day,” dr. hrkal says. “your cells are being renewed. that’s the life cycle of a cell. so just by stopping exposure, your body is slowly eliminating things that it’s been exposed to in the past.”
the liver, kidneys, gut and lymphatic channels are the primary organ systems responsible for eliminating toxins from the body. these work continuously to process and eliminate waste. but even if we’re all carrying around our own inborn detox kit, some people might take extra steps to support their own health through medically supervised detox.
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“so if you just turn that tap off or reduce exposure substantially, the body wants to clean itself. the default mode is to have it functioning optimally,” says dr. hrkal. “detoxification is helping your body’s natural elimination. usage of nutrients and elimination processes just work better.”
thinking of detox as a “quick-fix” solution you can buy at the natural health food store isn’t ideal. but dr. markou says there might be benefits to a short-term, intensive cleansing regimen performed under medical supervision, followed by a long-term plan to keep the body’s detox system working at its highest level.
he compares it to organizing your home. when you get behind on your housekeeping, clutter accumulates, and it might be time to call in a service for an intensive clean. a medically supervised detox can work in a similar way.
“when i create detox plans for my patients, that’s what i’m trying to do,” says dr. markou. “okay, you forgot to tidy up every morning. now you might benefit from doing an intensive clean over two, five or 10 days.
“i always say if you want the best kind of outcome, sit down with a trained professional, naturopathic doctor, nutritionist or a medical doctor, and have them purposefully create the proper plan for you to get the best results out of a detox,” says dr. markou.
while the scientific understanding of the impacts of toxin exposure continues to evolve, understanding ways to minimize toxin burden will likely play an increasingly important role in helping individuals optimize energy, metabolic health and overall well-being.
this story was created by healthing content works, healthing.ca’s commercial content division, on behalf of aquaomega.
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