Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, Fourth Edition (74 page)

“It can be strongly said that the health of an individual is largely determined by the ability of the body to detoxify.”

—Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., and Michael Murray, N.D.,
Encyclopedia of Natural Health

“Brushing, clipping, combing, cutting, shampooing, picking, scratching, shaving, washing, scrubbing, sweating, blowing, breathing, coughing, sneezing, clearing, burping, defecating, flatulating, discharging, dripping, draining, menstruating, spitting, sweating, urinating, vomiting, wiping, methylating, acetylating, glucuronidating, sulfating, glutathionylating, glycinating. … Ridding oneself of unwanted stuff is a lot of work. The serious part of this work is synthetic, and unlike the items in the first part of my list, requires the lion’s share of daily energy requirements involved in making new molecules.”

—Sidney Baker McDonald

We are exposed to toxins everywhere—from the air we breathe to the foods we eat, even as a result of metabolism. These toxins cause irritation and inflammation throughout our bodies. People have always been exposed to toxic substances, but today’s exposure to contaminants far exceeds that of previous times. Each week, approximately 6,000 new chemicals are listed in the Chemical Society’s Chemical Abstracts, which adds up to more than 300,000 new chemicals each year. Annually, we consume, on average, 14 pounds of food additives, including colorings, preservatives, flavorings, emulsifiers, humectants, and antimicrobials. In 1990, the EPA estimated that 70,000 chemicals were commonly used in pesticides, foods, and drugs. Between January of 2007 through June of 2008, the EPA received a total of 1,724 new chemicals to review for approval. More than one billion tons of pesticides are used in the United States every year.

It’s estimated that the average person is exposed to 100 synthetic chemicals daily. You probably say, “Not me!” But think about it: shampoo, deodorant, cleaning products, gas for your car, hair dye, cosmetics, lotions, potions, dishwashing soap, pesticides, phthalates found in plastics and inside of cans. … The list goes on and on and on.

Our body normally produces toxins as a by-product of metabolism. We call them endotoxins, which means they come from within us. If not eliminated, these endotoxins can irritate and inflame our tissues, blocking normal functions. Endotoxins formed by bacteria and yeasts can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Antibodies formed to protect us against the harmful effects of these endotoxins often trigger a systemic effect, causing an autoimmune reaction, so our body begins fighting itself. By assisting your body in removal of stored toxins through detoxification programs, your body can more easily heal itself.

Some of the many functions of the liver are to act as a filter, to let nutrients pass, to “humanize” other substances if possible, and to transform toxins into safe substances that can be eliminated in urine and stool. When the liver enzymes fail to break down these toxins, they are stored in the liver and fatty tissue throughout our bodies.

Throughout time and in various cultures, people have seen the need for periodic internal cleansing. Native Americans and Mexicans use sweat lodges. Ancient Roman bathhouses had rooms for bathing in steam, warm water, and cold water. Jewish women have used ritual mikvah baths to cleanse both body and spirit. Most Swedish people have home saunas, and our own health clubs have saunas, steam baths, hot tubs, and Jacuzzis. People “take the waters” in Europe and parts of the United States. Hawaiians use steam and a form of massage, called lomilomi, where they scrub people clean with the red Hawaiian dirt and sea salt. In fact, mud and clay have been used worldwide to draw toxins from the body while simultaneously providing essential nutrients.

Fasting is an important part of many religious holidays and customs. Both Jesus and John the Baptist fasted to gain mental and spiritual clarity. During Ramadan, an important Muslim holiday, people fast during daylight hours for a month. Jewish people fast on Yom Kippur. Indigenous people of many cultures use fasting as a way to clarify thought and provoke visions.

Removal of waste material—detoxification—is essential to the healthy functioning of our bodies. This is shown in the many different ways the body cleanses itself. Skin is our body’s largest organ. In addition to being a protective organ, it is also an organ of elimination through perspiration. Sneezes clear our sinuses. Lungs breathe out carbon dioxide, and even the breath allows for removal of some wastes. Kidneys filter wastes from the bloodstream. Stool is the residue from the digestive process. The liver filters the substances that are absorbed through the digestive barrier into the bloodstream. White blood cells gobble up bacteria and foreign substances, and the lymphatic system clears the debris from circulation. During a cleansing program, your body more rapidly recycles materials to build new cells, take apart aged cells, and repair damaged cells.

Your liver detoxifies in a two-phase system, called the cytochrome P450 system. In phase one your body pulls stored fat-soluble toxins from tissues throughout your body. These are stored in fat, nerves, brain, kidneys, and other tissues. We packed these away because they were toxic, and now they are floating in our bloodstream, which makes them more dangerous than when they were in our tissues. In phase two, we prepare these substances so that they can be excreted from the body. Adding a water-soluble molecule to each of these fat-soluble chemicals allows them to be taken out of the body.

How well the cytochrome P450 system works is determined by your genetics, how well nourished you are, and how toxic you are. I often have clients who are poor phase two detoxifiers. When they take a drug or supplement or are exposed to a chemical, they are slow to convert it. It stays in their system longer than for most people, so the doses they need for supplements and medications are typically less. I recognize it because when they try to cleanse or take medications or supplements, they are extremely sensitive to them. The cytochrome P450 process is energy demanding and requires many nutrients to function properly. In
Figure 18.1
you can see which nutrients are required in phase one, phase two, and between phases. Since many of us lack antioxidants and other nutrients, this process cannot work optimally.

Common medications can inhibit the liver’s ability to adequately process toxins. For example, acetaminophen (Tylenol) causes liver damage when used in combination with alcoholic beverages. Cimetidine, an ulcer medication, limits the liver’s ability to detoxify foreign substances.

Figure 18.1
Liver detoxification pathways and supportive nutrients.
(Used with permission of the Institute for Functional Medicine.)

Food can effect the way our liver detoxifies too. Naringinen and other molecules in grapefruit juice slow down phase one detoxification pathways. Many people are told not to drink grapefruit juice because it changes the dosages of medication they need. The catechins in red wine and the piperine in black pepper also slow down metabolism of drugs. Several studies indicate that eating a diet high in animal protein increases the level of intermediary metabolites. This is not seen in people eating a vegetarian diet. Eating more fruits and vegetables helps the liver to detoxify better. Polyphenols in foods such as red wine, green tea, turmeric, ginger, and spices have been shown to reduce rates of cancer and most other illnesses. Glucosinolates in cruciferous vegetables also help us detoxify and lower cancer risk.

Your body’s ability to detoxify through the cytochrome P450 system can be measured in several ways. See
Chapter 11
for more on this topic.

It is best if you follow a detoxification program under the supervision of a medical or health professional who can guide you through the process. Toxins released too quickly can make you feel worse than when you began and can aggravate your symptoms.

I do a liver cleanse once or twice a year. Generally I do one of three things: implement an elimination diet, use a rice-based protein powder along with an elimination diet, or make up a variation on the elimination diet, and add a lot of fresh vegetable juices and green drinks. We’re all exposed to an average of 100 chemicals daily, so I think that nearly everyone ought to cleanse. Complete the following questionnaire to compare your “before and after” results. See what symptoms improved.

Name: _______________ Date: _______________

Rate each of the following symptoms based on your typical health profile for:

□ Past 30 days