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Reveal Vitality

(941) 217-2777

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Detoxification

What is Detox?

Detoxification is the body’s physiologic process of rendering chemicals, compounds, hormones, and toxicants less harmful. The organs of detoxification work efficiently as a whole to reduce the body burden or toxic load of chemicals; they include the liver, kidneys, large intestine, lymphatic system, and sweat glands. In other words, there are well-defined metabolic pathways in the body that are responsible for converting toxins into chemical compounds, making it easy for the body to eliminate them (primarily through the urine or stools). Studies on how drugs are metabolized and cleared from the body have established a good understanding of these detoxification processes.
Of course, detoxification is an ongoing process. Every day, the organs are working to eliminate environmental contaminants that come in from toxic bacteria, pollutants, plasticizers, and heavy metals, to name a few. One of the most common exposures is toxic chemicals from agricultural production (pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers). These exposures commonly occur through ingestion or inhalation of water, foods, and air and from time spent in the home or work environment. Sources of toxicants that can increase the body burden include materials used in new construction, carpet chemicals that can off-gas into the air, paint, household cleaners, galvanic forces in the mouth that result from mixed metals in dental restorations, synthetic materials used in dental products, and even personal hygiene products applied to face, skin, and hair. Air pollutants are found in industrial exposures, primary or second-hand smoke exposure, and auto exhaust. In other words, everyone is continually living amidst chemicals and toxicants in an increasingly toxic society, resulting in an ever-increasing body burden or toxic load of chemicals.
A person’s toxic body burden is a result of three main factors. First, there is the toxicant exposure we each may have received from both internal and external sources, as previously discussed. Second, each person’s genetic predisposition to effectively produce detoxification enzymes for processing these compounds or substrates is unique and depends on familial influence. Last, the integration of proper nutrition and ongoing dietary ingestion of helpful detoxification nutrients or phytonutrients can impact the body’s capacity to appropriately reduce the presence of toxicants and lower the body burden.

Toxic symptoms may occur when we get to our personal limit of accumulated toxins and are not able to clear them fast or efficiently enough. Medical researchers are recognizing more symptoms related to the buildup of toxins, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cancer, fatigue, infertility, allergies, behavior and mood disorders, and neurological conditions such as tremors, headaches, and cognitive difficulties, along with several other diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

The process of detoxification involves many steps. There may be reasons why the body isn’t particularly efficient about clearing toxins. These reasons can be situational, such as having an increased exposure to toxins, being constipated and thus not able to excrete toxins in the stool, being deficient in specific nutrients, eating a nutrient-poor diet, being under stress, having a chronic disease, experiencing excessive inflammation, and not getting enough physical activity or restorative sleep. There may also be genetic reasons, such as having particularly slow enzymes that aren’t efficient in converting toxins into compounds that can be excreted.
Fruits
The goal of a clinically-directed detoxification protocol is to provide nutritional support for facilitating the pathways involved in the processing and excretion of toxins. A detox program results in improved symptoms and an increased sense of wellbeing for most individuals. Specifically, many who participate in a personalized detoxification program describe improvement in pain and fatigue levels, enhanced cognitive function and moods, more effective and satisfying sleep cycles, and weight loss. Our program provides specific food and nutrition suggestions to optimize the detoxification experience and lower the body burden. The program also offers directions in how to sequence a healthy detox and wellness plan by providing tips on how to get started, what to eat, what to watch for, and how to provide the body with the right nutrients for longstanding, improved elimination and detoxification.

Frequently Asked Detoxification Questions

What is detoxification?
Detoxification is the essential bodily function of removing toxins and waste products from your body. Detoxification ‘detox’ also refers to reducing your overall toxic burden. We are all exposed to external toxins( e.g. toxic cleaning products) to some extent and we produce toxins naturally as by-products of our metabolic processes (e.g. respiration). For most of us our main exposure pathways are actually in our own homes – cleaning products, synthetic fragrances, toxic personal care products, toxins in our food supply, (pesticides, chemical additives, BPA, etc.). Internally we produce more toxic by-products as our bodies deal with stress, anger, poor diet, unhealthy lifestyle, alcohol, and caffeine.
What is a toxin?
When talking about ‘detoxification’ a toxin is very broadly defined as a poison. This includes the waste products your body naturally produces (e.g. uric acid, excess hormones), as well as the toxic and poisonous substances that we ingest (e.g. heavy metals, manufactured chemicals, natural & synthetic hormones, etc.).
What is a ‘detox protocol’?

A detoxification program is a way of supporting your body as it eliminates toxins and waste. A good detoxification program should be gentle and supportive for all 5 major detoxification organs – skin, lungs, liver, kidneys & large intestine. These five organs work together to remove the naturally occurring waste by-products from our metabolic processes as well as the toxins that we ingest (i.e. absorb, inhale & digest).

Skin – eliminates toxins via perspiration including ammonia, urea, uric acid, and some pesticides and heavy metals.

Lungs – rid the body of toxic gases and volatile chemicals, e.g. when the liver neutralizes alcohol, acetaldehyde is created and then exhaled as a gas.

Liver – is the main detoxification organ. It filters toxins (mainly fat soluble) from the blood and excretes them into bile, other types of toxins are chemically altered by the liver so that they are either neutralized or converted into a form that the kidneys can filter.

Kidneys – filter toxins (mainly water soluble) out of the blood and excretes them into urine, including: urea produced in the liver, ketones from the breakdown of fat, drug residues, and hormones.

Large Intestine – binds toxins (including hormones) and bile for excretion via feces.

Will I lose weight if I detox?
Possibly. Many people find that they do lose weight right away – often as a result less inflammation and bloating. However weight loss during detox is not guaranteed. Having said that, undertaking good detox protocol is a great way to prepare your body for safe and lasting weight loss.
What can I expect after the detox program?
After a detox protocol many people experience greater mental clarity, fewer headaches, less anxiety, improved digestion, improved energy levels, reduced or eliminated cravings, and that they sleep better.

You may not feel very well while undertaking a detox protocol – especially at the beginning if you are breaking unhealthy patterns and dealing with addictions (caffeine, sugar, etc.). If you are feeling intolerably unwell, stop the protocol and talk to you medical practitioner.

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