How Detoxification Works
A reduction in food intake, an increase in alkalizing water and juices, the addition of herbal formulas and therapies, improved breathing and bodily activity, being in a supportive, relaxing environment that does not tax the senses, all added to a personal positive effort and mindset to clean out, combine to make up the detoxification process.
On the Personal Internal Level
When the body is being lightened physically, certain lightness comes on a psychological level and even a spiritual level. Food is a gross substance, made up primarily of the earth and water elements. When we fast, our body becomes lighter, the ether and air elements become more pronounced. These are more closely associated with the more subtle planes of existence, and facilitate our journey towards these.
On the Mental Level
A reduction in email, phone, computer and other regular daily stimuli causes a tremendous mental shift that initially one may find hard to adapt to, but after a few days the ability to relax, both mentally and physically, arises. With the reduction in mental stress, the energetic and emotional side of our nature can set about restoring itself. Our typical reactive patterns can now be better observed and once aware, we are able to set about creating positive behavioral patterns. The practices learned and education on diet and better taking care of ourselves can cause this shift.
On the Physical Level
From a practical point of view the majority of the detox process goes on physically though experientially it will ultimately ripen on the psychological and energetic levels of our being.
Through easing the load that is placed on our digestive organs, the system is given a rest from daily tasks of breaking down and transporting food to the cells. The body is instead allowed to focus on cleaning out the things that are not needed. We allow our body to rest and heal. This is a needed part of life.
Physically, the removal of toxins occurs in two phases. Many detoxes only address the first phase which ultimately still leaves one's body toxic at the end. Phase two must be activated in order to complete the process of transporting toxins out of our systems.
The body uses glucose as its main metabolic fuel if it is available. The glucose consumption fuels the construction of muscle tissue and red blood cells, as well as brain activity. Glucose can be obtained directly from dietary sugars and carbohydrates. In the absence of these, it is obtained from the breakdown of glycogen. Glycogen is a readily accessible storage form of glucose, stored in small quantities in the liver and muscles. The body's glycogen reserve can provide glucose for about 6 hours. While 'fasting' eventually the body burns up stored sugars, or glycogen, so less insulin is needed to help the body digest food. That gives the pancreas a rest.
After the glycogen reserve is used up, glucose can be obtained from the breakdown of fats. Fatty acids can be used directly as an energy source by most tissues in the body, except the brain, since fatty acids are unable to cross the blood-brain barrier. After 2-3 days of fasting, the liver begins to synthesize ketone bodies from precursors obtained from fatty acid breakdown. The brain uses these ketone bodies as fuel, thus cutting its requirement for glucose. After fasting for 3 days, the brain gets 30% of its energy from ketone bodies. After 4 days, this goes up to 70%.
After several days of fasting, all cells in the body begin to break down protein. This releases amino acids into the bloodstream, which can be converted into glucose by the liver. The body is able to selectively decide which cells will break down protein and which will not.
The Liver
The liver is arguably the most important organ when it comes to handling toxic substances brought into the body through environmental poisons, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and the residue in the bowels.
The liver has a lot of work to do to maintain our health, removing large toxins, synthesising and secreting bile full of cholesterol and other fat-soluble toxins, and enzymatically disassembling unwanted chemicals. This enzymatic process usually occurs in two steps referred to as Phase I and Phase II.
The liver plays several roles in detoxification:
Filtering the Blood
Almost 2 liters of blood passes through the liver every minute for detoxification, that's over 113 liters an hour. A healthy liver is able to clear 99% of the toxins brought to it directly from the intestines during its first pass. This is critical as a high level of bacteria, bacterial endotoxins, antigens and various other toxic substances come from the intestines and the digestive process. It is therefore critical on any detoxification program to support the liver in this function through supporting herbs.
Bile Production
The liver synthesizes approximately 1 liter of bile per day. Many toxic substances are wrapped up in `bile salts' and passed to the gallbladder to be dumped back into the intestines for excretion from the bowels. A high fiber diet helps absorb and bind these toxins safely for elimination. Low fiber diets inadequately bind these toxins and they get reabsorbed into the blood stream stressing the liver even more. This problem is further magnified when harmful bacteria have populated the colon and are able to feed on these toxins, modifying them into more damaging forms.
Fiber and Probiotics.
