What is Detoxification?
Detoxification is a natural way of getting rid of the toxins that have accumulated within your body. The idea behind detoxification is to clean out all of the substances and chemicals from your body.
The process of detoxification is the body's natural way of getting rid of toxins. It is often done through the liver, kidneys, lungs, and intestines. Wastes can be removed through these organs or by urinating and/or sweating.
The body has its own built-in detoxification system. This system is often called the "liver purification pathway" and consists of three phases: Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3. With each phase, toxins are less harmful before they are finally made harmless and eliminated from the body. In order for this process to work properly, all three phases need to be activated.
The liver purification pathway is the key part of what is often called the body's "detox system."
The process begins when a toxin is taken into the body - say through exposure to toxic air or food, or from taking toxins (including prescription drugs) into the body. Most toxins are taken into the body through the mouth - those from air can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin. The toxins enter the bloodstream and then get filtered out by organs in various parts of your body such as your lungs, kidneys, intestines, etc. Part of this filtering process is done via Phase 1.
How does it work?
Phase 1
Phase 1 begins with the liver. In this phase, enzymes convert toxins into an intermediate substance called a "metabolite." Although the metabolite is less toxic than the original toxin, it still needs to be processed further in Phase 2 before it can finally be filtered out of your body with your urine or sweat. A well-functioning liver is critical to this process and can determine whether Phase 1 works properly; if your liver is overburdened by too many toxins, Phase 1 will be suppressed. This can result in the build-up of toxic metabolites in the body which may cause symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, and sleep disturbances.Although the liver is very effective at filtering out toxins from the blood, detoxification of chemicals that were not eliminated through liver processing or that entered the body directly can take place in Phase 2. Many factors can influence how completely Phase 1 and Phase 2 detoxify our bodies. Hormonal changes such as those experienced during menopause, pregnancy, peri-menopause (the years before menopause ), and during the time of puberty or adolescence can affect Phase 1 detoxification.
Phase 2
Phase 2 takes place in a part of the kidney called the "cortex." This phase converts toxins into reactive substances that can then be excreted through urine or sweat. Very few toxins are removed from our bodies in this Phase, but more importantly is how toxins are converted into less toxic substances so that they can be eliminated through breathing, urinating, and/or sweating. This is what happens in Phase 3.Phase 3
In Phase 3 toxins still need to be processed further before they can get excreted from the body. However, because this phase begins very early on when the stomach digests food and starts with an enzyme called "gastric juices," it often plays a crucial role in determining if we have symptoms of food intolerance.Toxins that get into the body can be eliminated through Phase 3 either by the bile flowing out and being excreted with our stools, or through our lungs as carbon dioxide, both of which are found in the stool. The third way toxins can be eliminated from the body is through sweat (e.g., heavy sweating in a sauna) or by urinating them out of the body
Benefits in Detoxification:
Standard benefits:
- Lose weight and feel lighter.
- Get more energy.
Emotional benefits:
- Feel healthier and younger than ever before.
- Stop the aging process.
- Feel confident and achieve your goals.
Technical benefits:
- Eliminate worries about your health.
- Improve the quality of your life and relationships.
- Feel and look younger.
- You instantly look more attractive.
- Increase your self esteem to new levels.
Foods that help with detoxification:
Foods that help with detoxification are broccoli, celery, cucumber, cabbage, carrots, leafy greens and apples.
Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries are foods that have cleansing properties. The antioxidants in these berries assist with ridding the body of free radicals which accumulate when we ingest pesticides and chemicals. This is one reason why you should be eating as much organic food as possible.
Sulfur-rich foods
Sulfur-rich foods such as high quality protein foods, eggs and onions assist with detoxification. Meat from grass fed animals also has sulfur in it. Zinc is needed for the liver to perform many of its detoxification functions such as metabolizing alcohol and chemicals efficiently. Foods that are rich in zinc include: pumpkin seeds, beef, cod liver oil, duck and almonds.
Whole grains and vegetables
Whole grains and vegetables assist with the elimination of toxins through their fiber content. Fiber adds bulk to your stools. This helps move things along more efficiently so that you eliminate waste from your body more quickly and easily.
Water
Water is essential for the detoxification process to occur without a hitch. Drink plenty of water each day, especially if you are eating foods that assist with detoxification.
Fruits and vegetables
It is important to eat the same amount of fruit as vegetables so that your body does not get too acidic . Your body has to work harder to process too much fruit and may actually end up retaining some toxins instead of eliminating them. You should also mind what types of fruits you are juicing. Only use organic fruits if possible . Organic fruits are less likely to contain harmful chemicals and pesticides.
Juice
An easy way to get more detoxifying fruits and vegetables into your diet is to juice them. Freshly extracted juices are extremely nutritious for your body while also being cleansing. Juicing allows the body to absorb a substantial amount of nutrients in an easy to digest format.
Juicing also has another benefit which is that it will fill you up so you tend to eat less. If you do not like drinking juice, then consider using a high quality green powder instead of juicing. Green powders are made from organically grown greens such as wheat grass which have been powdered into an easily digested form that will assist with detoxification. They can be added to smoothies or mixed with water and consumed as is.
If you want to assist your body in the detoxification process, then you should consider changing your diet. Focus on eating fresh fruits and vegetables while eliminating or reducing your intake of meat, dairy products and refined sugars, especially white sugar .
Detoxifying your body can be very beneficial for your health. There are many reasons that our bodies accumulate toxins such as exposure to chemicals in the air, cigarette smoke and the use of prescription medications. A lot of stress also causes our bodies to hold onto toxins since this is a natural way for the body to protect itself from harm.
