The most urgent question in human suffering is how to prevent disease. This question takes on a very personal significance when you realize that the choices you make each day form the foundation of your health, or lack thereof. Your lifestyle can foster the beginning of disease, which starts as a breakdown in the biochemistry of the body’s cells, or further its spread into other tissues and organs. Toxins, both those that are man-made and those that the body manufactures, lead to this cellular breakdown if they are not removed from circulating blood and eliminated from the body.
The factors that influence your health and the biochemistry of your cells are complex, but a few basic points can help you understand them. Once you understand what your cells need to survive, you can begin to give them your personal care.
Nutritional medicine is the science of cellular health. Your body is made up of trillions of cells and the needs of each one of those cells are the same. When the needs of cells are not met, illness and sickness set in and we call this disease. When the needs of our trillions of cells are met on a daily basis, that is the beginning of good health (see figure 2.1) Each cell is perfectly designed to do the job it is assigned to do, and each cell is meant to work at full capacity. Diseases and poor health begin when individual cells are unable to do their work properly because their basic needs are not being met or something is inhibiting their function. A lack of nutrients, insufficient oxygen, poor waste removal, and the buildup of dangerous chemicals in the cells’ environment inhibit cell function. Your task is to remove the obstacles that keep the cell from doing its work; this is the purpose of this three-part, seven-day detoxification program. First you identify the precise factors that block your health, then you learn how to repair the damage and stimulate your body to heal itself.
Eating an unhealthful diet and living an unhealthy lifestyle create an environment inside the body that disturbs the delicate balance necessary for high-performance cell functions. These factors, coupled with environmental pollution coming from outside the body, add to the body’s usual detoxification duties—the regular removal and management of waste produced by normal cellular processes. This combined load can be too much for the body’s machinery to handle. When even further burdened by other factors like the excessive use of medications, heavy consumption of alcohol, and internal conditions such as intestinal permeability (also known as leaky gut syndrome), your body’s systems react by slowing down, shutting down, or functioning erratically.
Figure 2.1
Your body is made of trillions of cells. In order to keep all your systems functioning properly, you must take care that the needs of your cells are met.
We can absorb only so many toxic stressors before cellular function and organ capacity begin to show signs of weakness and damage. This distress coincides with the onset of disease symptoms. Disease represents the weakening of the detoxification mechanisms inside the body. When this condition persists, health suffers.
Poor health is not really caused by bacteria, viruses, or a failing organ. Rather, poor health results from poor cellular functioning that disrupts organ activity and allows bacteria and viruses to gain a foothold. At every moment, trillions of cells in your body are trying to survive. The problem is that cells encounter obstacles that don’t allow them to work as they should. If we are conscious of this and take responsibility for supplying them with what they need, cells can survive, heal, and do their work.
The needs of cells are very simple. They are not greedy, needy, neurotic whiners. Each cell wants only three things: food (nutrients), a little conversation (the cell-to-cell communication that drives the metabolic machinery), and, perhaps most importantly, a clean house (proper elimination of toxins and waste products).
The cells’ diet is made up of oxygen and about fifty different nutrients (see table 2.1). The circulatory and lymphatic systems remove accumulated waste from cells. Waste products come from the biochemical activity called metabolism that takes place inside the cell. The cell works hard: It “sweats” metabolic by-products and doesn’t like to sit in its own muck, so it ships these by-products out via the bloodstream to the kidneys and the liver. There, they are processed and prepared for the final stage of elimination. When this doesn’t happen, waste accumulates and the cell begins to poison itself. Most sick people become toxic because poisonous metabolic waste is being recycled back into their cells instead of being removed.
