What is detoxification?

 

Detoxification, according to Functional Medicine, describes the body’s physiologic process of rendering chemicals, compounds, hormones, and toxicants less harmful. This process is often referred to as “metabolic detoxification” and the organs that reduce the toxic load in our bodies include the liver, kidneys, large intestine, lymphatic system, and sweat glands.

Every day we are exposed to a whole array of toxins: toxic bacteria, pollutants, plasticizers, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals from agricultural production such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Every day toxicants that can increase the body burden resulting in an ever increasing toxic load of chemicals.

Everybody has a different genetic predisposition to effectively produce detoxification enzymes and everybody has a different capacity to appropriately reduce the presence of toxicants and lower the body burden. In this Detoxification series we will explore how toxicants build up in the body and what toxic symptoms are telling us about our personal toxic load. We will explore the detoxification process from all angles, with

Each month we will do a deep dive into a different aspect of detoxification and each section will include links to relevant laboratory tests, extra reading links, insights from my experience as a life coach, and a printable checklist of manageable changes.

 

Benefits of Detox

This comprehensive detoxification program can be personalized to result in improved symptoms and an increased sense of wellbeing, with improvement in pain and fatigue levels, enhanced cognitive function and moods, more effective sleep cycles, and weight loss. Detoxification is also important for supporting any autoimmune condition. Along the way we will share the latest research and top tips to optimize the metabolic detoxification experience and provide the body with the right nutrients for longstanding, improved elimination of toxins.

Fatigue and lack of energy is one of the main indicators of the need for a metabolic detox, along with other symptoms such as unwanted weight gain or constant migraines. Through a detoxification series such as this one, the end result will be improved overall health, weight loss, and reduction in frequent or severe symptoms of toxicity.

 

Phases of detox

The first phase of detoxification (known as phase 1) occurs mostly in the liver where dangerous, lipid soluble molecules known as free radicals are mixed with a group of enzymes. These enzymes (known as cytochrome P-450) temporarily make the toxins more toxic but this process makes the second phase of detoxification (known as phase 2) more efficient. If phase 1 is slow, their maybe an accumulation of toxins in the body. If phase 1 is too fast without an increased clearance in phase 2, it can lead to the formation of toxins that are more toxic that the original toxin.

The second phase of detoxification requires specific nutrients, mostly amino acids, to take the products from the first stage and make them water-soluble ready for excretion. During this phase toxins are eliminated by the kidneys and bowels, via urine and faeces.

In the third stage of detoxification, toxic substances must be eliminated. In the third stage of detoxification, toxins are moved from the cells to the gut.

In all these stages of detox, each person’s history and lifestyle will be different. If you are interested in your unique individual detoxification ability, please speak to me about the Nutrigenomics Detoxification Report that I offer. 

The journey ahead…

You are about to embark on a personal journey of discovery and practical detoxification. Together we will assess toxicants and optimise health through the following:

• Food (including elimination diet to identify and eliminate food triggers as well as food to support detoxification)
• Gut (SIBO/Stool/Repopulate and rebalance gut microbiome, as well as support for overall gut health)
• Reduce stress and improve sleep
• Physical activity
• Dental health
• Supporting your body/organs during detox
• Environmental changes to reduce toxic burden
• Emotional support during detox
• Liver cleanse to aid detoxification and support liver function

You can revisit the full roadmap in our introduction to this Detoxification Series here.

 

Preparing for the journey!

Before we embark on any journey of health and detoxification, it is important to know where we are going and to prepare ourselves emotionally. One strategy I often use with my clients is to encourage them to visualize the happiest, healthiest version of themselves as a way to visualize where they want this journey to take them. The following activity might be helpful for you at this stage too:

Set aside 20 minutes or half an hour in a comfortable place without any distractions. Think about the changes you want to see in yourself at the end of your detoxification journey. Imagine you are at the end of the journey and you have made significant changes, some of them difficult and challenging. How are you feeling now? How are you looking and sounding? What are you doing differently? Imagine your friends and family are with you – what do they notice is different about you? What does your home and personal space look like? What is it about your environment that makes your nervous system feel great?

Write down what you want to see at the end of your journey and try to write in positive terms. So instead of ‘I won’t feel exhausted anymore’ write ‘I will have lots of energy’.

Practical Changes

On such a journey, it is important to prepare practically as well as emotionally. Here are some small, practical changes you can make straight away to prepare for your journey of detoxification. They cover the main approaches to detoxification that are easy to incorporate into your life straight away!

• Visit the sauna! Sweating is one of the best ways of getting rid of toxins. You can visit your local gym or buy a personal sauna (such as infrared) to sweat out those toxins. I bought a Firzone sauna several years ago that I have been very happy with and it is worth investing in the red light panel.  Remember to wipe away the sweat and shower to stop the skin reabsorbing any toxin.
• Sip on water with lemon first thing in the morning and sip on vegetable juice throughout the day. Raw organic green juice provides a fresh and concentrated source of vitamins and natural antioxidants for detox support. Try celery, cucumber, watercress, parsley, kale with smaller amounts of carrot and beetroot. Please ask me for my green juice recipe.
• Stop eating processed foods and catch up on some sleep! Please read my blog on ‘Ultra-Processed Foods‘ by clicking this link.  An Epsom salts bath will not only help you relax but also ensure absorption of magnesium sulphate through the skin which is very important for phase 2 detoxification. You can also take Magnesium in supplement form.

I will look forward to starting this with you as we take the next step: a deep dive into detoxification of our environment! If you would like to find out more the Functional Medicine approach you can read more here.

 

With every blessing,

Emma

 

Emma Maitland-Carew – Registered Nutritional Therapist

Dip.ION, mBANT, CHNC Registered Practitioner, ILM Accredited Wellbeing Coach

Certified Live and Dried Blood Analysis, Metabolic Balance® Coach, HeartMath Coach, Accredited Wellbeing Coach