Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to detoxification.
Rescue Detox, also called Rescue Cleanse Detox, is a bottled drink used to support detoxification, and some consumers use it to pass drug tests. The drink is manufactured by a company called Applied Sciences, and the brand states it “will substantially increase your odds of being ready for your cleansing event.”
But does Rescue Detox contain research-backed ingredients to support detoxification? Is it safe to use over-the-counter (OTC) products to pass drug tests? Does Rescue Detox contain any unhealthy additives? And how do real users rate and describe its effects?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Rescue Detox to give our take on whether or not the product is likely to be effective, and whether or not it's healthy.
We’ll share our concerns about health brands making detoxification claims and suggesting that OTC products can be used to pass drug tests, and feature real Rescue Detox customer reviews.
Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in Rescue Detox Cranberry Ice flavor are shown above.
Fructose is a form of refined sugar, and this product provides 42 grams (g) of added sugar (80 g in the 32 ounce version).
It seems highly counterintuitive to include such a high dose of isolated fructose in a “detox” drink.
A medical review on fructose published in the Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases journal states the following: “fructose…leads to inflammation in all cells that metabolize it rapidly.”
Vitamin C and vitamin B12 are part of a vitamin and mineral blend totalling seven ingredients.
As we discussed in our review of High Voltage Detox, we haven’t come across any clinical evidence that taking vitamins or minerals in excess of daily requirements detoxifies the body, nor does Rescue Detox cite any.
The remaining active ingredients are included a proprietary blend that fails to list the dose for each individual ingredient.
Cascara sagrada is a botanical ingredient included in this blend with some concerning toxicity data.
A medical review on this ingredient published in the LiverTox journal found that it can cause liver injury when used at high doses.
Milk thistle seed extract is one ingredient in this blend that has research backing for detoxification support.
A meta-study published in the Phytotherapy Research journal found that milk thistle can heal the liver when used appropriately.
Cranberry may be effective in helping to reduce incidence of urinary tract infections (UTI), but we haven’t come across any evidence that it supports detoxification.
Inulin, like all dietary fibers, may help support the body’s natural detoxification processes by enhancing gut health and supporting microflora, according to a medical review published in the Advances in Nutrition journal.
There are a number of questionable inactive ingredients in this formulation.
Sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate are preservatives, the latter of which was described as “genotoxic” in a 2010 clinical trial, which suggests it has the capacity to damage DNA.
Citric acid is a preservative and flavor enhancer that can cause “significant inflammatory reactions” in some individuals, according to a medical review published in the Toxicology Reports journal.
Caffeine is not a safe ingredient to include without a dose, because it’s a stimulant.
Natural flavoring and coloring are better options than artificial flavoring and coloring, but we can’t assess the safety of these ingredients without the specific flavoring compounds used being documented.
Overall, we do not recommend Rescue Detox, nor have we come across any clinical evidence suggesting that this product will be effective for helping consumers pass drug tests.
Our Concerns About “Detox” Supplements
We’ve reviewed a number of popular detox drinks and supplements on Illuminate Health at this point, including Detoxify Mega Clean.
The products we have reviewed in this supplement category tend to have underwhelming formulations and the manufacturers tend to not provide any proof they work.
Furthermore, we don’t find this supplement category to be particularly logical.
While certain herbs and vitamins may support the body’s natural detoxification processes, we haven’t come across any research studies suggesting that individuals suffering from high levels of toxins can treat their health condition with OTC supplements.
Situations where a patient may require medical detoxification are pretty narrowly defined, such as if a worker is exposed to a high dose of carcinogens at a job hazard site.
In such cases, the individual should immediately speak with their doctor or emergency services, rather than trying to treat the issue themselves.
Essentially, there are no categories of medical circumstances that we’ve come across that are effectively treated with sugary commercial detox drinks, so we don’t see the point in this type of product.
Do Detox Drinks Work for Drug Tests?
A YouTube video from the “Beginnings Treatment Centers” channel discusses the efficacy of OTC detox drinks like Rescue Detox for passing drug tests:
Customers Rate Rescue Detox
Rescue Detox is sold on Amazon, which is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.
The Blueberry flavor is currently the most-reviewed flavor on Amazon, with over 500 total reviews and an average review rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars.
A top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Alex” who gave the product a 5/5 rating:
"I passed my drug test and took this steps because it was important to me. It’s more than just taking this product. As they recommend eat well and consume protein for sure. I hope these steps help. You may not want to spend a lot for it but your chances are better if you start early. Especially for heavy users and depending upon your weight class."
A top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Luwa X.” who gave the product a 1/5 rating:
"Does not work. Failed drug test for a new job. No way to contact customer support for satisfaction guarantee refund."
The Cranberry Ice flavor of Rescue Detox currently has an average review rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars on Google.
Our Detox Support Pick
We don't recommend the use of food products or supplements to "cleanse" or "remove toxins" from the body.
However, there are compounds which can naturally support the body's own detoxification processes, for consumers intent on doing so.
Rooibos tea was shown to support optimal liver function in a clinical trial published in the Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity journal.
The study authors concluded the following:
"Results from this study suggest that the daily intake of unfermented rooibos herbal tea or a derived commercial rooibos supplement may benefit human health by providing the liver with an enhanced antioxidant capacity to reduce damage induced by toxicants."
Pique Rooibos Tea is our top rooibos tea pick, because it's conveniently in crystallized form and only hot water (no teapot) is needed to make it. The only ingredient in this product is organic rooibos.
We are not suggesting that rooibos tea should be used to treat any specific health condition.
Rescue Detox Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of Rescue Detox in our opinion:
Pros:
- Contains milk thistle
Cons:
- 40+ g of added sugar
- Doesn't appear to be clinically tested
- Contains an active ingredient that can cause liver injury
- Contains fructose
- Contains citric acid
- Contains natural flavors
- Contains caffeine at an unspecified dose
- OTC detox drinks may not be effective for passing drug tests
