Ways to Support Detoxification
You are likely to hear the words toxin and detox floating around a lot these days. There is a lot to our body’s efficiently detoxing and I want to touch on some key pieces. This isn’t an all inclusive coverage of this topic. When you see the word toxin it is referring to something that has the potential to harm the body, not an actual class of compounds.The National Cancer Institute defines "toxin” as a poison made by certain bacteria, plants, or animals; it defines “toxicant” as a poison made by humans or that is put into the environment by human activities.
Toxicants are present in our environment. They are present in air pollution, food supply, drinking water, and skin contact.
It is impossible to completely avoid them. They include heavy metals, pesticides, drugs, and industrial materials. Exposure has been associated with many types of serious diseases, such as cancers and neurodegenerative disorders—as well as other health ailments characterized by fatigue, muscle weakness, and cognitive dysfunction. It is important to note that besides environmental pollutants, the human body generates toxins (referred to as endogenous toxins) as part of daily normal function. There is never a way to be fully free of toxins, but how our body handles them and limiting where we can is extremely important.
Our bodies are very efficient at detoxing itself, but if the system is not functioning well problems may arise. The detoxification system is comprised of Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III pathways.
There is growing evidence that several chronic conditions (chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, chemical sensitivities, and atherosclerosis) may be linked to toxicant exposure.
I like to think of our bodies as buckets. Toxicants can be additive. Not every bucket is the same and we all have different thresholds. If one person’s bucket gets too full of various toxicants symptoms can arise as the detox pathway cannot handle them efficiently.Many of these toxicants are fat soluble and build up in our adipose (fat) tissue.
The detox process is complex, but part of the detox process includes toxin-metabolizing enzymes that are mainly expressed in the liver, GI tract, lungs, and kidneys. This process turns the fat soluble toxins to water soluble molecules that are then excreted. Adequate nutrient support and a healthy GI tract is of utmost importance for an effective detox process. It is also important to get adequate complex carbohydrates, energy-supportive fats (MCT’s), and high quality protein in your diet which help protect against toxin damage. Detoxification requires a lot of energy so making sure your nutrient needs are met is crucial.
As always support your body so it can run efficiently and help us stay healthy.
*informational purposes only, not medical advice