Table 2.1. Food-Based Nutrients Critical to Cell Health (in order of importance)
| Water | Trace Minerals |
| Carbohydrates | Iron |
| Fiber | Copper |
| Essential Amino Acids | Iodine |
| Arginine | Manganese |
| Histidine | Chromium |
| Leucine | Zinc |
| Isoleucine | Fluorine |
| Lysine | Selenium |
| Methionine | Molybdenum |
| Phenylalanine | Tin |
| Threonine | Silicon |
| Tryptophan | Vanadium |
| Valine | Cobalt |
| Essential Fatty Acids | Nickel |
| Linoleic acid | Arsenic |
| Linolenic acid | Water-Soluble Vitamins |
| Arachidonic acid | Vitamin B1 (thiamin) |
| Minerals | Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) |
| Sodium | Vitamin B3 (niacin) |
| Magnesium | Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) |
| Phosphorous | Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) |
| Chlorine | Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) |
| Potassium | Folic acid |
| Calcium | Biotin |
| Fat-Soluble Vitamins | Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) |
| Vitamin A (retinol) | |
| Vitamin D | |
| Vitamin E | |
| Vitamin K | |
| SOURCE: Adapted from The Kellogg Report. |
Those who practice cellular medicine, also referred to as detoxification medicine, address the body’s needs at the cellular level. This “micro” approach has “macro” benefits. Evaluation focuses on the most fundamental level of dysfunction, and the root cause of a problem, rather than just its symptoms, is treated. This is very important in light of the fact that toxins affect our health by disturbing cell function, which can result in multiple organ involvement. In cellular medicine, each body part is considered in relation to all the others. In addition, each person reacts to toxins in a different way. So every case must be assessed individually.
First you identify the precise factors that block your health, then you learn how to repair the damage and stimulate your body to heal itself.
The practice of mainstream medicine is different. Medical doctors are trained to evaluate and treat organs and organ systems and to consider them as separate and distinctive health care specialties. There are cardiologists, neurologists, and gastroenterologists. When a patient consults this type of physician about his or her problems, the typical process is to try to match symptoms with disease complexes, conditions, and disorders familiar to the doctor in order to reach a diagnosis. Once the problem has been named, tests might be done to confirm the diagnosis, and a treatment program follows. The name of the problem usually describes the type of damage that the disease has wrought or the part of the body that’s affected. The treatment is based on a model called the “standard of care,” which means that the physician treats the disease, not the person, using the standard textbook approach. This model is not designed to factor in the biochemical individuality of each patient and the uniqueness of his or her situation.
Case History
Larry was told by his doctors that he had multiple sclerosis (MS). His overall weakness, exhaustion, and numbness in his hands were classic indicators of the disease. Larry’s job depended on manual dexterity, so he became forced to take medical leave. We had experienced good results using bee venom injections in several patients with MS, so Larry thought we might be able to help him. We did a full medical work-up, but the results were inconclusive.
We proceeded with a series of toxicity tests, looking for factors that might have led to the onset of his symptoms (see chapter 7 for more details on toxicity tests). We found that Larry had abnormally high levels of lead in his body. We then reviewed his medical history and found that he had reported classic symptoms of lead poisoning: abdominal and bone pain. Lead is also known to cause neurological problems that can mimic those of MS. We concluded that Larry had been given the wrong diagnosis: He was actually suffering from lead toxicity.
This method of health care delivery works very well in certain cases, especially when a patient’s problem and the doctor’s diagnosis are a perfect fit. However, in many cases, the fit is not quite so perfect. When a doctor can’t identify a clear-cut cause, he or she treats the symptoms alone, often with medications to suppress them, and the patient never really gets better. Temporarily stopping the pain with a drug or cutting out the tissue that is diseased, only to have the problem show up somewhere else, is not the same as treating the source of the problem. In some cases, the source of the problem is separate from the site of the disease.
For example, arthritis means inflammation in the joint, and gastritis means inflammation in the stomach. These names are descriptive only—they tell us nothing about why the inflammation has occurred. However, from the point of view of naturopathic medicine, these states of tissue inflammation arise from disorders in other parts of the body. A person with arthritis could actually have a digestive problem, and gastric inflammation could be the result of extreme anxiety and stress. In natural healing, the reason for an illness is more important than its name. The cure begins with the cause.
And toxins are often the real source of the problem. Toxicity syndromes (disorders characterized by a host of symptoms due to toxic reactions to certain substances) are the result of exposure to these toxins, which poison the blood. Such substances may be created inside the body or come from outside. In either case, if the body can’t get rid of them, they become harmful. Medical practitioners of the East have understood the concept of “poisoned blood” for thousands of years, but until recently, no scientific tests could confirm the presence of toxins in the body, identify them precisely, and accurately measure levels of contamination. Today, new tests (like the one for intestinal permeability, which confirms that toxins from bacterial by-products in the intestines can leak into the bloodstream) are increasing our ability to diagnose and treat toxicity syndromes.
