Nutritional Therapy and Detoxification

Detoxification is a parasympathetic process
Detoxification frees up vital cellular and organ activities to function productively and efficiently.
Never detoxify without addressing the foundations- all elimination pathways must be open (liver, kidneys, sweating, breathing, colon…).

DIET:

Processed, lifeless, dead food is seen as toxins to the body
Eating large quantities at once overwhelms the digestion system- using up too much energy therefore taking away energy needed for the body to aid in the detoxification “house cleaning” process.
Eating the appropriate blend of macro and micro nutrients plays an important role in the body’s ability to detoxify

DIGESTION:

If a person is eating a whole foods, nutrient dense diet- if they can’t digest their food then they can still clog up their digestive system and detoxification pathways.
Proper protein digestion is needed in the stomach in order to cleave off the amino acids involved in the phase one and phase two detoxification pathways (methionine to run sulfation pathway)
Poor fat digestion clogs up the bile – clogging up the liver and lympathetic system where bile flows with the toxins to eliminate in the colon- feces.

BLOOD SUGAR REGULATION:

High blood sugar levels over burden the liver which is needed for the detoxification process
Elevated cortisol (resulting from blood sugar dysregulation) overworks the liver with gluconeogenesis (converting the proteins that were broken down from the request of cortisol – into glucose via the liver)
Blood sugar imbalances deplete B vitamins – Sugar consumption requires chromium which helps the pancreas and body cells regulate sugar levels. Excess sugars deplete our chromium and B Vitamin reserves. Caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and stress further weakens the pancreas.
Vitamin B6 is needed for all liver enzyme functions and neurotransmitter synthesis (epinenphrine & seretonin)
Vitamin B2 is needed for Phase I Detoxification Pathways enzymes – cytochrome P450
Chronically high blood sugar creates build up of free radicals and general catabolic state – robbing the nutrients the body needs to properly detoxify.

FATTY ACIDS:

Fat tissue helps the body store difficult to remove toxic waste (metals)
Liver metabolizes fats into their usable forms
Proper digestion of fats causes the liver less stress (we need to liver to detox the toxins)
The liver releases bile which is built on healthy fats- bile is the river which toxins are removed from the body via the lymphatic system out to the colon then out via the feces
Proper fatty acid balance helps create proper permeable cell membranes to allow wastes to be removed from inside the cell in a timely manner.

MINERAL BALANCE:

Detoxification process can create acidic blood – and minerals help buffer this condition (calcium)
Toxins deplete minerals as magnesium which can lead to deficiencies of enzymes – as cytochrome P450 needed in Phase 1 Detox pathways and NADPH.
Certain minerals help keep heavy metals from collecting in tissues
Molybdenum and manganese activate metabolic and detox enzymes
Chelation agents deplete minerals – requiring replacement

HYDRATION:

Proper hydration is essential for keeping the body flushing toxins out properly (kidneys- urine and colon- feces) and regularly
Perspiring requires proper hydration
Helps keep lung tissue moist for breathing out toxins- for exercise, coughing and sneezing
Keeps the blood fluid and flowing so toxic material may be delivered to the lymph and liver