One of the more common questions I receive in clinical practice from patients is “Should I do a detox?” And my answer for most of my patients is a resounding yes, especially if you have never experienced one before. HOWEVER you do want to keep in mind the type, quality and support of a program when you choose one for yourself. This article will explain many of the facets of detox so you can determine if you need one and what to look for when choosing a quality program!
Detoxification is defined as the metabolic process by which toxins are changed into less toxic or more readily excretable substances. It can be compared to the “junk drawer” that most people have in their home. Over time, more items collect in the junk drawer until it cannot even be opened anymore. Your body collects junk in the same way with the food you eat, the water you drink, and the air you breathe. This junk consists of pesticides, pollutants, preservatives, heavy metals, chemicals and caffeine.
Toxins are everywhere
You are exposed to toxins Every. Single. Day. There are approximately 80,000 chemicals registered for use in the U.S., and 800,000,000+ pounds of herbicides are used yearly on our crops. 1-3 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that hundreds of these chemicals are present in our bodies. Research shows that certain chemicals may affect our immune, endocrine, nervous, and reproductive systems.
In fact, your body produces its own toxins, or waste known as endogenous toxins, simply by functioning. Your body also encounters external (exogenous) toxins, or chemicals made outside of your body. They are in the air you breathe, the food you eat, the water you drink, and the products you touch.4,5
External Toxins
- Air and Water Pollutants
- Cigarette Smoke
- Certain Personal Care Products
- Dyes and Paints
- Heavy Metals
- Household Cleaning Products
- Pesticides and Insecticides
- Preservatives and Additives
- Trans Fats
Internal Toxins
- Ammonia
- Carbon dioxide
- Free radicals
How TOXIC are you?
Take Dr. Stephanie Zgreggen’s free Toxicity Quiz to find out?
Determine if you are experiencing toxicity symptoms and if you are at a high risk for toxin exposure.
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You become what you eat
The typical American diet favors processed foods that tend to be high in refined sugar, trans fats, and salt. Processed foods often contain pesticides, artificial ingredients, and genetically modified organisms that can contribute to toxin build up in the body.6 Exposure to these toxins can overburden your system’s natural ability to detoxify.
Reducing your toxic burden can reduce your odds of asthma, cancer, Alzheimer’s, infertility, hormonal and period problems and so much more. Reducing your toxic load can help you lose weight, restore your energy levels and balance your hormones. It can help you conceive a healthy baby and raise a healthy child.
When the body is overloaded with toxins, these toxins cannot be eliminated from the body and they slow down cellular function. This translates to decreasing your body’s function; the brain won’t fire as quickly so you become foggy and forgetful. This can mean you gain weight or feel tired and/or unmotivated. Many people experience symptoms of toxicity but don’t recognize what these signs really can mean. How many of the symptoms below do you have?
Symptoms of Toxin Exposure
- Fatigue or difficulty sleeping
- Indigestion and other gastrointestinal upset
- Food cravings and weight gain
- Reduced mental clarity (brain fog)
- Low libido
- Skin issues – eczema, acne, dark circles under the eyes
- Joint or muscle pain
- Headaches
- Female hormone disturbances
- Sinus issues
- Water retention
- Bad breath
- Insomnia
Your Organs of Detoxification
My 28 day Reset Detox Programs are designed to stimulate specific detoxification organs in the body—the liver, kidneys, and intestines. With help from these organs, your toxic load can decrease, and your body can concentrate its energy on detoxifying and cleaning up. This can help you achieve optimal health by cleansing your body from the inside out. The goal is to learn how to enhance your body’s ability to detox and remove these toxins on a daily basis. No matter where start, everyone can benefit from a detox program.
Liver
- Filters toxins
- Aids the body in metabolizing fat, protein, and carbohydrates
- Helps transform many toxins into harmless agents
Kidneys
- Filter waste and excess fluid from the blood
- Regulate and release the right balance of sodium, phosphorus, and potassium for the body to function properly
Small Intestine
- Digests food so that nutrients can be absorbed into the blood and transported to the liver
- Provides a barrier that blocks toxins from the rest of the body
Large Intestine
- Absorbs water and electrolytes, forming waste that is excreted from the body
- Produces antibodies for gastrointestinal health
- Contains bacteria that create fatty acids and some vitamins for extra nutritional support
Why you may not be losing weight
If your body can’t release toxins through your intestines (poop) or kidney (urine) then they can be deposited and stored in the body. Over months, years, or even decades these can build up in the body and create havoc.