Synergy describes the combined effect of different actions or parts on a whole system, and it’s an important concept to understand when we look at how toxins affect health. The synergistic action of toxins means that the consequences of one compound acting on the organism (for example, the lead found in food and water), when combined with the consequences of another compound (for example, mercury released from dental amalgams), will cause more damage to cells than the simple sum of the two.
Each person has a built-in capacity to adapt to a variety of metabolic stressors and cope with the demands they put on the body. But there are limits to our biological tolerance. Exposure to the multiple toxins found in medications, food, water, and air pushes the human adaptive mechanism beyond its limits. Amid this barrage of toxins the body can no longer protect itself. As a consequence, people are suffering from a problem called toxic synergy. It is creating new problems for which the traditional Western medical model has no standard of care.
In natural healing, the reason for an illness is more important than its name. The cure begins with the cause.
An example of toxic synergism can be seen in chemicals that can mimic estrogen activity. Compounds found in plastics, such as bisphenol A, are released into food and water when exposed to heat. Such compounds have the ability to bind to estrogen receptors in the cells. The cells respond as if estrogen is actually present when, in fact, it is not. When other compounds that are known to mimic estrogen, such as those found in pesticides, are added to one another, the effect is greatly magnified. This disrupts the normal hormonal balance in both men and women and increases the risk for cancer.
Gulf War Syndrome: A Case of Toxic Synergy?
Of the 750,000 persons involved in the Gulf War, about 100,000 have complained of neurological symptoms of unknown cause. Although no single cause has been clearly implicated, one contributing factor might be the simultaneous exposure to multiple chemical agents. To protect their health, service personnel were exposed to the anti-nerve gas agent pyristigmine bromide, the insect repellent DEET, and the insecticide permethrin.
In a study using hens, exposure to each of these compounds individually resulted in minimal levels of neurotoxicity. However, the combination of two agents at the same doses produced higher levels of neurotoxicity, and the combination of all three agents resulted in even higher levels of toxicity. The Gulf War has shown us that combinations of toxic substances can have unpredictable results.
Toxins are damaging the ecology of the environment both inside and outside our bodies. Compounds that have never before been encountered are poisoning the cellular machinery and disturbing genetic transcription (the way the information carried in our DNA translates into cellular function). Humans have always had to adapt to destructive forces in nature and naturally occurring poisons, but never to so many new compounds and forces at one time. These conditions demand an unprecedented adaptive response from our bodies.
Most of the ecological nightmares predicted by Rachel Carson in her book The Silent Spring have come to pass. As a result of pollution, certain species of animal and plant life have disappeared. Pesticides, designed to kill biological organisms, are part of our food chain. Cancer is increasingly prevalent—Carson herself died of breast cancer.
What she didn’t predict was the multitude of compounds now flooding our environment that act in lethal synergy with one another. This toxic synergy was not recognized until recently. According to current studies, forty carcinogens may be in our drinking water. Sixty carcinogens are released into the air by industrial processes, and another sixty-six are sprayed on food crops as pesticides. Unfortunately, no definitive research has evaluated the effect of all such chemicals in our diet and drinking water acting at the same time.
Manufacturers of industrial chemicals are not accountable to the same safety laws that govern the pharmaceutical industry when it comes to introducing foreign compounds for human use. According to the rules that control the chemical industry, the public bears the burden of proving that these substances are harmful. Chemical manufacturers are not obliged to prove that their products are safe. Although most countries now recognize the terrible effect of the toxic environment on human health, no real solutions have been offered. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released some staggering statistics about how many millions of pounds of toxic chemicals have been released into the environment through 1994 (see table 2.2).
