detoxification
Article written by Anna Coulter, inspired by Dr. Tel-Oren
Detoxification is a proactive ongoing process by which the body decreases the impact of toxins on the biochemistry, the cellular function and the integrity of the body. We are constantly exposed to toxins from our own metabolic processes, from microorganisms in our digestive tract and from our environment - from food, water and air. The modern environment is much more toxic than our ancestral environment.
The most troublesome toxins are fat soluble toxins. Water soluble toxins get washed out in out urine. Fat soluble toxins are stored in the fats in our bodies. They must be processed by our liver to make them water soluble before they can be excreted in our urine. Some toxins are also excreted in the bile produced by the liver. Other toxins are excreted by our sweat and through breathing.
Symptoms of toxic build-up include chronic headaches, pains, aches, fatigue, asthma, skin disorders, eczema, chronic infections, many types
of allergies, dysfunction in reproduction, libido and menstruation, cancer, mood swings, memory loss, brain fog, neurological disorders, dementia, ADD/ADHD, various autoimmune diseases and many other conditions.
A Clean Plate
The first step in detoxifying our bodies is to reduce our intake of toxins. Eat organic food to minimize our exposure to toxic pesticides. Avoid animal products which are inflammatory and are typically the largest source of exposure to pesticide residues which accumulate in the fat of the animal. Avoid food that causes inflammation and leads to water retention. For most people, reducing exposure to toxins along with a nutrient rich diet will let the body eliminate the toxins which have accumulated in the tissues.
Avoid
On a detoxification diet avoid dairy, meat, eggs, gluten, yeast, soy, peanuts and corn. Furthermore stay away from processed food, smoking, alcohol and drugs. Avoid food to which you are sensitive. Avoid developing food sensitivities by rotating foods which are high in protein such as nuts, seeds, legumes and grains.
The Phases of Detoxification
Toxins are transported to the liver, primarily though the lymphatic system. Increase the flow of lymph with movement and skin brushing. Using a trampoline is an excellent way to support your lymphatic system.
Phase 1: Exposure to particular toxins induces the liver to produce enzymes to process the toxins and make them somewhat water soluble preparing them for phase 2.
Phase 2: Phase 2 is called “conjugation”. Polar compounds are added to the toxic metabolites coming out of Phase I to make these toxins water-soluble and less toxic. These additions (which include glucuronidation, glutathione conjugation, acetylation, sulfation, various amino acids conjugation and methylation) obviously require ample availability of many nutrient molecules. All of these processes depend on numerous nutrients and antioxidants. When phase 2 is complete, the water-soluble products can be excreted via the kidneys and bile.
Phase 3: The water soluble toxins are excreted by the kidneys. Proper pH in the kidneys helps prevent kidney damage and allows the kidneys to
complete the detoxification by efficiently excreting the conjugated toxins.
Tissue damage risk: In Phase I the toxins get activated becoming even more toxic. To prevent them from damaging our tissues, we want them to remain in the liver, quickly enter Phase II and be neutralized by it. It is important that the toxic load does not overwhelm phase 1, and that phase 1 does not overwhelm phase 2. A nutrient rich diet will provide the nutrients needed to carry out Phase 2. For example onions provide sulphur compounds used in sulfation. Some detoxification programs such as "The Master Cleanse" fail to provide adequate nutrition. After several days the body runs low on the nutrients needed to carry out phase 2 leading to exposure to phase 1 products producing symptoms known as the Herxheimer reaction (mistakenly called “detox” reaction). This is dangerous and should be avoided (since it causes long-term degeneration of the brain and other tissues).
You cannot become healthy until you meaningfully and proactively detoxify your tissues. You need appropriate nutrients for this process. Many people are trying to detoxify through juicing or water fasting. Those approaches will temporarily reduce the incoming toxins into the body; however, you are not going to detoxify deep tissues in the long run. On any fast, there will be a loss of some nutrients and minerals. Gradually your detoxification process will become more and more sluggish and toxins released from the wasting tissues will simply re-distribute into more critical organs like the brain.
If you lose weight rapidly, toxins are released from the lost fat and can overwhelm your detoxification system. It is best to avoid rapid weight loss.
Supporting Supplements
1) AdvaClear is a capsule product that contains all the known nutrients necessary for a bi-functional detoxification process. It is specifically designed to balance Phase 1 and Phase 2 pathways in the liver. The different metabolic pathways can be enhanced or slowed down depending on the body’s needs. It’s a great product to take for regular day-to-day detoxification support. If you experience “detox” symptoms, take additional Advaclear to support Phase 2 and slow down Phase 1.
