Body Detoxification
Sources of Toxicity
Over the last one hundred years (especially after WWII), we have introduced tens of thousands of man-made toxins to our environment[5,16]. Your bodies are not genetically designed to deal with these levels and types of toxins that are accumulating in your tissues.
These known or potential toxins come into your households or environments and eventually your bodies in various forms and through different pathways. Below we have listed some of them:
Prescription drugs
CDC reports that poisoning from prescription drugs has become the second-largest cause of unintentional deaths in the United States.
In Morbidity and Mortablity Weekly Report, researchers stated that deaths from prescription drugs rose from 4.4 per 100,000 people in 1999 to 7.1 per 100,000 in 2004.
Additives from refined foods
Aluminum and mercury from vaccines[17]
Mercury from amalgam fillings[16]
Biotoxins from mold or fungus
Environmental toxins from paint, carpets, and new furniture
Home cleaning products like oven cleaners and toilet bowl cleaners
Polishes for furniture and floors
Air fresheners (sprays/solids)
Antibacterial cleaners and soaps
Dry-cleaning products
Carpet and upholstery cleaners
When toxins enter your body, they can be found especially in fat cells, and in the liver, kidneys, and large and small intestines. For example, the intestines can build up mucus and putrefaction and nutrients are not properly absorbed; then poisons are absorbed back into your bloodstream.
Common Symptoms of Toxic Overload
Toxic overload can manifest itself in many symptoms and the sources can be elusive to identify. Some of them won't even become serious health concerns in some people's eyes. Some symptoms could even be mistaken to be a flu or cold. If your body is toxic overloaded, you might have some of the following symptoms:
Lack of energy and fatigue
Weakness
Aches and pains
Headaches
Weight gain
Inability to lose weight
Irritability
Emotional and mental problems
Acid reflux
Bloating and gassing[21]
Indigestion
Sinus problems
Cellulite
Trouble sleeping
Restlessness
Stressful feelings
Dizziness
Visual problems
Skin problems
Arthritis
Hormone imbalances
Premature aging
Natural Detoxification System
Human evolved numerous protective mechanisms to detoxify, counter, destroy, or neutralize the carcinogenic assault. For example, the body has sensors that trigger the rejection of bad stuff before it breathed in or digested,which explains your natural aversions to certain smells or tastes, and the substances are taken in[7]. Your major organs of detoxification (i.e., elimination system) include:
Liver
Intestines
Kidneys
Skin
Gallbladder
Lungs
Lymphatics
Most people think toxins are eliminated from your body in sweat and urine, but actually most are discharged in bile from the liver that empties into the stools[6]. Detoxification in liver happens in two phases, both dependent on some important enzymes to do the job.
Phase I — The first step is getting toxins ready for detoxification. Most potentially toxic compounds require activation by phase I enzymes, such as cytochrome P450-1A1 (CYP1A1, or aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase) and P450-2D6 (CYP2D6, or debrisoquine hydroxylase), to become an ultimate reactive compound[8]. This step produces free radicals and other dangerous by-products and is one of the reasons we need so many antioxidants. These chemical reactions in liver are fueled by vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and phytonutrients.
Phase II — Those activated forms from Phase I are subjected to detoxification by phase II enzymes, especially glutathione S-transferase (GST). Toxins are then eliminated by the kidneys and eliminated via urine and by the liver via bile and stool.
Individual cells of your body also come equipped with the means to flush out a full range of toxins. At molecular level, glutathione (pronounced "gloota-thigh-own") is the body's major detoxifier. The tripeptide glutathione (γ-l-glutamyl-l-cysteinyl-glycine: GSH in its reduced form, GSSG in its oxidized form) is the most abundant thiol-containing molecule in most living organisms.
Thiol-containing molecules play an essential role in protecting cells against oxidative damage. They react with reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in the neutralization of these potentially dangerous molecules. GSH is also involved in the detoxification of xenobiotics and resistance to heavy metal stress. This detoxification capacity is due to the highly nucleophilic properties of the thiol moiety of GSH. For example, the role of glutathione in cadmium detoxification is well documented[9].
Why Detoxification?
Even your body is equipped with natural detoxification system as discussed, it's not enough. The reason is that your poor diet, pollution, toxins, medications, stress, trauma, aging, infections, bad gut flora, and radiation all can undermine your body's natural detox.[24] Your liver often gets overloaded and can't keep up with the need to make more glutathione, making it unable to do its job of detoxification.
Also, free radicals from toxins lead to oxidative stress, which damages your mitochondria, the cell's energy factory. This leads to overexcitation of cells and inflammation. When your protective systems break down, it leads to toxic build-up and more free radicals and oxidative stress and more inflammation. Eventually, infections and cancer result.
The Herxheimer Reaction
When your body is cleansing faster than it can eliminate toxins, you will experience Herxheimer's "die-off" reaction. A Herxheimer reaction is a healing crisis that occurs when the body is detoxifying too rapidly and toxins are being released faster than the body can eliminate them. Jarisch Adolf Herxheimer and his brother found that when treating their patients, many of them developed severe physical reactions to the treatments before shifting into a healing phase. The patients were usually very ill for 2 or 3 days, after which they began to feel better.
