If you search the net, you’ll find plenty of suggestions for how to beat a urine drug test, but the one about fruit pectin never seems to die. Can a simple cooking ingredient, something you can buy at your local store, really help you with a drug test. Does Certo really clean urine, or is it all just a myth?
What does the Certo method involve?
The exact method varies depending on who’s telling it, but here’s the basic process. You’ll need:
- A 32-ounce bottle of Gatorade
- A gallon of water (yes, a gallon)
- A packet of Certo (or another fruit pectin like Sure-Jell)
About three hours before your test, mix the Certo with the entire bottle of Gatorade. This will make it kind of like jelly, but you’ll need to drink it all regardless. Some people recommend drinking it as quickly as possible to avoid puking. You can then drink a few glasses of water straight away to wash it down, with the rest of the water being slowly drunk between now and your test.
Okay, but does Certo clean urine?
The logic is that because fruit pectin is a soluble fiber, it will bind to the fatty acids that can harbor THC metabolites. If this had any meaningful effect, it would only help marijuana smokers. Unfortunately, there’s no reason to think even this helps to any meaningful degree. When you eat the Certo, it will remain within your digestive system, so it’s doubtful it will affect the level of toxins in your urine.
But why do so many people swear by this method? There must surely be something going on. Well, if you look at the amount of fluid being drunk, it’s easy to find a possible explanation. It’s not normal to drink over a gallon of fluids in just a few hours, so the body will want to get rid of the excess fluids. This means peeing more. Now, because there’s more water in every pee, the toxins will be diluted, and in some circumstances, this might mean passing the test.
Unfortunately, the dilution approach is already well known, and a thorough drug test will detect it as part of the adulterant test. A trained collector will even notice it from the color and likely ask you to come back another time. Those people that did pass with the Certo method probably only faced very lax testing conditions.
So, what else can you do to pass a drug test?
A much easier, and more effective, way to pass a drug test is to use a detox drink before your test. While these are also based on the dilution effect, they are more balanced and fortified with B-vitamins and other compounds to ensure you will pass the adulterant test.
Using a detox drink is a simple matter, but always check the directions for your product, as the exact process can vary. If you prefer, you can also get detox pills that have much the same effect but are more compact and easier to store.
