What to Know About the Sonne’s 7-Day Cleanse

The Sonne's 7-day cleanse is a weeklong diet that requires abstaining from solid food; drinking a gallon of water per day along with specific, branded liquids; taking certain supplements; and performing daily enemas or colonics.

Find out why Sonne’s cleanse and similar detox diets are not recommended and may have harmful side effects.

Furthermore, a cleanse diet is unlikely to result in long-term weight loss. While you may notice some weight loss initially, the pounds you shed in response to a cleanse are most likely due to lost water and stool, not fat loss, and will return after you resume a solid food diet.

Colon cleanses or enemas, which are encouraged as a part of Sonne's 7-day cleanse, come with their risks. Colon cleansing involves flushing large amounts of water or other substances through the rectum and into the colon.

Plus, the Sonne's 7-day cleanse, as well as many similar cleanses, promote the use of products that may not be safe.

“Packaged cleanses typically fall within the realm of dietary supplements, which are largely unregulated,” says Whitney Linsenmeyer, PhD, RD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and an assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics at Saint Louis University in Missouri. “These may contain unlisted substances and may interact with other medications or supplements you are taking.”

It's important to remember that you don't need a special diet to get rid of toxins, as your body is naturally equipped to do so on its own.

Cleanse diets are not a proven method of counteracting a buildup of toxins. Instead, you should do your best to limit your exposure to toxins and focus on supporting “your body's built-in capacity to detoxify,” Dr. Linsenmeyer says, by staying hydrated and eating a healthy, balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and lean protein.

The Takeaway

• Detox or “cleanse” diets like the Sonne’s 7-day cleanse involve a week of abstaining from food, drinking water and branded liquid products, and doing colonics.
• These diets do not have solid evidence behind them to support their efficacy or ability to promote weight loss. In fact, they may have dangerous side effects, including dehydration, vitamin deficiencies, and kidney damage.
• The best approach is to eat a healthy diet, stay well-hydrated, and let your body remove toxins naturally, as it is designed to do.