Table 2.2. Amount of Toxic Chemicals Released into the Environment Through 1994
|
|
| Location | Amount |
|
|
| On-site land | 4 million pounds (2.5 million pounds In 1992) |
| Surface water | 25 million pounds |
| Air | 42 million pounds |
| On-site deep-well | 40 million pounds |
| injection | ——— |
| Total reported release | 111 million pounds |
| Total estimated release | 2.2 billion pounds |
|
|
Many health problems have been definitively linked in a cause-and-effect relationship with exposure to specific toxins, including those that we willingly expose ourselves to by our lifestyle choices. Keep in mind that foods, even those normally considered good for you, can be considered toxins for those individuals who are sensitive to them. Table 2.3 charts the relationship between these factors and some common health problems and diseases. Sometimes the health problems and disease names that doctors give in relation to their patients hide or ignore the underlying cause of cell dysfunction, which might be a toxicity syndrome.
Toxicity syndromes are common but often go undetected. Liver disorders, frequent drug reactions, a sensitivity to synthetic fragrances (such as those in air fresheners, shampoos, and laundry detergents), frequent edema or swelling (especially around the eyes), and a feeling of being hungover without having consumed alcohol are all indicators that you may have a toxicity-related problem. Table 2.4 outlines some of the symptoms that you should take as warning signs of toxicity.
Many health problems have been definitively linked with exposure to specific toxins, including those that we expose ourselves to by our lifestyle choices.
Some of your body’s systems are particularly vulnerable to certain toxins. Figure 2.2 illustrates the possible dangers to which you might be exposed. The sections that follow describe in detail some conditions that should serve as red flags to indicate possible toxicity. You can also use the questionnaire at the back of the book to get your own numerical “score” for each type of toxic exposure. Your total score gives you some idea of just how toxic your body may be.
Pay special attention to your teeth and gums. The condition of the mouth is pivotal. Untreated cavities, gum disease, bacteria-filled root canals, silver fillings, tooth implants, and nickel crowns can be the primary source of toxicity that affects the entire body. Poor oral hygiene may be the cause of gum disease or tooth decay, but these conditions could also indicate that the diet includes too many damaging foods and insufficient nutrients.
How do you know whether you are at risk and need to be evaluated for toxicity syndromes? Look for the signs of toxicity, which can manifest as either generally poor health, with symptoms that include headaches, arthritic-type pain, lethargy, overweight, low resistance to bacterial and viral infections, or as one of the following diseases:
Cancer. It is well known that high levels of exposure to carcinogens, coupled with altered detoxification enzymes responsible for their breakdown, significantly increase one’s susceptibility to cancer. Alcohol, cigarettes, medications, and pollutants have an altering effect on these enzymes. For example, bladder cancer is linked to exposure to industrial chemicals, breast cancer is linked to pesticides, and lung cancer is linked to smoking.
Autoimmune disease. Some toxins, such as altered bowel flora, pesticides, and mercury, undermine the immune system and so are associated with the onset and progression of autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Neurological disease. Exposure to pesticides, metals, mercury, and other toxins, and the biochemical defects they trigger significantly affect the nervous system and negatively impact brain function. The situation is even more critical when there is an inadequate intake of essential nutrients, especially antioxidants—the dietary factors that protect the body from oxidative damage caused by the unstable, reactive oxygen molecules, known as free radicals, normally circulating in the body.
Arthritis. Arthritis pain may be related to a toxic reaction to specific foods (food allergies), dehydration from inadequate intake of water (a very common problem) and bowel toxemia.
Bowel disease. This condition can be the result of food allergies or an imbalance of normal bowel flora.
Immune diseases. These disorders are related to pesticides, industrial chemicals (dioxins), and mercury in the blood, and the presence of harmful bacteria in the bowel.
Cardiovascular disease. This problem has been linked to the presence of heavy metals in the bloodstream.
Information about oral toxicity has been available since 1928. Weston Price, a dentist, studied the effects of chronic dental infections on overall health. In his paper “Dental Infections, Their Dangers and Prevention,” Price described how teeth harboring anaerobic bacteria, especially in cases in which root canal work has been done, could injure the health of genetically susceptible individuals. Price’s work has never been followed up by other researchers, but many patients, doctors, and dentists have observed the accuracy of his findings. In our clinic, we have had several cases of facial neuralgia—extreme pain in the sensory and motor nerves of the face—that were relieved after the removal of root canal teeth and cavitation.
