Cannabis consumption has always been quite popular – no matter what the laws of the country or each state say. This is something that people have enjoyed for decades and will keep doing so for more decades to come.
Although cannabis use has been around for a long time, it has been legally accepted only in some forms. Under the 2018 Farm Bill, we saw the legal acceptance, and thereafter the regulated farming of hemp plants (marijuana is still illegal).
This more docile form of cannabis, thanks to its low D-9 THC levels, has made cannabis consumption more popular.
But that doesn’t mean that marijuana use is out of American lives.
People still enjoy the high that potent levels of D-9 THC in marijuana provides. But that high is no good to you when you need to keep your job, bag a college scholarship, or avoid getting arrested for DUI.
Marijuana abuse is associated with the loss of physical coordination, motor skills, hallucination, paranoia, anxiety, and even depression. That is why most employers have made drug tests mandatory for employment. Whether you are looking to be hired or to keep your job, you are expected to undergo regular drug tests.
These tests are meant to ensure you’re physically and mentally fit to work for your employer.
So, are you ready to take the test?
If you aren’t sure, then this article will give you a viable option to help you be ready.
Despite cannabis’ high detectability in the body (of up to 3-4 months), there are several methods to detoxify your body. One such method is consuming Certo to enhance your body’s self-cleansing mechanism.
But first, you should know what a drug test expects of your body. Then we will explain to you why Certo could work for you.
Cannabis Drug Test: What’s expected of you?
Numerous types of tests are available that can detect an individual’s cannabis consumption level and frequency. All of them differ in terms of their methods, samples used, and overall purpose.
Broadly, drug tests are categorized according to the samples used, i.e., urine, saliva, blood, and hair follicle tests.
While hair follicles retain residues of the metabolites of cannabis compounds longer than others, it doesn’t bear witness to recent consumption. That will be more evident in your urine and blood samples (in that order) – and to a certain extent your saliva.
But urine tests are considered to be the most effective and reliable means to check any recent drug use.
It helps detect marijuana exposure in the body for up to 3 to 5 days among occasional users, whereas for heavy users, the window is between 1 to 15 days, depending on several physical parameters, like weight, metabolism, etc. In the case of chronic users or those with a high body fat/mass, the window is up to 30 days, as their bodies tend to retain fat-soluble compounds like Delta-9 THC longer than those with low fat and high metabolism levels.
As for the cut-off criteria for concluding a urinalysis, there are two main cut-offs, i.e., 50 nanograms/mL and 20 nanograms/mL.
In the 50 ng/mL cut-off criterion, infrequent users are highly unlikely to be tested positive after four days of consumption. Similarly, if you’re a regular user, you too may pass the test after seven days.
However, in the 20 ng/mL cut-off test, the detection windows for occasional users and frequent users are 7 and 21 days, respectively. So, be informed of which test you’ll be subjected to.
Now, that you know what to expect at a drug test, let’s find out what is Certo and if it works for you.
What Is Certo?
Certo is a generic as well as a brand name for liquid fruit pectin, synthetically produced by Sure-Jell.
Fruit pectin is a kind of indigestible fiber usually produced from the skins of pressed apples or citrus fruits. This chemical compound is a food-thickening agent that is often used in high-viscosity baking products, such as jellies and jams.
Incidentally, when heated fruit pectin turns into a gel-like substance. Apart from using it in baking, this can be medicinally used to relieve constipation, improve blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol, and even assist in weight management.
It is also known for flushing out all kinds of toxins.
That’s where Certo comes into the picture in this context. THC is like any other toxin for our body as it creates an imbalance in the normal functioning of our body, quite like alcohol.
Marijuana consumption causes its individual compounds, including D-9 THC, to break down within the body. These metabolized compounds form metabolites that gradually get distributed to different parts of the body, where they are retained for some time until the body flushes them out in due course.
Certo is easily available in the market. Since it is legal, there are no restrictions or regulations against its sale, purchase, or use.
Can Certo Help Detoxify Your System?
Although Certo and fruit pectin in other forms have been in use for THC detoxification for quite some time now, its popularity has increased only recently.