2) Ultra Clear Plus pH, a remarkable medicinal food that can accomplish a lot within a period of just 4 to 6 weeks, is proven to result in an even more powerful detoxification process within the liver. It contains a high amount of healthy potassium that increases the pH of the urine so that the kidneys can eliminate toxins more effectively at Phase 3 of the detoxification.
3) UltraClear Sustain is beneficial for those with leaky gut syndrome and can be taken in preparation for detoxification.
4) Glutagenics and Endefen contain different factors that are necessary for the healthy growth of the microorganisms of the gut plus seal a leaky gut.
5) Prebiotics and probiotics (e.g. Ultra Flora Plus DF) can be effective in reducing the incoming toxins from the gut.
6) Renagen DTX can support and protect the kidneys during the detoxification process, especially in people who have kidney problems.
All of the products can be ordered through Nutrition Dynamics (1-800-444-9998, or order via www.nut-dyn.com, code # 701872) – which is a distributor of ONLY professional products for health care professionals. They don’t sell to the general public unless there is a code number (that is why you must provide code 701872 when ordering).
In Summary
We support the detoxification process with a clean diet focusing on organic fruits and vegetables and a small amount of nuts, seeds, gluten-free grains, and legumes - in order to obtain all the nutrients necessary for optimal detoxification over a long period of time.
Veggies from the onion and garlic family, crucifers, and green leafy vegetables play an important role in Phase 2 detoxification within the liver.
Dark leafy greens have the highest nutrient density. Potassium rich foods like oranges, tomatoes, squash, bananas, lima beans, prune juice, raisins, other dried fruits, potatoes with the skin, avocados, olives, coconut oil, as well as most colorful organic fruits and vegetables help prevent excessive acid build-up in our tissues, supporting healthier detoxification. For best results, you can consume several sweat and savory smoothies, which provide the nutrients you need.
Before preparing the foods, if they were obtained in a commercial supermarket (and not grown in your own pristine garden), it is good to soak fresh food in clean water with some hydrogen peroxide to eliminate any toxic residues and pathogens.
Detoxification is a proactive ongoing process by which the body decreases the impact of toxins on the biochemistry, the cellular function and the integrity of the body. We are constantly exposed to toxins from our own metabolic processes, from microorganisms in our digestive tract and from our environment - from food, water and air. The modern environment is much more toxic than our ancestral environment.
The most troublesome toxins are fat soluble toxins. Water soluble toxins get washed out in out urine. Fat soluble toxins are stored in the fats in our bodies. They must be processed by our liver to make them water soluble before they can be excreted in our urine. Some toxins are also excreted in the bile produced by the liver. Other toxins are excreted by our sweat and through breathing.
Symptoms of toxic build-up include chronic headaches, pains, aches, fatigue, asthma, skin disorders, eczema, chronic infections, many types
of allergies, dysfunction in reproduction, libido and menstruation, cancer, mood swings, memory loss, brain fog, neurological disorders, dementia, ADD/ADHD, various autoimmune diseases and many other conditions.
A Clean Plate
The first step in detoxifying our bodies is to reduce our intake of toxins. Eat organic food to minimize our exposure to toxic pesticides. Avoid animal products which are inflammatory and are typically the largest source of exposure to pesticide residues which accumulate in the fat of the animal. Avoid food that causes inflammation and leads to water retention. For most people, reducing exposure to toxins along with a nutrient rich diet will let the body eliminate the toxins which have accumulated in the tissues.
Avoid
On a detoxification diet avoid dairy, meat, eggs, gluten, yeast, soy, peanuts and corn. Furthermore stay away from processed food, smoking, alcohol and drugs. Avoid food to which you are sensitive. Avoid developing food sensitivities by rotating foods which are high in protein such as nuts, seeds, legumes and grains.
The Phases of Detoxification
Toxins are transported to the liver, primarily though the lymphatic system. Increase the flow of lymph with movement and skin brushing. Using a trampoline is an excellent way to support your lymphatic system.
Phase 1: Exposure to particular toxins induces the liver to produce enzymes to process the toxins and make them somewhat water soluble preparing them for phase 2.