The "die-off" reaction occurs when toxic microbes in your body are starved of the foods that feed them, such as sugar, dairy, and alcohol; or they are exposed to antimicrobial herbs, which kill them off. The cell-wall proteins of these microbes are absorbed through the body's weakened mucous membrane and eliminated. However, if this is happening too fast, there will be too many dead microbes in your system and we may experience uncomfortable symptoms.
An initial healing crisis usually lasts around 3 days, but if your immunity is low, it may last a week or more. The severity of these reactions will vary from person to person depending on immune strength, bowel function,[18] and how your organs of detoxification are working.
How to Enhance Your Body's Detoxification
The most important set of biochemical pathways in your body are the pathways responsible for keeping two specific biochemical processes running smoothly. They are the "methylation" and the "sulfation" pathways. Many critical steps of your biology depend on these pathways running smoothly and constantly.
For example, Glutathione needs to be continually rebuilt and replenished from your diet and can only be produced if both the methylation and sulfation cycles are running smoothly. Any break in that process leads to toxic build-up and more free radicals and oxidative stress and more inflammation.
We make glutathione from foods that contain sulfur—garlic and onions, cruciferous vegetables, egg yolks, and most forms of protein. All these contain an amino acid called cysteine, the basic building block of glutathione. Add a few more amino acids like glycine and glutamine and a few vitamins (B6, B12, folate), and voila, the magic of the methylation and sulfation pathways produces a little glutathione molecule.
Your defenses also depend on antioxidants which are naturally produced or taken in the diet mainly from plants. Antioxidants function as a kind of antidote that mops up free radicals, the by-products of liver's detoxification, before they have a chance to inflict their oxidative damage.
Finally, we conclude this article with the following detoxification approaches:
Skin Brushing
Gentle skin brushing can facilitate detoxification by improving blood and lymph flow and removing dead skin cells, allowing some fat-soluble toxins to be excreted through the skin.
You may use a long-handled natural bristle brush starting at your feet. Avoid the face, breasts, and other sensitive areas.
Whey protein
It's the watery part of milk which contains all the essential amino acids.
It's particularly rich in cysteine, the amino acid that is needed to make glutathione.
You can find it in health food stores and on the shelves in the vitamin section of many supermarkets.
Look for one with 10 to 24 grams of protein per scoop. Look for whey protein isolate (not the concentrate), which is over 90% whey protein and has very little lactose and fat, and if you can, try to find one that is organic.
Researchers at the Fukuoka Institute of Health and Environmental Sciences found that animals fed matcha excreted up to 9 times more PCBs than a control group.
Matcha is made by grinding green tea leaves to a fine powder after they are dried. The minuscule particles make it easier to extract the catechins when we brew the tea, compared to other types of green tea.
A University of Colorado study found that matcha has greater potential health effects than other green teas.
Matcha had 137 times the amount of EGCG than a popular brand of green tea.
Choline
Choline can help protect liver from toxins.[23]
Eggs are a good source of choline. However, if you have prostate cancer, avoid eggs.[22]
Turmeric contains curcumin, a bioflavonoid in the pigment that has been found to[10]:
Protect liver and DNA
Fight inflammation
Scavenge free radicals
Help the liver clear toxic chemicals
By increasing bile production and release, which is one of the ways that the body eliminates toxins like heavy metals and other chemicals.
Prevent fat deposits in the liver
Chew your broccoli to boost liver's detoxifying enzymes
Broccoli is an exceptional source of sulforaphane, which is the most potent natural phase 2 enzyme-inducer known, but at the same time, there’s none actually in the vegetable—until you chew it.
Reference(s)
Linus Pauling Institute (Oregon State University)
Younger You by Eric R. Braverman, M.D.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Detoxing Your Body by Delia Quigley.
The UltraMind Solution by Mark Hyman, M.D.
The Swiss Secret to Optimal Health by Thomas Rau, M.D.
Adam D, Carmen G. Bitter taste, phytonutrients, and the consumer: a review. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 72, No. 6, 1424-1435, December 2000.
Conney AH. Induction of microsomal enzymes by foreign chemicals and carcinogenesis by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Cancer Res 1982;42:4875-4917.
Polec-Pawlak K, Ruzik R, Lipiec E (2007) Investigation of Cd(II), Pb(II) and Cu(I) complexation by glutathione and its component amino acids by ESI-MS and size exclusion chromatography coupled to ICP-MS and ESI-MS. Talanta 72:1564–1572
Juicing, Fasting, and Detoxing for Life by Cherie Calbom, MS and John Calbom, MA
An Epidemic of Absence — A New of Understanding Allergies and Autoi mune Diseases (excellent book)
Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, interferes with the production of glutathione.
How to Protect Yourself From Mercury Exposure (Travel to Health)
How Does the Gut Flora Influence Our Health? (Travel to Wellness)
The Amazing Liver & Gallbladder Flush (with good customer's reviews)
Scientists have found that, when the mouse brain is sleeping or under anesthesia, it’s busy cleaning out the waste that accumulated while it was awake.
Everything You Need to Know to Never Give a Fart About Farting Again
Choline (Linus Pauling Institute » Micronutrient Information Center)