Pot may be becoming increasingly tolerated, with it becoming legally available for medicinal or even recreational use in many states, yet it can still cause problems on a drug test. This is especially unfair, because pot can be detected in urine drug tests for much longer than other, arguably more dangerous, drugs. Even someone who just smoked a single joint could fail a drug test days later, and it's even possible to fail just by breathing in second-hand marijuana in certain conditions.
Given this disparity, it's only natural to look for a way to level the playing field. You may have heard of using apple pectin to help flush pot out of your system, but how much difference will this make, if any? What other methods are there to consider?
The health benefits of apple pectin
The old saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" has taken on a new meaning these days. One study found that people who do eat an apple a day tend to take less prescription medicines. The health benefits of eating apples are thought to be down to apple pectin, which is a soluble fiber found in the walls of the apple's cells. Pectin in general is known to have health benefits such as:
- Reducing LDL (i.e., "bad") cholesterol
- Regulating the digestive system
- Controlling blood sugar
- Reducing blood pressure
Apple pectin in particular is thought to have extra benefits. It can help with both diarrhea and constipation, and it may even help you to maintain a healthy heart and protect against cancer.
But will using apple pectin help to flush pot out of your system?
Apple pectin sounds great, so there's no harm in going to the store and stocking up on fresh apples (which, by the way, are apparently better than taking an apple pectin supplement).
It may have a modest effect on flushing pot out of your system, but don't expect too much. Healthy eating, preferably combined with exercise and herbal supplements, is the best way to detox naturally over time, and fresh apples and other fruits fit in with this nicely.
Don't expect to eat a half-pound jar of apple pectin and pass a drug test two hours later. This myth is just a derivative of the Certo (also fruit pectin) method. Any success that people claim with this method is generally attributed to the huge amounts of water and Gatorade that are drunk with the Certo rather than the pectin itself.
What if you need to pass a drug test soon?
If your drug test is imminent, you may want to invest in a good detox drink. Detox drinks are carefully balanced to flush your urinary system clean while replenishing lost compounds and preserving your urine's color. This beats a simple dilution with Certo, which would likely be detected by an adulterant test.
Always make sure you follow the directions for your product closely, and if you're a particularly demanding user, you may want to consider a stronger drink or possibly even a two-stage rapid detox.