One of the most common sites for us to deposit toxins is in our fat cells since many of the chemicals in today’s environment and food are lipotrophic, meaning that they LOVE FAT. The challenge is that we have to release those stored toxins from the fat cells before the fat cells can shrink. This is one reason why you may have been eating better and working out more but still seeing NO weight loss results.
Where We Store Toxins
- Fat Cells
- Bone Marrow
- Joints
- Liver
- Blood
- Muscle
- Central Nervous System
What the heck is metabolic detoxification anyway?
Metabolic detoxification is your body’s natural process of neutralizing and eliminating toxins from your body. This three-phase process unlocks fat-soluble toxins and converts them to a water-soluble state that is easier for your body to remove. Your body needs key nutrients and phytonutrients to support each of these phases.
Three phases of metabolic detoxification
Phase I: Unlock
Stored fat-soluble toxins transform into an “unlocked” state that is more water-soluble, and in many cases, more toxic than its original form. The foods and supplements recommended in the 28 day Reset Detox programs deliver nutrients that activate enzymes required for Phase I reactions. It also supplies antioxidants that reduce stress on your body, such as tissue damage sometimes caused by these enzyme activities.
Phase II: Neutralize
The highly toxic substances produced in Phase I convert to non-toxic molecules and become even more water-soluble. The foods and supplements recommended in the 28 day Reset Detox programs supply key nutrients and amino acids needed to support Phase II enzymes. These enzymes enhance the water solubility of toxins.
Phase III: Eliminate
Water-soluble toxins leave your cells, and your body eliminates them. The foods and supplements recommended in the 28 Day Reset Detox programs provide your body with plant-based fiber and water, which aid in toxin elimination.
You can create more efficiency around detoxification by modifying your daily food choices, and habits to support your body’s natural ability to detoxify. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above or feel like it’s just time for a reset, I encourage you to check out my signature 28 Day Reset Programs. The 28 Day Hormone Reset Detox is designed for balancing hormones and the 28 Day Autoimmune Reset Detox is specially created for those with autoimmune issues.
My hope is to provide you with easy, effective tools to help you liver YOUR. BEST. LIFE.
Cheers!
Dr Z
Dr. Stephanie Zgraggen – a chiropractor and clinical nutritionist, is the director of Lime and Lotus Healing Arts Center in Charleston, South Carolina. She is also an author and leading expert in women’s hormones and health. Her private practice is centered on functional endocrinology, lifestyle modification and whole food supplementation. Her expertise includes functionally evaluating thyroid, adrenals, male and female hormone imbalances, and digestion. Her mission is to empower women to transform their lives naturally to balance their weight, energy and get their sexy back! She has written for national publications such as Chiropractic Economics, Natural Awakenings and Nutrition Perspectives and has shared the stage at events with Elizabeth Gilbert and Marianne Williamson. For more information on Dr Z and her programs and services visit –
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References:
- “About,” National Toxicology Program, US Department of Health and Human Services, accessed March 13, 2018, https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/about/index.html.
- Arthur Grube, David Donaldson, Timothy Kiely, and La Wu, “Pesticides Industry Sales and Usage 2006 and 2007 Market Estimates,” Washington, D.C.: United States Environmental Protection Agency, February 2011, PDF e-book, http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/iles/2015-10/documents/market_estimates2007.pdf.
- Michael N. Antoniou et al., “Concerns Over Use of Glyphosate-Based Herbicides and Risks Associated with Exposures: a Consensus Statement.” Environmental Health 15, no. 1 (2016): 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-016-0117-0.
- Romilly E. Hodges and Deanna M. Minich, “Modulation of Metabolic Detoxification Pathways Using Foods and Food-Derived Components: A Scientific Review with Clinical Application,” Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism (2015): 16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/760689.
- Joseph W. Thornton, Michael McCally, and Jane Houlihan, “Biomonitoring of Industrial Pollutants: Health and Policy Implications of the Chemical Body Burden,” Public Health Reports 117, no. 4 (2002): 315-23, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1497458/pdf/12477912.pdf.
- Ian A. Myles, “Fast Food Fever: Reviewing the Impacts of the Western Diet on Immunity,” Nutrition Journal 13 (2014): 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-13-61.
