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Although new year detox diet plans have been generally considered as a healthy way to the body after the holidays, doctors have suggested otherwise. They attested that it could bring potential harm to human health. In fact, some people have been brough to the hospital after detoxifying.

A patient at Milton Keynes Hospital was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit when the 47-year-old followed a new year detox plan. The same case was also reported the same time last year as a woman was treated for becoming critically ill after she drank too much water and took herbal remedies as detoxification from the holidays, reported BBC.

The said herbal remedies she utilized for her new year detox plan were I-theanine, molkosan, milk thistle, valerian root, vervain, and vitamin B compound. After taking these, she was reported to have suffered a seizure before being brought to the hospital. The medical tests showed that her body had significantly low levels of sodium. 

The patient took complementary medicine as part of the new year detox program that utilized all-natural products. Although they were natural, the evidence-based medicine did inform consumers that side effects may not be avoided.

As reported by CBS News, most new year detox programs would cater to methods such as diets and large water intake, and the consumption of laxatives and multiple herbal supplements. However, per BMJ Case Reports, these programs have no scientific evidence that would prove its safe use. In fact, they claimed people who would follow such programs could end up in life-threatening situations.

Based on the patient's medical records, she was suffering seizures due to severe hypothermia as a result of excessive water consumption and excessive use of herbal remedies. Although the results suggested that the amount of water consumed would not result in hypothermia, the valerian root was said to be the key player int he decline of her health. There had been no scientific evidence to prove its effects while the woman was under the new year detox program either.

Dr. Nieca Goldberg, a cardiologist, claimed that the kidneys were the primary organ that got affected by the new year detox plan. Although the liver is the main organ that was responsible the extraction of toxins from the body, there was no proven way to ascertain its enhanced function could lead to better health results.

Although new year detox has been generally considered as a remedy to release toxins after excessive holiday eating, doctors warned those following this program that it could be fatal, especially when there have been no scientific evidence that proved its efficacy and safeness.