http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/do_detox_products_deliver.html en-gb 30 Thu 31 Dec 2009 15:07:57 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/do_detox_products_deliver.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/do_detox_products_deliver.html?page=18#comment14 This post has been Removed Mon 20 Apr 2009 19:03:13 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/do_detox_products_deliver.html?page=17#comment13 The problem with our society is that we all want a quick fix so if a product doesn't show some immediate results we don't give it any credibility. Instead we prefer to fill ourselves full of medical drugs which slowly poison our bodies but quickly relieve the symptoms. Most of us have abused our bodies for years and yet we want and expect a product to undo that damage in a day or two. So a drug which takes away the symptoms seems like the perfect answer. We are so brainwashed by the drug companies and the medical profession that we believe only they have the answer. And of course you can get a medical prescription for far less money than most alternative products so of course we like them more. However, the fact that more and more people are turning to alternative medicine indicates to me that they are disillusioned with the orthodox profession. Hardly surprising really. I am surprised at the BBC for not offering a more balanced view. Sat 18 Apr 2009 13:55:04 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/do_detox_products_deliver.html?page=16#comment12 I love how Watchdog have not allowed my comment to be shown which requested that they actually do it properly. I'll be surprised if they allow this! (referring to comment 9) Fri 10 Apr 2009 18:14:47 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/do_detox_products_deliver.html?page=14#comment11 We sent them tests which demonstrated the lowering of heavy metals in hair analysis with consisitent use of the footpads and also a test demonstrating the lowering of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Also their experts disputed that sweat had toxins and we sent them US research that found that sweat collected on a cellulose pad was a more effective way of testing for drug and alcohol use than urine. If you email me through our website I will be happy to send you the evidence and also to forward you emails from Watchdog and our replies. There is not room here. The BBC’s own Editorial Guidelines state “we should not automatically assume that academics and journalists from other organisations are impartial and make it clear to our audience when contributors are associated with a particular viewpoint”. The Watchdogs experts have all publically stated their stand against detoxing on their websites and are active in the press in trying to prevent detoxing products being sold in the high street. This was not made clear on the programme and if the BBC replay the report today they will be doing so in breach of their own code of conduct. Lets see if it is on. [Note from Watchdog: It is not the case that Watchdog ignored the evidence from Crystal Spring. In fact the material they sent us was shown to a number of scientists and doctors, all of who came from a variety of sources and perspectives. A total of eight experts were asked to comment on the claims made for the footpads, and none was convinced there was any proper scientific evidence they can do what they say they can. In particular, they did not consider that the dark sticky mess referred to here is evidence of anything more than sweat - and not one of them believed it was proof of toxins being removed from the body. In the absence of any such evidence, there was little point in Anita continuing to use the pads. The purpose of the piece was very clear - to consider if there is evidence that expensive detox products sold on the high street are worth the money. The view of the experts we consulted was that there is not. The manufacturers of all the products included in the film were asked if they could back their claims and, like the others, Crystal Spring were unable to do so. We do not dispute that some users may experience a placebo effect but our item was based firmly on scientific proof - or the lack of it. Best regards, web team] Fri 10 Apr 2009 11:10:25 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/do_detox_products_deliver.html?page=13#comment10 In response to comment 4, may I ask Crystal Spring to now provide their evidence here? Thu 09 Apr 2009 15:50:54 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/do_detox_products_deliver.html?page=12#comment9 What biased reporting on detoxing. There was no mention of the positive effects of detoxing. There are two sides to every story but you seem to have forgotton this. Thu 09 Apr 2009 11:30:54 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/do_detox_products_deliver.html?page=10#comment8 Do you think that they should re-run this next week with the evidence, non-bias panel and actually doing the full trial and using these products effectively? Wed 08 Apr 2009 22:53:31 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/do_detox_products_deliver.html?page=9#comment7 More like cheap sensational journalism than unbiased critical analysis. Case not proved I think! Wed 08 Apr 2009 08:52:20 