Does Detox Destroy Your Health? A Science-Backed Look at the Debate

Is detoxing harmful? Do binders strip minerals or “collapse your charge”? Discover the real science behind detox pathways, minerals, mitochondria and personalised health.

The online wellness world loves a dramatic headline and lately, I noticed a new narrative that has been circulating:

“Detox destroys your charge.”
“Binders steal your minerals.”
“Detox shuts down mitochondria.”
“You’re not cleansing — you’re collapsing your system.”

It’s compelling. It’s controversial.
But is it true?

As always, biology is more nuanced than any viral wellness claim.
Let’s break it down in a grounded, evidence-aligned way.

1. Yes, minerals are essential for detoxification — but detox doesn’t ‘steal’ them

Your liver depends on minerals like magnesium, zinc, copper and iron to run its detox enzymes, including:

• Cytochrome P450 (phase 1)

• Superoxide dismutase (antioxidant defence)

• Glutathione-related enzymes (phase 2)

These enzymes truly cannot function without adequate mineral status.

But detox practices such as activated charcoal, bentonite clay or zeolite primarily act in the gut, not the bloodstream.

They bind substances within the digestive tract and prevent reabsorption, which is useful in certain situations.

They do not remove minerals from your circulating enzymes or “unplug your voltage.”

Chelation therapy (EDTA, DMSA) can remove essential metals, but this is a supervised medical intervention — not something found in everyday wellness detoxes.

So the claim is overstated, but the underlying principle — minerals matter — is correct.

2. Detox symptoms are rarely caused by “charge loss” — but by low capacity

Many people report feeling worse during detoxes: fatigue, irritability, headaches, rashes, brain fog.

This is often interpreted as:

“Toxins are leaving.”
“I’m having a reaction.”
“My detox pathways are clearing out.”

But in reality, these symptoms often reflect:

• low mineral stores

• unstable blood sugar

• poor sleep

• high cortisol

• impaired liver function

• gut dysbiosis

• lymphatic stagnation

• a dysregulated nervous system

• mitochondrial depletion

When metabolic demand increases, as it does in any detox protocol, the body struggles to keep up.

Your biology needed more support, not more burden.

3. Detoxification is not a switch — it’s a continuum

Your body detoxifies all day, every day. It’s a constant process of:

• biotransformation

• conjugation

• neutralisation

• binding

• elimination

The goal of integrative health isn’t to “make detox happen.”
It’s to ensure your capacity remains strong enough to support these natural systems.

This includes the liver, kidneys, skin, gut, lungs, lymphatic system, mitochondria, and, often overlooked, the nervous system.

When any of these foundations are depleted or dysregulated, detoxification slows, and symptoms surface.

4. The foundation of safe detox is preparation, not intensity

Before considering any detox support, ensure the fundamentals are in place:

Mineral balance

Magnesium, potassium, sodium and zinc drive enzyme systems and maintain intracellular electrical gradients.

Protein intake

Amino acids (glycine, cysteine, glutamine, methionine) fuel phase 2 detoxification.

Blood sugar stability

Erratic glucose disrupts detoxification, hormones and inflammation.

Mitochondrial support

Detoxification is ATP-dependent. Without energy, nothing moves.

Nervous system regulation

Chronic sympathetic dominance reduces digestive enzymes, bile flow, and gut motility — all essential for detox.

Hydration and electrolytes

Fluid movement = lymph movement = detox movement.

Sleep

Night-time is the brain’s detox window via the glymphatic system.

When these are established, detoxification becomes smooth, efficient and generally symptom-free.

5. Why personalised detox matters more than protocols

Every woman’s biology, genetics, health history and capacity are different.
This is why a one-size-fits-all detox can feel incredible for one person and disastrous for another.

A personalised approach considers:

• genetic detox pathways

• mineral status

• mitochondrial function

• stress response patterns

• hormonal load

• current inflammation

• gut health

• nervous system tone

This is the core of the FeelGood philosophy:

Beliefs → Biology → Behaviour → Becoming.

We don’t force detox.
We build the system so the detox unfolds naturally.

Detox isn’t the problem — lack of capacity is.

No, detox doesn’t “destroy charge.”
No binder is “stealing your copper and iron.”
And mitochondria don’t shut down because of a gentle cleanse.

But detoxing when your system is depleted will make you feel worse — not because detox is harmful, but because your biology wasn’t supported.

Build capacity first.
Detox second.
Personalisation always.

If you’d like to understand your own biology, including detox pathways, energy patterns and nervous system regulation, start with the FeelGood Personalised Health Coaching Guide.

It’s free, and it’s the best place to begin your personalised health journey.