Detox: Why it’s important to address digestion and elimination
Detoxification is a continuous, natural process by which the body heals and repairs itself. It involves nearly all the body systems including the cardiovascular, digestive, urinary, lymphatic, and respiratory systems, as well as the skin. It is important to address all the foundations before recommending any detox protocols to a client, as well as make sure all routes of elimination including the kidneys, intestines, and sweat gland, are open.
The digestive system plays an important role in the detoxification process. In addition to being responsible for the physical breakdown of food, it also filters food and intestinal bacteria. The intestines, liver, and gallbladder are particularly important in this process. The intestines provide a physical barrier to stop foreign molecules and chemicals from entering the body. They also contain the beneficial bacteria that aid in the detoxification of many substances. The integrity of this membrane and the correct balance of bacteria are necessary for digestion and detox to take place. If dysbiosis is present, there can be injury to the intestinal wall allowing undigested food and contaminants to leak into the bloodstream. If digestion isn’t addressed, even the best diet can clog the body’s detox pathways.
One of the main functions of the liver is to filter toxins from the blood and neutralized them in preparation for elimination. The toxins are then carried on to the gallbladder in the bile, and eventually excreted in the form of feces. Blood sugar imbalance and elevated cortisol stress the liver, making addressing sugar handling an important consideration before recommending any detox protocols. Additionally, blood sugar imbalance depletes B vitamins which are needed for all liver enzyme functions, including the synthesis of cytochrome P450, an enzyme necessary for phase I detox pathways. Addressing proper fat ingestion and digestion also supports the liver in its detox role. Bile is the “river” by which toxins are removed from the body and is made of healthy fat. Poor fat digestion clogs the lymph, and therefore the liver. Proper balance of dietary fat causes less stress on the liver and keeps bile flowing properly, allowing wastes to be removed from the body.
Ensuring that routes of elimination are open so the body can release toxins is also an important consideration before recommending detox. After Phase I detox takes place in the liver, phase II reactions complete the breakdown of toxins and prepare them for removal from the body through the kidneys as urine, or through bile, eventually as feces. The skin and respiratory system also play a role in elimination. The lungs eliminate a variety of waste, including carbon dioxide, and sweat therapy can be used to remove toxins from the body.
In addition to addressing digestion and elimination, balancing the other nutritional foundations is also important before detoxing a client. Having a proper mineral balance helps buffer any acid waste created by the detox process. Additionally, magnesium, which can be depleted by toxins, is important in synthesizing cytochrome P450 which is needed for Phase I detox pathways. Maintaining adequate hydration is also important in flushing toxins properly through perspiration, urine, and feces. It also ensures toxins are properly delivered to the lymph and liver.