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/do_detox_products_deliver.html?page=8#comment6 I was a bit disappointed in your watchdog program last night. Having used Footpads in the past effectively, I thought your program was very biased as the presenter only used the pad for one night, which could hardly be expected to show results. Also the "box" that she suggested. Can you eat any thing other than Apples? and for how long can you maintain this diet? Peter Knight Tue 07 Apr 2009 13:14:01 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/do_detox_products_deliver.html?page=6#comment5 I totally agree with Sallylaird that this slot was not up to the standard expected from Watchdog and the panel was very much biased against the idea of detoxification.Ben Goldacre is very anti alternative medicine, Young Science network only believe in evidence-based medicine based on the gold standard of testing for dugs, and any member of the British Dietetic Association believes nutritionists are a waste of space.We are all bombarded with toxins from the environment, pesticides and herbicides in our food, and chemicals from skincare products. The liver becomes overloaded, and places this toxins all over the body.The Pesticide Action Network has tested many people, and there can be up to seventy five different chemicals in the body. The quick fix is not the answer as it takes time to remove these toxins from the body.One of the easiest ways of helping the liver to detoxify is to use milk thistle, either as a capsule or in a tea over a period of time.It is interesting that Anita didn't feel well while taking the 24 hour Detox. This shows that the body was eliminating the rubbish she has accumulated (one can also get headaches) and, like most people she stopped, instaed of carrying on. I would have assumed that the dietician would have picked up on that, rather that decrying all the products. Tue 07 Apr 2009 12:59:06 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/do_detox_products_deliver.html?page=5#comment4 I have always considered that Watchdog provided a useful service as the consumers champion highlighting unfair and sharp business actices however it would seem of recent weeks they have been running out of genuine consumer issues and have therefore been drilling for dirt where there is none to source.Last night's "investigatory" piece on detox products set out with the sole agenda of claiming they were all a waste of time based on little or no scientific evidence - an argument that could be equally applied to religions or the concept of "does God exist" however I am sure Watchdog would not investigate this whilst interviewing three scientists... (Or maybe that's next week?). In both examples I feel the general public are more than capable of making a personal decision.I personally have tried a number of natural products including the market leading Crystal Spring Detox foot pads as featured on Watchdog and I found I slept a lot better over the 14 day course. In conclusion I feel that nobody is forced to purchase these products against their will and they meet the needs of the consumer like myself who wishes to try something different. Tue 07 Apr 2009 12:46:29 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/do_detox_products_deliver.html?page=4#comment3 In response to the comment by StEnoch, Crystal Spring did provide evidence, which Watch Dog chose to ignore. We requested that they had a balanced panel of experts, not just picked people known to be strongly against detoxing products, which they ignored. We gave them a link to the Alliance for Natural Health website which has Doctors writing that Detoxing works, but they chose to ignore that too, prefering a biased and poorly researched programme. The reporter tried our detoxing footpad out for one night and had to agree that she did get a dark sticky mess on the pad, she later stated that she didn't feel any better. The box contains 14 footpads and is for use over a two week period, therefore a one night trial is meaningless in terms of whether she feels better or not. We are very disapointed, not because they did not agree with our product but because the reporting and standard of the programme was so poor and for what purpose? Tue 07 Apr 2009 11:37:57 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/do_detox_products_deliver.html?page=2#comment2 Come on, Watchdog. Let's see some real investigative journalism. Go and challenge the makers of these detox products to name any of the toxins that are removed and then ask for proof that it happens! Mon 06 Apr 2009 19:14:17 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/do_detox_products_deliver.html?page=1#comment1 A waste of time - Yes. The study was, you couldn't even complete the experiment your work is the experiment. It was a totally worthless piece of journalism. Watchdog you should be ashamed that you broadcast this and support it, there should be a watchdog on you. Mon 06 Apr 2009 19:00:45 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/do_detox_products_deliver.html?page=0#comment0 I seem to remember 'The Truth About Food' expunged the myth of the detox product. Still, a fool and his (or her) money...Kudos to Anita for suffering the effects. Even greater kudos for the 'Vote for Pedro' t-shirt - will all my wildest dreams come true? Mon 06 Apr 2009 18:53:23 GMT+1