Are We All Toxic?
In the last 50 years our environment has become increasingly more polluted. This has resulted in a greater human toxic burden than ever before. Unfortunately, tens of thousands of toxic chemicals have been introduced into our environment. So, no matter how careful we are or where we live, we all have some level of exposure. Add to this the use of alcohol, tobacco, and prescription, non-prescription, and illicit drugs, and you can see that this has created a challenging task for our bodies to get rid of these substances. The liver carries the greatest burden of detoxifying foreign substances, as well as substances our bodies create (like hormones). You can help your liver do its job by providing your body with enough protein and the nutrients and botanicals involved in liver function. The typical American diet is high in fats and sugars. It relies heavily on nutrient depleted vegetables, grains, fruits, and antibiotic- and hormone-laden meats. This type of unhealthy diet provides inadequate nutrients for many metabolic processes, including detoxification. These dietary habits, and the fact that many of us eat a limited variety of foods, can result in the development of allergies to some of the most commonly eaten foods such as corn, wheat, soy, dairy, and eggs. Increasingly we find our food supply contaminated with hormones and antibiotics, commonly used in the mass-market farming of animals and in the farm raising of certain fish. Certain types of fish such as tuna and swordfish are also known to be high in mercury. So, if we are exposed to toxic substances or if we make unwise dietary and lifestyle choices, we can build up many potentially toxic substances in our bodies. Allergies and exposure to toxins in foods, water, and the environment are being increasingly recognized as major contributing factors in many health problems.
The Liver’s Role in Detoxification
The liver plays a major role in the detoxification of numerous substances in the body, whether they come from the environment, food, or from within the body (from hormones and other substances). In order to metabolize and eliminate these potentially harmful toxins, the liver has developed an intricate, two-step detoxification system. Together, these two phases convert toxins into water-soluble molecules that can be excreted from the body in the stool and urine.
Phase I Detoxification
Specific enzymes produced in the liver perform the first step of detoxification. These enzymes, called cytochrome p450 enzymes, help detoxify a number of substances, including medications, caffeine, alcohol, many food constituents, and environmental pollutants. These enzymes cause chemical reactions in the liver that make the above substances more water soluble. Individuals with an intolerance to caffeine, perfumes, or chemical odors often have a dysfunction in this first phase of detoxification.
Phase II Detoxification
The substances from phase I, which are partially detoxified, react with other substances in the liver that convert them into water-soluble compounds that can be eliminated from the body in the urine and stool. A number of cofactors are necessary for this phase to occur, including antioxidants, vitamins, amino acids, and other substances the liver needs to have in ample supply to detoxify efficiently. The primary nutrients required during phase I detoxification include B vitamins, vitamin C, folic acid, copper, magnesium, and zinc; antioxidants including glutathione, N-acetylcysteine, and lipoic acid; and the branched-chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Phase I detoxification is further enhanced by indole-3-carbinol found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower; and flavonoids, including silymarin from milk thistle, which is known to increase glutathione concentration in the liver. Nutrients required to support phase II detoxification include vitamins B5, B6, B12, and C, folic acid, selenium, zinc, molybdenum, glutathione, and the amino acids glycine, cysteine, methionine, taurine, and glutamine.
PRODUCTS USED
Supplements for this detox program are used from Thorne® Research, an excellent and trusted source. Their products are tested for purity and are additive free.
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