Detox Demystified: Beneficial or Just Buzz?
At a glance:
Detoxification is a daily process
There are several Phases of detoxification, and each needs specific support
Toxins are anything that irritates the body
Weight loss without detoxification can end badly
Support your body’s natural detox pathways with food and lifestyle habits
Have you ever found yourself staring at a bottle of green juice, wondering if it's the magic elixir for all your health woes?
Our bodies are marvels of nature, seamlessly tackling the stress of daily life all while regulating our heart rate, temperature, blood pressure, and breath, and turning food into useable molecules that fuel our body and brain…all on autopilot!
But when it comes to detoxing, do we need to give our system a helping hand, or is it all just hype?
What does detox actually mean?
Detoxing is nothing new. It’s an idea that’s been around for a very long time. Detoxification is the way the body heals and repairs itself. An internal cleansing process that happens daily without us knowing, like a well-coordinated dance within our cells - our body working tirelessly to clear out by-products from normal cellular reactions like hormones as well as the ever-increasing barrage of external toxins (xenobiotics) and environmental pollution.
The liver, kidneys, lungs, lymph, and skin are all involved in detoxification and each needs nutrients to do their job well. Protein, fiber, antioxidants, water, and many specific vitamins and minerals are necessary for the body to keep that daily detox dance flowing smoothly.
Here’s a simplified look at the phases of detoxification.
Phase 0 – fat-soluble toxins (ex., phthalates from cosmetics and toiletries) get carried into the cell.
Phase I – the body uses enzymes (primarily cytochrome P450) to neutralize and break down toxins, sometimes into more damaging metabolites, which is why it’s critical to have the next pathways open to get them out of the body. Think of Phase I as the pre-wash cycle on your washer.
Phase II – neutralizes byproducts from Phase I. Toxins like xenobiotics and drugs are conjugated or broken down (regular wash cycle) further into water-soluble waste products that can then leave the body via Phase III. Amino acids are needed for this phase.
Phase III – water-soluble metabolites are excreted out of the cell and moved out of the body via sweat, urine, and poop (spin cycle). This is a super important phase that needs special attention because if toxins aren’t excreted, they’ll end up back in circulation and stored in another cell, leaving you feeling well…like garbage.
What are toxins?
Toxins are basically anything that’s irritating to the body, whether it’s from an external source (pesticides, air pollution, fried foods, products we put on our skin, heavy metals, cleaning chemicals) or internal sources like undigested foods or cellular waste.
Take a look at our most fundamental nutrient… water. Clean water is a universal necessity, yet numerous communities globally are forced to consume water tainted with 'forever chemicals.' These persistent compounds fail to degrade in nature, leading to their accumulation in our bodies.
The number of chemicals registered for use in the United States is pretty staggering. As of my last update, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has over 85,000 chemicals listed on its Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Substance Inventory.
This number really opens our eyes to chemicals we're surrounded by every day, from the products we use around the house to what's used in big factories. It's a nudge to keep ourselves in the loop and think carefully about what we're bringing into our homes.
Why you should detox
Here’s something I heard at a detox seminar years ago…
“The question is not - are you toxic? It’s how toxic are you?”
Yikes, right? That stuck with me.
The World Health Organization (WHO) 2021 data addendum estimates that 2 million lives and 53 million disability-adjusted life-years were lost in 2019 due to exposures to selected chemicals.
Navigating the jungle of daily chemical exposure is overwhelming, especially when juggling so much already. On average, it's reported that women are exposed to around 126 different chemicals daily through their skincare and beauty products alone! This number doesn't even dive into what's lurking in household cleaners, processed foods, or the environment.
The unfortunate reality is that even if you eat a healthy diet and live a clean lifestyle, toxins are everywhere - it’s nearly impossible to avoid them.
Here’s another thing that I find most people don’t realize…If you're on a weight loss journey but aren't keeping your detox pathways clear, things might not go as smoothly as you'd hope.
Here's the deal: toxins stored in fat tissue get released into your bloodstream when you lose weight. These need to be flushed out quickly (you don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here). If your detox pathways are clogged, those toxins just hang around, making you feel sick or they’ll move to different tissues. So, all that hard work to lose weight could end up causing more problems.
And, the older you are and the more yo-yo dieting you’ve done, the more toxic you could be.
So, should you do a regular detox? Along with supporting your body’s daily detox system, minimizing toxic exposure, and living a balanced lifestyle, it’s a hard yes in my book.
Now, I’m sure you’re wondering how you can support your body's natural detoxification efforts.
This post went a little long so I’ll continue in Part 2 where we'll unlock everyday foods and strategies for daily detox and three things a detox program must have to detoxify.