A probable explanation as to why fruit pectin works effectively against toxins like THC is that they are primarily purged through the feces. Fruit pectin, which is a potent laxative, increases stool consistency, volume, and fluid content, thereby boosting a faster depletion of toxins from the body.
Another bit of science behind it is that THC is fat-soluble, whereas pectin, which is basically a fiber, prevents THC from getting absorbed into the blood. Consequently, it’s not released through the urine.
In this case, the stomach acids, coupled with the pectin molecules, flush out fats without letting them break down into their elemental states. This prevents the fat metabolites from getting absorbed into the body as well as from bonding with the THC metabolites. Instead, it gets dissolved in the stomach acids and gets expelled from the body through feces.
In simpler terms, fruit pectin is a fruit-based fiber that is highly soluble in water. Its presence in the body improves bowel movement and increases the expulsion of built-up toxins in the body, thereby boosting the body’s natural detoxification process.
Although there is no significant clinical proof of Certo’s efficacy in detoxifying the human body, many people have vouched for its efficacy in purging your body of all kinds of toxins before a drug test.
Not Just Effective on THC – Works on Most Toxins
In a 2009 experiment, published as “Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment”, regular consumption of natural pectin was seen to be an effective method of expelling radioactive nuclides. So, its efficacy in expelling toxins, like THC metabolites, from the body can be reasonably justified.
In a 2014 study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, pectin was reported to have lowered the extent of lipid digestion. It was found that pectin aids the formation of fats clumps, a phenomenon called flocculation, during digestion. Flocculation reduces the surface area of fats that are exposed to enzymes (lipase) that carries out fat digestion.
From these findings, we can derive that due to the inhibited absorption of fats in your food in the presence of pectin, the body is forced to utilize its stored fats to break down THC to its metabolites – THC-COOH and 11-hydroxy-delta 9-THC (11-OH-delta 9-THC), among other related compounds.
Does Certo Work ONLY On Urine Drug Tests?
No. It works on some other types of samples, too.
Certo flushes out all forms of toxins, including THC and its related metabolites, through the stools, without letting them find their way into your blood or urine. It’s a gradual process and can be useful only when taken with other variables in mind.
Since THC needs to be metabolized, i.e., broken or burned down along with the stored fats, a person’s metabolic rate (the rate at which the body burns fats) matters. Since THC is a lipophilic compound, it could easily get reabsorbed into the body and stored in the fats.
This is where Certo comes in.
With the Certo detoxification method, the THC levels are depleted from the body at a rapid rate.
Firstly, it inhibits the digestion of fats consumed through meals and prevents their absorption into the body. This forces the body to burn the lipids stored in the body to enable THC and THC-COOH metabolism. Secondly, it induces bulking of your feces, facilitating the expulsion of toxins in large volumes.
In the case of the saliva test, meanwhile, the THC metabolites are detectable in an individual’s mouth for up to 72 hours, with the highest detectable levels showing within 2 hours of consumption. Technically, using Certo should have the same effect in this case as well.
So, if you’re expecting to undergo blood, urine, or saliva drug tests, the Certo detox method is a good option. However, that isn’t the same for hair follicle testing.
But, Here’s The Flipside
The hair follicle test isn’t a commonly used practice among employers/companies, as it’s more expensive than the urine test.
However, in some cases, employers are keen on determining a candidate’s possible long-term drug habits. That is because cannabis metabolites remain in the hair follicle for up to 90 or more days after exposure, even if you’re an occasional user.
In this test, the cannabis metabolites embedded inside the hair shaft are measured. A lab technician typically takes a sample of several hair strands of up to 1.5-inch length. If your scalp hair is shorter than 1.5 inches, strands from other body parts may be used.
Unfortunately, in the hair narcotic test, cannabis can be detected with as low as 1 picogramme/mg.
In normal cases, where you’ve consumed cannabis sometime in the past week, the Certo detox method simply won’t work, as it can’t metabolize the fats stored in your hair follicles. That means, the THC-COOH metabolites remain in your hair – unless you cleanse your hair follicles separately.
