The mineral clay, traditionally used to make pots and ornaments is becoming a new trend in detox diets.

The Clay Diet involves mixing edible clay, such as Bentonite, with water and drinking it along with your regular food.The clay is supposed to absorb and remove toxins, impurities and chemicals from the body.

The diet’s biggest fans, are as usual and allegedly celebrities such as Zoe Kravitz and Elle Macpherson

Although humans have, most probably accidentally been eating clay for hundreds of years, health experts do not necessarily think it is a good idea.

US gastroenterologist Dr Roshini Raj, a regular contributor on the Today Show said it was likely eaten because it was the only way to get certain minerals such as calcium or iron

The clay diet industry is now worth some £2billion and many women claim to have lost a dramatic amount of weight on the diet. But that is in sharp contrast to a health warning from the US’s Food Standard’s Agency which issued the following warning about consuming clay in 2012:

“Exposure to arsenic can be associated with an increased risk of lung, skin and bladder cancer. Exposure to lead presents a risk for infants and children in particular, as it can be detrimental to brain development and affect intellectual performance. For the same reason, pregnant women are also advised to avoid eating or drinking clay due to the potential risk to their unborn child.”

In the UK, the NHS and British Dietetic Association disagree with the whole concept of detoxing. They say there is no scientific evidence to show that our bodies need help to get rid of waste products – this is what our kidneys do And there is no scientific proof that detox diets work.

The British Dietetic Association has said that “the idea of ‘detox’ is a load of nonsense. There are no pills or specific drinks, patches or lotions that can do a magic job.”

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