Detoxing helps restore healthy digestion and elimination, enabling us to keep body and mind healthy in an increasingly toxic and stressful world.
In this chemical age we are bombarded by a host of toxins every day, from the food and water we eat and drink to the air we breathe.
Although the body is designed to eliminate toxins, it cannot always handle the overload presented by today’s environment. An excess of toxins can lead to a wide variety of health problems, so it’s essential to make sure that the detoxification processes function optimally.
UNDER-FUNCTIONING DETOX SYSTEMS
How can you tell that your body’s detoxification systems aren’t functioning as they should? Look out for the following symptoms:
premature ageing
- ‘brain fog’, poor memory and concentration, headaches and migraines
- high blood pressure, fluid retention, palpitations
- a white-coated tongue, bad breath, indigestion, bloating and flatulence, nausea, intolerance of fats and rich foods, candidiasis, constipation/diarrhoea, pale stools, stools that float
- reduced tolerance to alcohol, unexpected hangovers, abnormal reactions to recreational drugs, increased side-effects from medical drugs
- mood swings, irritability, depression, anxiety, panic attacks
- erratic blood sugar levels leading to hypoglycaemia, causing sugar cravings, mood swings and energy drops
- easy weight gain, difficulty losing weight, fatigue,
- ME (chronic fatigue syndrome) symptoms, unusual body heat or flushing
- gallstones, inflamed gallbladder, pain over the right upper abdomen
- rheumatism and arthritis, fibromyalgia
- rhinitis and hayfever
- hives, eczema, dermatitis, grey shadows under the eyes.
WHERE DO TOXINS COME FROM?
The most common toxins from sources outside the body (exogenous toxins) include industrial chemicals and combustion pollutants, pesticides, toxic metals, food additives, preservatives and drugs. Toxins do not only come from external sources, however; they are also produced from within the body (endogenous toxins). For example, intestinal bacteria may release by-products that have a negative impact on overall health. Even normal metabolism produces substances that require detoxification, such as lactic acid, pyruvic acid and urea. Lastly, and quite ironically, the detoxification process itself can generate free radicals that are damaging to cellular tissue.
DETOXIFICATION SYSTEMS
Central to the process of detoxification is that amazing organ called the liver. The liver detoxifies most environmental toxins, almost all the ones we eat and even the ones we inhale. It is also responsible for dealing with much of the internal waste our body produces, e.g. excess histamine or adrenaline. If the liver is overloaded it cannot break these down, and the result is anxiety and allergy.
Our ability to rid our bodies of accumulated waste and toxins depends on the optimal function of seven biophysiological components:
- liver
- kidneys
- bowels
- skin
- lymphatic system
- lungs
- immune system.
Support these through a healthy lifestyle and regular detoxing, and you will soon notice a difference in your well-being and vitality. Don’t forget that the mind and spirit are other aspects of your being, and dealing with emotions such as anger, fear or grief is part of the cleansing and healing process.
The majority of toxins the body needs to excrete are fat soluble. The urinary system can eliminate water-soluble molecules but not fat-soluble ones. There are two phases of detoxification in the liver, during which a series of chemical reactions transform waste into progressively more water-soluble substances that the body can excrete through the urine. It’s essential that both phases function properly, because the metabolites produced during phase 1 may be even more harmful than the original toxin.
WHAT CAN GO WRONG?
Imbalanced phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification processes. Phase 2 must be able to keep up with phase 1. Phase 1 activates the toxin to a more reactive and potentially harmful compound. If these molecules are not further metabolised by the phase 2 processes, they may cause damage.
Nutrient deficiencies. All our detoxifying enzymes depend on certain co-factors for their proper functioning – mostly vitamins, minerals or trace elements. Insufficiency of any of these can impose a significant, and sometimes overwhelming, burden on the body. Typically a diet that is high in toxic content will be low in beneficial nutrients (co-factors) too.
Toxin overload. Regular exposure to high amounts of toxins can cause overload, leading to impaired detoxification capacity and chronic health problems. A growing body of evidence suggests that there is an association between toxic exposure and a number of chronic conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, fibromyalgia and atherosclerosis.
Intestinal permeability. Intestinal permeability or ‘leaky gut’ can allow increased numbers of toxins to enter the circulation. Also, individuals with a high degree of intestinal permeability may not absorb nutrients efficiently through the intestinal tract. This means there are not only higher levels of toxins but fewer nutrients available to support the detoxification process.
Imbalanced bacterial flora. Pathogenic bacteria in the digestive tract can produce toxins that enter the circulation and increase the toxic load. An imbalance of good and bad bacteria can also have a negative effect on the detoxification systems.
DETOXIFICATION PROTOCOL
A detox can be as simple as ensuring a healthy balanced diet together with low-level antioxidant supplementation, or as complicated as systematically analysing the individual’s immune status, inflammatory load, oxidative stress and mitochondrial pathology, cellular structure and membrane, hormonal and neurotransmitter status, as well as psychological and spiritual imbalances.
In general, however, a therapeutic protocol to support healthy detoxification processes should include the following:
Give your system a break
- Avoid foods and drinks that are likely to contain toxins and food allergens, e.g. wheat and dairy products, alcohol, processed and refined foods, sugar, foods containing preservatives and colourants, excess caffeine, etc.
- Try to fast one day a week. A Monday can be the best symbolically, being the first day of a new week after a weekend of possibly unhealthy habits, but any day will do. Drink at least 12 glasses of water and fruit juice such as apple and grape juice. If you get extremely hungry, eat an apple or a few grapes. A weekly day of fasting achieves wonders for your health and mind-set, and it slows down the ageing process. People suffering from diabetes mellitus and other chronic illnesses, and pregnant women, should talk to their doctor first. However, most people can safely give their digestive system and metabolism a break, one day a week.
