We have recently reported that the term "detox" is often misused as a catchall marketing title. Detox packages come in many guises from quick-fix fasting programmes to mud wraps to celebrity maple syrup diets and may be expensive whilst not fully supporting the body’s natural detoxification processes. This has led to many newspaper headlines suggesting that there’s a great ‘detox deception’ with overuse of the term to sell products that are simply a waste of money.
A recent National Pharmacy Association survey also revealed the extent of the nation’s misunderstanding of the term "detox". 20% of people surveyed regularly stopped taking their medication for long-term chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes without medical supervision to have a period of detox. Now as naturopaths we prefer to work with the body to support natural processes and influence the requirements for medication but we should understand that halting many medications, especially for chronic health conditions, without medical supervision is not advisable.
There are also media reports of detox programmes damaging health. However when you read behind the headlines and find out what these particular programmes involve you can see that many ‘detox’ programmes’ are no where near close to supporting the body’s detoxification systems so are only detox programmes in name. Taking these media reports and surveys into account you can see that there is a real lack of understanding of what detoxification actually is and the benefits to our health of naturally supporting our detoxification systems when done appropriately. Like so many things in life not all detox programmes are the same but the inappropriate ones so often dominate the headlines.
It is often stated that our bodies are designed to detoxify metabolic waste, medications and food (i.e. toxins) everyday so no extra support (i.e. specific nutrients, dietary changes and/ or supplements) of detoxification organs such as the liver, kidneys and skin is required over and above what occurs naturally. However as reported in our recent "The Truth Behind the Need to Detoxify" update many conditions and our general health can be naturally supported through an appropriate detoxification programme.
It is important to understand the process of detoxification both at the cellular level and also by the different organs such as the liver and kidneys. Detoxification is an enzymatic process of converting fat-soluble toxins into intermediate metabolites that can then be attached (or conjugated) to a ligand to make it water soluble for excretion. It’s all very well increasing enzyme activity such as P450 cytochrome phase I liver detoxification pathways with nutrients such as milk thistle, glutathione and vitamin C but if phase II enzyme pathways such as sulfation are not supported by amino acids like methionine and sulphurated phytochemicals then toxic intermediates may build up in the liver leaving us more toxic than at the start of the programme! Certain medications such as aspirin inhibit certain phase II pathways and alcohol and nicotine from cigarette smoke increase phase I activity. You can now begin to see how our natural detoxification processes can be altered by lifestyle and diet increasing the probability of toxins building up in the body if there’s an imbalance in the detoxification enzyme pathways. The kidney, gall bladder and bile production also needs to be supported along with a healthy bowel so that elimination of toxins via these routes is efficient and regular.
This is why we need to review the way we use the term ‘detox’. Yes, we are always naturally detoxing. That is our bodies have the pathways and capability to remove toxins via a number of routes. However it also stands to reason that anybody can benefit from high intake through diet and/or specifically designed supplements of several nutrients that support all stages of detoxification such as certain amino acids like methionine, glutathione, antioxidants and B vitamins to name but a few.
So when is the best time to support our detoxification systems? Many people feel they need to detox after periods of dietary and lifestyle excess so after Christmas has become a popular time to detox, perpetuated by magazines and the media. Of course some of the real benefits of detoxification can be achieved through reducing ingestion of substances that are potentially toxic to us in the first place! This means that supporting detoxification pathways should be an ongoing part of our lives. Specific detoxification programmes that take into account supporting all stages of detoxification can be followed such as laid out in the Nutrigold Detoxification newsletter. However are dark, cold winter days such as what we experience during January in the UK really the best time to increase elimination of toxins? Certainly balancing out diets after Christmas to include more beneficial nutrients and reduce sugars and certain fats is not going to harm our bodies. However Spring is a natural time of growth so this is a more natural time to boost detoxification processes. Of course detoxification should not be undertaken if pregnant,breastfeeding,convalescing,or receiving medical treatment(unless the doctor agrees).
So to summarise, many people like to detox but do they truly understand what they’re doing or how best to do it? Understanding the body’s natural detoxification processes and how to support them through nutrients and lifestyle means you are more likely to gain benefits to health and to your wallet!
Nutrigold Newsletters
References
NPA UK survey (http://www.npa.co.uk/resources/press-releases/about-the-association/detox-myth-is-putting-people-at-risk-of-harm-new-survey-reveals/)
Daily Mail (2011) The great detox deception: From mud wraps to drinking syrup, detoxes are 'pointless, dangerous claptrap'
BBC News (2012). Detoxing in January is futile, says liver charity. Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16354472
The Telegraph (2012). New Year detox is 'futile'. Retrieved from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8986935/New-Year-detox-is-futile.html
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