There may be no area in health subject to more misinformation and misconceptions than the topics of environmental toxins, nutritional detoxification and cleansing. Much of the confusion is perpetuated by the medical community itself. It is no wonder that misconceived notions lead some to follow practices that actually impede the breakdown of toxins rather than to enhance their breakdown. For those wanting to lower their load of stored toxins, following these five principles will ensure your kidneys, liver and bowel are primed to increase their ability to breakdown, neutralize and excrete industrial toxins from the body. Details such as the selection of specific foods, beverages and nutrients that supercharge detoxification are an easy addition, but not a replacement to the below.
1) Omit alcohol and processed “foods.”
Empty calories, inadequate fiber intake, unhealthy oils and high sugar all collaborate to impede the detoxification pathways in our cells. This makes it hard on our cells and makes it difficult for them to push toxins through their detoxification pathways. Worse, it allows toxins to get stuck in phase 1 where they cause more harm.
2) Eat lots of produce.
Pound for pound, fruit and vegetables provide the highest amount of combined vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. These nutrients are in high demand as the liver, kidney, brain, lungs and gastrointestinal tract work to break down and excrete environmental toxins. The vitamins and minerals primarily act as co-factors in the detoxification pathways, while antioxidants neutralize the excess free radicals generated, thereby providing protection against oxidative damage. Fiber acts to bind toxins for elimination.
3) Eat enough calories.
This is not to say you need to overeat to detoxify, that would be detrimental. But the cells that participate in detoxification require energy for all detoxification phases. While fasting has health benefits, the upregulation of detoxification pathways is not one of them. Our cells run on ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Our cells generate ATP from the burning of calories acquired from the foods we eat and the oxygen we breathe. If there isn’t enough cellular energy, phase 2 shuts down, allowing toxins to get stuck in phase 1. Essentially, detoxification then takes a back seat to other bodily functions. It goes without saying that the calories should be nutrient dense and from wholefoods.
4) Don’t be constipated.
The breakdown of toxins ends where constipation begins. Most remnants of toxins are excreted through the bowels. Constipation promotes the reabsorption and re-exposure of these remnants. Constipation also makes for a very unpleasant detoxification experience. Therefore, first do everything to improve bowel regularity as you prepare for nutritional detoxification.
5) Include all food groups.
Complex carbohydrates, dietary proteins and even healthy fats are all important in nutritional detoxification and cleansing. Their omission undercuts our cells detoxification efforts. Nutritional detoxification is not the time to eliminate food groups but rather the time to consume them in higher quality and healthier ratios. For the average person that means more produce and less animal fat.
Summary
Follow these five principles of nutritional detoxification by omitting alcohol and processed foods, eating lots of produce, getting enough calories, not being constipated and by including all food groups to help make sure that your kidneys, liver and bowel are primed to increase their ability to breakdown, neutralize and excrete industrial toxins from the body. These principles also serve as a failsafe against the many misconceptions of nutritional detoxification. Details such as the selection of specific foods, beverages and nutrients that supercharge detoxification are then an easy addition, but no replacement to these principles.
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Dr. Ayo Bankole
Dr. Ayo Bankole is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor treating persons with heart disease, diabetes, inflammation and other environmental and lifestyle related conditions. He possesses advanced training in environmental medicine and applies IV nutritional therapy, detoxification and chelation therapy in care.
He is a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine www.a4m.com, American Academy for the Advancement of Medicine www.acam.org and the California Association of Naturopathic Doctors www.cand.org.