Water therapy
- Ensure that you hydrate your body by drinking plenty of clean water.
- Warm baths, steam baths and saunas help get rid of toxins. Soak your tired body and muscles in a hot bath once a week. Add 5 cups of Epsom salt or coarse sea salt to water as hot as you can handle, or go to agym and use the steam room facilities. Drink lots of water or herbal tea while you rest and sweat. Be careful when you get up – do it slowly. A cold shower afterwards will revive and energise you. People with high or low blood pressure can dissolve the salts in boiling water and add them to a warm bath, rather than soaking in very hot water.
Massage
Regular detox massages encourage the removal of harmful toxins and chemicals from our bodies. Massage stimulates the immune system and improves lymphatic drainage, blood circulation and removal of waste products through the skin. Essential oils of lavender, grapefruit and lemon grass can be used, diluted in a carrier oil or as part of an aromatherapeutic massage oil complex that uses oils in homeopathic dilutions.
Nutritional intake
Ensure that your dietary and nutritional intake supports and enhances optimal bowel function.
- Increase the fibre content of your diet. Consume linseed or digestive bran every day, over your cereal, in salads or added to food. Eat oats and oat bran regularly. Eat handfuls of poppy, sesame, linseed and pumpkin seeds, nuts and sprouts.
- Eating healthy food (lots of fresh fruit and vegetables in season) rich in antioxidants, choline, zinc and selenium encourages the removal of harmful toxins and chemicals, while neutralising harmful free radicals. This retards ageing, improves immune and heart function, and encourages overall health and wellness.
Probiotics
Part of a good detox plan involves not only killing off bad bacteria and yeasts but replenishing your digestive system with beneficial bacteria, known as probiotics.
- There are various types of probiotics, and while they are all beneficial for digestion, their functions vary slightly. For example, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis restore general balance and maintain overall digestive function, while Lactobacillus plantarum is more specific for medically diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome and Lactobacillus rhamnosis is par ticularly suitable if you are prone to allergies and eczema.
- Eat fresh unflavoured yoghurt with live cultures to increase the population of friendly bacteria in your gut. You can also take probiotics as a food supplement. There are many different beneficial strains of probiotics available, so you and your doctor will need to choose the most appropriate strain for you, tailoring your detox plan to suit your needs.
Major benefits of probiotic supplementation include:
- Support of the immune system
- Improved resistance to allergies
- Reduction in yeast and other infections
- Inhibition of disease-causing organisms
- Improved digestion, increased nutrient absorption and vitamin synthesis
- Detoxification and protection from toxins
- Prevention of diarrhoea from various causes
- Reduction in the risk of irritable bowel syndrome
- Cancer-protective effects.
Digestive enzymes
Digestive enzymes are also very helpful in restoring balance to the intestinal flora. These are available in supplement combinations containing pancreatic enzymes (amylase, protease, sucrase, malt diastase, lipase, cellulose, lactase), papain from paw-paw, bromelain from pineapple stem, and cultured moulds from Aspergillus species.
Supplementation
Include the following micronutrients every day:
- An antioxidant and multivitamin that includes vitamins A, C, E and B complex, co-enzyme Q10, the minerals zinc, selenium and copper, with grape seed extract, bioflavonoids, spirulina and blue-green algae to detox the immune system and neutralise free radicals from your system.
- A calcium and magnesium supplement (in food-state form or amino acid chelates).
- An essential fatty acid combination containing omega-3 (e.g. cold-water salmon oil), and omega-6 (e.g. starflower or evening primrose oil).
- If you have poor digestion and possibly a leaky gut, consider using healing nutrients and herbs such as glutamine, butyric acid, aloe vera, liquorice and zinc as part of your detox. These may help reduce your leaky gut, improving digestion and health.
- It is well documented that antimicrobial herbs such as black walnut, wormwood and barberry (Berberis), and antimicrobial oils such as oregano, cinnamon and thyme, kill off any detrimental bacteria and yeasts that may be upsetting your gut. These herbs can be combined with a colostrum powder to help prevent harmful microbes from adhering to the gut wall.
This powerful combination will help to weed out all the bad bugs that may have made themselves at home, restoring your digestive function after a sluggish winter with soups and rich stews.
Exercise
Try to exercise 10 to 15 minutes a day, or 20 to 30 minutes three or four times a week. This needn’t be too strenuous. A brisk walk in nature, doing dance routines on the living room carpet or swimming a few laps will be more than enough – but try to do something that you enjoy.
CONCLUSION
Impaired detoxification may continue for many years, virtually undetected. Patients who go to orthodox medical doctors complaining of the symptoms I listed at the beginning of this article are often told that their problems are due to ‘stress overload’. Orthodox treatment protocols will often revolve around symptom management with an array of prescription drugs.
Suppression of symptoms drives the cause even deeper into the cellular structures of the body, often resulting in the acute onset of disease later in life. Panic sets in, and attempts to suppress symptoms intensify. Unfortunately, by this time the body’s defence mechanisms are likely to be overwhelmed.
How can we prevent this from happening? Clinicians trained in functional medicine are the ideal starting point. They are able to determine primary causes for the complicated set of symptoms that often indicate detoxification or elimination problems. An integrated and holistic assessment is the first step towards preventing chronic degenerative disease.
Editor's note: Here are a few more excellent article on detoxification: Our Environment demands an Annual Detox, Detox Done Right – the purification process and Detox with the Docs.
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