All About Detox
Detoxification is a process that can result in increased energy, normal digestion, immunity boosts, and weight loss. Detoxification can be a mode of healthy prevention for everyone and a tool to enhance overall health.
Why Detox?
The proper functioning of the body can be hindered by toxins which originate from a variety of sources such as chemical pollutants, heavy metals, pesticides, drugs, alcohol, active/passive cigarette smoking, and food additives. However, toxins can also come from biological bacteria, fungi, viruses, molecules produced by our own body and psychological stress overload.
On continuous exposure to toxins, the body’s excretory pathways become overwhelmed and cannot eliminate these toxins properly, resulting in toxin build-up which negatively affects the body’s metabolism in a variety of ways. These can include weakening the immune system, nervous system, vital organs, cellular respiration, antioxidant symptoms, and mucosal surfaces. Many diseases are directly related to the body’s incapacity to rid itself of toxins such as migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, general arthralgia, chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue syndrome and more.
You can minimize your exposure to toxins by avoiding foods high in fat, additives and preservatives; eating organically grown vegetables, fruits, and grains; and drinking plenty of water. To minimize toxins in the environment, use an effective air purification system, wear protective clothing and/or apparatus when working with toxic materials, and replace furnace and air conditioning filters regularly.
Detox stimulates the body’s natural processes of elimination to cleanse itself of toxins and restore the balance of the body. Toxic compounds (toxins) are typically stored as fatty molecules and do not mix well in water. The Detoxification Process transforms these toxic fat soluble substances into harmless water soluble molecules which can then be excreted out of the body.
Detoxification System
The Detoxification System in the body has three main phases.
Phase I: Liver Function
Fat soluble toxins are transferred into intermediate compounds which can be more reactive, but bind more easily to nontoxic water soluble molecules in Phase II.
Phase II: Liver Function
Formation between the intermediates and water soluble molecules make the entire compound harmless and ready for excretion out of the body.
Phase III: Excretion
Neutralized toxins, now made water soluble, are removed from the body in urine via kidneys or in bile/feces through the intestine.
Process
A Detoxification can last from 1 week to 2 months depending on your health goals so an individualized approach is recommended. Usually, there are 5 components of a Detoxification Process:
Diet Modification
Natural Supplements
Lifestyle Modification
Mental/Emotional
Spiritual/Energetics
Prolonged fasting may do more harm than good. This is due to the fact that the detoxification process requires a lot of energy. Fasting with water or juice has been shown to be both ineffective and even dangerous. In fact, prolonged fasting may weaken the muscles and other organs, eliminating essential nutrients required for healthy detoxification rather than toxins.
Healthy detoxification requires healthy nutrients. Here are some of the nutrients that may help maintain and improve detoxification:
Zinc
Pantothenic Acid
Probiotics
Vitamin A, B3, B6, B12, C, E
Betacarotene
Folates
Amino Acids: L-Cysteine, L-Glutamine and Taurine, N-acetylcysteine, Sodium Sulphate, L-Glutathione
Green Tea Catechins
Low allergy-potential Protein/Carbohydrates