Oral diseases, especially those caused by toxic reactions, can have serious consequences. It’s important for patients who have a history of chronic health complaints to have a thorough dental review to ensure that infections, cavitation, metals, and galvanic currents (electrical currents produced by the chemical reactions of metals in the mouth) are not causing disorders in the highly sensitive area of the oral cavity. Our experience has shown that this is one of the most important areas to investigate when pursuing the cause of chronic illness. The dental examination should be done by a qualified practitioner of what is called biological dentistry. (See appendix for information about how to locate a biological dentist.)
Table 2.3. Common Health Problems and Their Toxic Triggers
Table 2.4. Symptoms of Toxicity by Body System
|
|
| Body System | Symptoms |
|
|
| Central Nervous System | Cognitive problems, poor memory, numbness in the extremities |
| Immune System | Frequent colds, night sweats, sudden onset of allergies |
| Gastrointestinal System | Bloating, pain, diarrhea, belching, unpleasant smelling gas |
| Musculoskeletal System | Paresthesia (numbness or tingling), pain, weakness, fatigue |
| Sensory | Vertigo, extreme sensitivity to odors |
| Skin | Hives, eczema, itching |
|
|
Figure 2.2
Figure 2.2 (continued)
A recent study showed that patients with diagnoses of chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome could not be distinguished on the basis of symptoms. The study indicates that these are not separate diseases but different forms of the same illness. These poorly differentiated disorders are probably caused by many environmental factors.
Several studies indicate that chemical toxicity and immune-system breakdown provoke the disorders. At our clinic, many patients ask whether a treatment exists for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Detoxification therapy has been shown to be effective and stands out as one of the only coherent approaches to healing people with these debilitating health problems. We are convinced that these mysterious disorders are indications that the stress of environmental toxins is more than some people can handle.
The central nervous system is extremely sensitive to toxins in the bloodstream, and brain activity depends on a delicate electrochemical balance of hormones, neurotransmitters, and brain peptides. Toxins can disturb this natural balance, and the results can range from a sense of persistent mental “fog” (cognitive impairment) to serious diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and motor neuron disease.
For example, polychloride biphenyls, better known as PCBs, are a class of common industrial compounds known to be carcinogenic and neurotoxic. In 1979, 2,000 people were poisoned in Taiwan from cooking with oil contaminated with PCBs. Symptoms in 44 percent of the victims were mainly neurological, sensory, and motor nerve conduction, leading some researchers to conclude that protecting brain cells from these toxins can prevent brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases. The central nervous system is also highly vulnerable to damage from free radicals, the “chaotic” oxygen molecules that scavenge electrons from other cells and cause oxidative damage.
If you have any doubt that circulating toxins can create altered brain states, you need only recall your mental condition “the morning after,” when alcohol consumption has left you with a hangover. In fact, people with an overburdened and sluggish detoxification system often feel as if they have a hangover (but without the headache) all the time. People who are exposed to toxins such as pesticides report this type of distorted awareness. Depending on the type of poison, the debilitating effects can last for years.
Almost everyone who undergoes detoxification experiences razor-sharp mental clarity by the end of the process. The message here is that the nervous system is highly sensitive to toxins in the blood.
Parkinson’s Disease Evidence suggests that environmental toxins influence the onset of Parkinson’s disease. The disease is not viral in origin and is not an autoimmune disorder. We now know that Parkinson’s disease is found more frequently in industrialized countries. The exact cause or causes are still unknown, but some researchers suspect that they relate to heavy metals, chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers used in farming, contaminated well water, and wood pulp manufacturing. It’s very common for Parkinson’s patients to have been exposed to pesticides and petroleum derivatives.
Parkinson’s may also be the result of an inherited vulnerability to toxins caused by poor detoxification abilities. Biochemical lab testing shows that there are decreased concentrations of antioxidants in the brain cells of Parkinson’s patients, which suggests that the damage could be caused by free radicals.
Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s is a disease whose main symptom is brain damage, which likely results from a variety of toxins in the environment. It is especially difficult to treat because, as illustrated by the pyramid of priorities described in chapter 1, toxins have penetrated to the very core of the organism.