However, if your most recent THC exposure was within 24 hours and the one before that over 90 days ago, then a hair follicle test won’t reveal your consumption at all.
So, if you’re applying for a job where the hair follicle drug test is a usual practice, then the Certo detox method isn’t the best choice.
What Does Are The Ingredients Of Certo Kit
The Certo Premium Liquid Fruit Pectin contains loads of nutrients that can help cleanse your body, the natural way. They include Water, Fruit Pectin, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid (Assist Gel), Potassium Citrate (Controls Acidity), Sodium Benzoate (Preservative).
If all that seems Greek to you, here’s a common man cocktail version of it:
- Fruit pectin
- Health/Sports drink (containing electrolytes to maintain normal color and texture of urine)
- Creatine monohydrate (a mineral commonly found in normal urine)
- Multivitamins (to maintain the color and normal mineral levels of urine as well as to promote the detox process; includes Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B12)
To ensure safe and speedy detoxification, cannabis consumers must stay away from weed as soon as they are warned of an imminent drug test. Additionally, one needs to increase their water intake on days preceding the test.
Things To Watch Out For Before Purchasing Certo
If you’re thinking of using pectin to flush out marijuana metabolites from your system, you must remember the following tips:
#1. Don’t buy anything, but Certo
One of the first things to take into account while buying fruit pectin from the market is not to fall for any lousy brand. It’s a matter of your health and your job, both of which you may be risking by choosing an unreputable brand of product.
Many lesser-known brands only offer generic ‘pectin’ or ‘fruit pectin’ products, which hardly do what they are supposed to. Such generic products contain potent coagulants apart from pectin, such as corn starch, which may work for making food items like jam and jellies but not flushing out THC build-ups from the body.
#2. Don’t choose homemade pectin
Never rely on online DIY guides/kits for making pectin at home. This option is as bad as buying cheap knock-offs and unbranded pectin.
Besides, the shelf life of branded pectin like Certo from Sure-Jell is around 18-24 months owing to the presence of good-quality preservatives. Homemade pectin has a relatively shorter shelf life.
#3. Check the expiration date
Before you buy any fruit pectin, always check the expiration date. Expired pectin is no good even if it is from the best brands. What’s more, it could even harm you.
So, Does Certo Detox Method Really Work?
Using cannabis for recreational purposes is permitted only in a few US states. Still, the companies operating in these states would test their potential and current employees for exposure to marijuana, a classified Schedule I substance. This is to confirm their employees’ abilities at performing optimally – both physically and mentally.
Bear in mind that a drug test is only a part of their pre-employment evaluation.
When someone consumes weed in any way – be it through smoking, vaping, orally consuming, or applying – THC enters the bloodstream or the designated target (in case of topicals) and kicks in. Even long after the effects have faded, the residual metabolites of the compound still remain in different parts of the body. With repeated use, these residues keep building up in your system.
These residual metabolites can show up on a drug test if you didn’t take adequate precautions to detoxify and replenish your system.
If you’ve looked up to check on the best available detox options, you would have found Certo Detox as an effective and popular method.
Although there is still a lack of scientific proof of its efficacy in cleansing the body of D-9 THC, there is some evidence to prove that it works for radioactive toxins. Although that doesn’t necessarily prove the same for THC, it is still a start.
Besides, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to prove it works for THC metabolites as well.
But if you do choose to take this lane, bear in mind that Certo alone can’t do it.
- You must completely stop taking cannabis or any kind of cannabis product.
- You must follow the instructions given on the brand’s label.
- Drink lots and lots of water and multivitamins on days leading up to the test.
- Exercise regularly
For the Certo method to work, several other factors also play a role. They are the overall THC content in the body, the proximity of the last use to the date of the test, the type of cannabis strain used, the amount of water consumed regularly and days preceding the test, level of physical activity, metabolic rate, etc.
Disclaimer: Stay safe and consult a doctor if you encounter any problem while on a detox routine. All statements in this article are purely based on our personal observation. We do not intend to make any medical claims.