Phase 2: Phase 2 is called “conjugation”. Polar compounds are added to the toxic metabolites coming out of Phase I to make these toxins water-soluble and less toxic. These additions (which include glucuronidation, glutathione conjugation, acetylation, sulfation, various amino acids conjugation and methylation) obviously require ample availability of many nutrient molecules. All of these processes depend on numerous nutrients and antioxidants. When phase 2 is complete, the water-soluble products can be excreted via the kidneys and bile.
Phase 3: The water soluble toxins are excreted by the kidneys. Proper pH in the kidneys helps prevent kidney damage and allows the kidneys to
complete the detoxification by efficiently excreting the conjugated toxins.
Tissue damage risk: In Phase I the toxins get activated becoming even more toxic. To prevent them from damaging our tissues, we want them to remain in the liver, quickly enter Phase II and be neutralized by it. It is important that the toxic load does not overwhelm phase 1, and that phase 1 does not overwhelm phase 2. A nutrient rich diet will provide the nutrients needed to carry out Phase 2. For example onions provide sulphur compounds used in sulfation. Some detoxification programs such as "The Master Cleanse" fail to provide adequate nutrition. After several days the body runs low on the nutrients needed to carry out phase 2 leading to exposure to phase 1 products producing symptoms known as the Herxheimer reaction (mistakenly called “detox” reaction). This is dangerous and should be avoided (since it causes long-term degeneration of the brain and other tissues).
You cannot become healthy until you meaningfully and proactively detoxify your tissues. You need appropriate nutrients for this process. Many people are trying to detoxify through juicing or water fasting. Those approaches will temporarily reduce the incoming toxins into the body; however, you are not going to detoxify deep tissues in the long run. On any fast, there will be a loss of some nutrients and minerals. Gradually your detoxification process will become more and more sluggish and toxins released from the wasting tissues will simply re-distribute into more critical organs like the brain.
If you lose weight rapidly, toxins are released from the lost fat and can overwhelm your detoxification system. It is best to avoid rapid weight loss.
Supporting Supplements
1) AdvaClear is a capsule product that contains all the known nutrients necessary for a bi-functional detoxification process. It is specifically designed to balance Phase 1 and Phase 2 pathways in the liver. The different metabolic pathways can be enhanced or slowed down depending on the body’s needs. It’s a great product to take for regular day-to-day detoxification support. If you experience “detox” symptoms, take additional Advaclear to support Phase 2 and slow down Phase 1.
2) Ultra Clear Plus pH, a remarkable medicinal food that can accomplish a lot within a period of just 4 to 6 weeks, is proven to result in an even more powerful detoxification process within the liver. It contains a high amount of healthy potassium that increases the pH of the urine so that the kidneys can eliminate toxins more effectively at Phase 3 of the detoxification.
3) UltraClear Sustain is beneficial for those with leaky gut syndrome and can be taken in preparation for detoxification.
4) Glutagenics and Endefen contain different factors that are necessary for the healthy growth of the microorganisms of the gut plus seal a leaky gut.
5) Prebiotics and probiotics (e.g. Ultra Flora Plus DF) can be effective in reducing the incoming toxins from the gut.
6) Renagen DTX can support and protect the kidneys during the detoxification process, especially in people who have kidney problems.
All of the products can be ordered through Nutrition Dynamics (1-800-444-9998, or order via www.nut-dyn.com, code # 701872) – which is a distributor of ONLY professional products for health care professionals. They don’t sell to the general public unless there is a code number (that is why you must provide code 701872 when ordering).
In Summary
We support the detoxification process with a clean diet focusing on organic fruits and vegetables and a small amount of nuts, seeds, gluten-free grains, and legumes - in order to obtain all the nutrients necessary for optimal detoxification over a long period of time.
Veggies from the onion and garlic family, crucifers, and green leafy vegetables play an important role in Phase 2 detoxification within the liver.
Dark leafy greens have the highest nutrient density. Potassium rich foods like oranges, tomatoes, squash, bananas, lima beans, prune juice, raisins, other dried fruits, potatoes with the skin, avocados, olives, coconut oil, as well as most colorful organic fruits and vegetables help prevent excessive acid build-up in our tissues, supporting healthier detoxification. For best results, you can consume several sweat and savory smoothies, which provide the nutrients you need.
Before preparing the foods, if they were obtained in a commercial supermarket (and not grown in your own pristine garden), it is good to soak fresh food in clean water with some hydrogen peroxide to eliminate any toxic residues and pathogens.