The disease has been related to an inherited detoxification weakness and to toxicity caused by exposure to aluminum, mercury, pesticides, and wheat gluten (to which many people have an undiagnosed allergy). Several studies showed that the brain tissue of Alzheimer’s patients had high levels of mercury. Pesticides, which are powerful inhibitors of neurotransmitters and cause paralysis of nerve transmission, have also been implicated. These chemicals can induce symptoms that are very similar to those of Alzheimer’s and might be related to its cause. One doctor has reported that many of his Alzheimer’s patients are sensitive to wheat gliadin/gluten.
Exposure to the huge number of chemicals present in most people’s everyday lives can cause a wide range of immune and neurological diseases. Our food supply alone bombards the body with a profusion of toxins. What we eat contains pesticides, bleaching agents, preservatives, artificial coloring, waxes, fumigants, hormones, and antibiotics. Fast foods might be fried in rancid oils and fats that have been rendered unhealthy by overheating, nuts and grains are often contaminated with molds, and carcinogens are found in meats cooked over charcoal. Those who suffer from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) often go from one specialist to another trying to get help, until someone recognizes that these patients are exhibiting reactions to a variety of different chemical compounds that often produce symptoms in more than one organ system. Such a condition is hard to diagnose, and it is generally not even acknowledged as a disease entity by those who practice mainstream medicine. But MCS is real, and it is treatable with detoxification therapy.
You can measure your health status in ways other than blood pressure readings, stress tests, or laboratory analysis of blood. You can take stock of your well-being every day. Take a close look in the mirror and study your reflection. In our clinic, we can see whether patients are suffering from toxicity as soon as we look at their faces. Ask yourself some simple questions about your mood, your body functions, and your ability to get through your day and enjoy your life. You can personally review your body’s systems and parts for signs of toxic stress. Give yourself a daily checkup using the following guidelines. If you answer yes to the questions, you may be suffering from toxicity.
The mind and the emotions are two good indicators of overall health. An inability to think clearly and focus attention, volatile moods and depression, or a lack of enthusiasm or positive interest in your life can be clues that you’re suffering from a toxic overload.
The human organism was designed to work hard for a full eighty years of life. Healthy people of all ages have enough energy to labor all day and then “play” at night. Energy comes from proper cellular metabolism, a correct balance of hormones, and maintaining precise biochemical equilibrium in the nervous system. Energy is also intimately linked to our emotional state: Attitudes affect energy levels and vice versa. For example, depressed people often sleep much more than normal, and sick people tend to feel “blue.” Not having the energy you once had or feeling that you don’t have enough time to do all the things you want and need to do in life could indicate something about the level of toxins in your body.
The skin is the largest of our organs and has multiple responsibilities. It provides a protective barrier, helps maintain normal body temperature, and is a medium for the elimination of toxins. Healthy skin is elastic and young looking, with a vibrancy that comes from within. Toxicity and sickness leave skin dry, tired and old looking, blemished, or spotty with uneven color (especially noticeable on the face). It loses its normal texture and appears loose and sagging. You can usually spot a smoker because of the dusky appearance of his or her skin.
Detoxification therapy has been shown to be effective and stands out as one of the only coherent approaches to healing chronic disease.
The coloring of the skin of the face can be a good indication of fatigue, poor nutrition, liver disease, anemia, and chronic disease. A ruddy complexion indicates that blood is circulating well through the digestive tract. Such a complexion comes from fresh air, regular exercise, proper digestion, and adequate rest. A red nose indicates inflammation in the stomach or liver. An extremely pale complexion indicates weakness of circulation. A yellow or slightly green complexion indicates anemia or poor liver function.
Internal imbalances also manifest themselves in how your body smells. A strong, unpleasant odor indicates fermentation and putrefaction in the intestines. Disease and sickness have a distinctive odor, one that you can smell whenever you walk into a hospital. As patients become detoxified, they emanate a “cleaner” smell through their skin.
The tongue is an accurate diagnostic tool, but conventional medical doctors generally don’t use it to evaluate organ function. Tongue diagnosis is used extensively and effectively in the traditional medical systems of India and China, as well as by homeopathic physicians.
