Monday, October 18, 2010

Detoxification


Toxins can derive from chemical pollutants, heavy metals, pesticides, drugs, alcohol, active/passive cigarette smoking, and food additives. However, toxins can also come from normal metabolism and intestinal build-up of unhealthy bacteria within your own body.

A number of symptoms and conditions have been associated with possible toxic exposures and toxicity, including:
.Migraine headache, Fibromyalgia, Generalized arthralgias, Chemical sensitivity, Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Listed below are some practical suggestions to help lower your exposure to toxins. To minimize toxins in the diet:
.Avoid foods high in fat, additives, and preservatives
.Eat organically grown vegetables, fruits, and grains
.Drink 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
.Replace furnace and air condition filters regularly

The term detoxification refers to our body's natural ability to transfer and eliminate toxins.
Only substances that are easily dissolved in water, or water-soluble, can be effectively excreted from the body. Toxic compounds, however, are typically stored as fatty molecules and, therefore, 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 systems in the body can be summarized in 3 phases:

Liver Function Phase 1:
.Fat-soluble toxins are transformed into intermediate compounds which can be more reactive, but bind more easily to non-toxic, water-soluble molecules in Phase 2.

Liver Function Phase 2:
.Formation between the reactive intermediates and water-soluble molecules make the entire compound harmless and ready for excretion out of the body.
.Without enough supportive Phase 2 substances, the reactive intermediates can attack health tissues and may cause damage.

Excretion:
.Neutralized toxins, now made water-soluble, are removed from the body in urine via the kidneys or in bile/feces through the intestines.

Because the detoxification process needs 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 muscles and other organs, eliminating the essential nutrients required for healthy detoxification rather than toxins.

Studies have shown that the overall detoxification process is heavily nutrients-dependent, whereby key steps are fueled by vitamins, minerals, and other major food components.

Here are a few nutrients that may help maintain and improve detoxification:
.Zinc, pantothenic acid, and beneficial probiotics
.Vitamins A, B3, B6, B12, C, E, beta-carotene, and folates
.Amino acids, L-cysteine, L-glutamine, and taurine
.N-acetylcysteine, sodium sulfate, and L-glutathione
.Green tea catechins
.Low-allergy-potential protein/carbohydrates

Without optimal detoxification, your body will not efficiently remove harmful toxins. Your kidneys play a major role during the final step of detoxification by excreting transformed toxic compounds in urine. An alkaline pH level may be an important consideration for proper kidney function. A focused, high-impact, low-allergy-potential nutritional support program to promote an alkaline pH level and improve detoxification capacity may be helpful.

Advanced Nutrition Publications, Inc. 2006

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