Fibre is critical in the diet for the reason stated above, but additionally to keep the peristaltic contractions of the intestines healthy; it basically gives the smooth muscles of the digestive tract something to squeeze against and move, maintaining regular healthy bowel movements. The cellulose content of the fiber in the diet acts as a Pre-biotic to feed the healthy bacteria known as Pro = For, Biotic = Life. Psyllium husks are a good source of bulk and fiber during a detox program, along with Ionic Volcanic Ash mixed into a clay known as Bentonite that can be mixed with the psyllium to further reduce the stress on the liver. Bentonite has the ability to bind and absorb up to 10 times its mass in toxic load ensuring complete elimination whilst preventing the colon from becoming lazy, training regularity of elimination especially during a fasting program. The supplementation of probiotics helps populate the colon with friendly bacteria, vital for good health and detoxification.
Liver and Gallbladder Flush
A 'Fatty Liver' affects more than 50% of people over 50, especially in today's modern world with excessively acidic fatty diets, large sugar consumption, regular alcohol consumption, prescription drugs, antibiotics (Anti = against, Biotic = Life), and environmental toxins. The harder the liver has to work the more bile salts accumulate in the gallbladder, which is nothing but a storehouse of the bile produced by the liver. The Liver and Gallbladder Flush aids this process.
The Two Phases of Detoxification
PHASE I
This is the oxidation phase during which enzymes "burn" or oxidize toxins into intermediate substances called free radicals. Free Radicals if not neutralized by antioxidants can attack the nucleus of the cells and damage our DNA.
People with underactive Phase I detoxification usually experience caffeine intolerance, hypersensitivity and intolerance to perfumes and environmental chemicals and are at higher risk of developing liver disease. Those with healthy Phase I activity can tolerate caffeine and are relatively unaffected.
PHASE II
Here enzymes act to combine the free radical with neutralizing molecules, called antioxidants, to make the toxins water-soluble and easier for the body to excrete through the kidneys. This critical phase is often sluggish because of the deficiency of antioxidants in the diet, especially the typical American diet.
There are six Phase II pathways but the primary or most important is the antioxidant Glutathione (A tripeptide composed of three essential amino acids, cysteine, glutamic acid and glycine). The elimination of fat soluble compounds, especially heavy metals like mercury and lead, is totally dependant on adequate levels of glutathione. Smoking greatly increases the utilization and depletion of glutathione, both through the detoxification of nicotine and the neutralization of the other free radicals produced by the toxins contained in the smoke.
Glutathione is available in the diet from fresh fruits, vegetables and cooked fish. Vitamin C helps elevate the production of glutathione; as little as 500mg a day can elevate production by 50%. However larger doses have no further benefits on production.
Liver Detoxification Support
Nutritional Support
Antioxidant vitamins like vitamin C, beta carotene, and vitamin E are important in protecting the liver from free radical damage as well as supporting the detoxification mechanisms, but even simple nutrients like B-vitamins, calcium and other trace minerals are critical in removing heavy metals and other toxic compounds from the body.
Fresh vegetable juices are very beneficial to supply these nutritional support agents. Fresh wheatgrass juice is a super food, high in antioxidants and trace minerals, as is spirulina and fresh coconut water.
Herbal Support
A proper herbal composition helps regulate levels of enzymes and optimize assimilation.
Our special ayurvedic herbal detox formula uses herbs with similar properties to create a synergy, giving a stronger, more powerful effect than using one single herb. Many of the herbs used, promote liver functioning and also help to rebuild or rejuvenate it. These herbs are also blood purifiers, and help to remove toxic blood and excess heat from the body. Several of the herbs, including Gotu Kola, Tulsi, Licorice, and Fennel are considered sattvic, or balancing for the mind. Licorice is used to harmonize the formula. There are also herbs which promote elimination through the kidneys and intestines and herbs which increase and balance the digestive capacity, promoting the release of digestive enzymes and ensuring that the formula is digested by the body. Working together, these herbs have a powerful and complete detoxifying effect on the body.
This information has been contributed by Jessica Blanchard, Neil Barker and Paul Dallaghan.
References:
Fuhrman, Joel, MD, Fasting and Eating for Health : A Medical Doctor's Program for Conquering Disease 1998, p. 1-21 ISBN 0-312-18719-X
Neighmond, Patti, Retune The Body With A Partial Fast, www.npr.org, All things Considered, November 21, 2007
Pitchford, Paul, Healing with Whole Foods, Berkeley, California, USA; North Atlantic Books, 2002