The tongue should have a healthy pink color, with a slight coating that is milky but transparent. Indications that the liver or digestive organs are not functioning properly include a tongue that appears swollen, as evidenced by teeth marks on either side; is thin and dry with a shrunken or flattened appearance; has a yellow, grayish-white, or thick coating; or is shiny without any coating at all.
The condition of your tongue can give you information about your intestinal tract. To examine your tongue, finish your last meal of the day by 5 P.M. and be sure that meal does not include any meat. The next morning, look at your tongue in the mirror right after you wake up, before you’ve had breakfast, had a drink of water, or even brushed your teeth. A coated tongue indicates weak digestion; the thicker the coating, the more serious the need for detoxification therapy.
The eyes are correctly called the “windows of the soul,” and they also offer a view of the state of your health. In a happy, healthy individual, the eyes appear bright and lustrous. The whites of the eyes are clear. There is no discoloration or swelling around the eyes. Dark circles around the eyes, bags, or swelling are signs of a disturbance in either kidney or liver function. However, the relationship between dark circles around the eyes and problems with kidney or liver function is not accepted in Western medicine and shouldn’t be used as the only basis of determining the severity of organ dysfunction.
When your body has to absorb the toxic chemistry of bowel fermentation, pathogenic bacteria, and toxic substances called amines (ammonia derivatives) from the putrefaction and fermentation of protein in the intestinal tract, you feel ill. Headaches, tired eyes, low energy, lack of hunger and thirst, constipation, abdominal fullness, and mental dullness are classic symptoms of the presence of these digestive tract toxins. Also, belching, bloating, gas, abdominal pain, and heartburn after eating are indications of some sort of bowel inflammation or infection. Eating should be a painless event and result in none of these symptoms. You should feel energetic and have a satisfied feeling of well-being after your meals.
The quality of the stool tells you about how well you’re digesting the food you eat. If you have enough fiber in your diet, your stool is soft but formed, and you have a bowel movement regularly, that is, once or twice every day. A loose, unformed stool indicates intestinal irritation. A greasy stool that floats often means that fats are not being properly broken down and that pancreas or gallbladder function is poor. Offensive odor indicates intestinal putrefaction and fermentation. A bowel movement should be a healthy discharge of food waste, not a path for the removal of environmental and self-generated toxins.
You should produce 500 to 2,500 milliliters (or 1 to 5 quarts) of urine a day. You should also empty your bladder every time you drink something. Urine should be light, with a slight color and almost no odor. Certain nutritional supplements such as vitamin C or riboflavin will typically turn your urine bright yellow. Dehydration and toxicity syndromes cause urine to be dark yellow in color with a frothy or oily appearance.
Flexibility and ease of movement depends on healthy joints. Joints have special nutritional needs, and a clear relationship exists between the digestive tract and your joints. The intestinal tract can leak material into the bloodstream that causes inflammation in the joints. Many patients with food allergies report that their arthritis gets worse if they eat food that irritates their intestinal system.
Toxins in the bloodstream can damage delicate joint tissue, resulting in joint pain either throughout the musculoskeletal system or in isolated regions. Slight swelling or aching joints in the morning could be caused by toxins, and degenerative arthritis or a worsening of arthritic symptoms should alert you to the possibility of toxic stress.
The abdomen should have good muscle tone without any protrusion or swelling. Chronic bloating alters the natural tone of the abdomen. As intestinal health breaks down, digestive organs can slip out of place (prolapse). This shifting of the position of intestinal structures means that they don’t function properly. Intestinal toxicity can also lead to irritation of the muscles of the back and pelvis, weakening them and causing poor posture.
The nails of the fingers and toes should be rigid without any discoloration or topographical changes. Any changes in the normal appearance of the nails can indicate any one of the following: mineral deficiencies, nutritional imbalances, and improper liver function.
Your answers to all the questions we’ve posed are useful tools for a do-it-yourself assessment of your physical, emotional, and mental health. They can serve as a toxic yardstick—a quick, easy way to measure just how much toxic exposure is costing you. But toxins are doing their damage long before you may be able to see and feel their effects. They attack the body at the most fundamental level, altering cellular function and polluting the fluids in which cells are bathed. So, in the next chapter, we explain what cells do, how they do it, and why it’s so important that the “sea” of blood and lymph in which they “swim” is clean and free flowing.
