Detoxification is not a one-day or even a one-week event. Detoxification is an ongoing process that occurs continually every minute of every day. It’s a simple matter of limiting toxins entering the body and enhancing the ability of the body to remove toxins. When out is greater than in, the body will gradually be purged of toxins.
Toxins can only enter the body three ways: from what you drink and eat, with air you breathe, and by absorption through the skin. If the amount of toxins being taken in exceeds the capacity of the body’s ability to remove toxins, then toxins build up in tissues.
The first step in purging the body of excess toxins is reducing the inflow — not for just a one-week detox, but continually. It’s a matter of cleaning up your diet, breathing clean air, and being mindful of any toxic substances coming in contact with your skin. This will allow the detoxification systems of the body to get ahead, but it’s not enough alone to get the job done.
Toxins built up in your tissues are like sediment on the bottom of a polluted pond. Just cleaning the surface water only superficially addresses the problem. You have to agitate the sediment and then clean the water, over and over, until all the sediment is gone.
In the human body, toxic sediment is held mostly in fatty tissue. Increased blood flow, on a regular daily basis is necessary to mobilize toxins from tissues and gradually purge toxins from the body. Regular exercise is the best way to increase blood flow, but in the beginning when exercise (Chapter 29) is less practical, far-infrared sauna is an adequate substitute (Chapter 21, Turn up the Heat on Your Recovery).
Cleaning Up the Inflow
Toxic threats are subtly attached to things we do in life. Reducing the inflow of toxins is a matter of making minor adjustments to how you go about life. If smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are not issues, then you are already two steps ahead. All you really have to do is become more aware of where toxic threats come from and make a conscious effort to avoid them.
Giving up processed food and embracing a clean diet is a good place to start. Fiber from vegetables binds toxins for removal. Strive to make fresh vegetables more than half of your diet. Fruit, meat, beans, and healthful grains should make up a much smaller portion of your diet.
Healthful meat comes from animals raised humanely and fed natural food. Wild caught is preferred for fish and seafood. The cost is worth it, as most grocery store meat is a source of hidden toxins. EatWild (www.eatwild.com) provides lists of local farms producing better quality meat products.
Chlorella, a type of freshwater algae, is a great purifying agent that can be taken as a supplement to expedite the process. Chlorella contains many health-enhancing substances, but chlorophyll may be the most important for removing toxins. Detoxification of the body is also supported by herbs and natural substances, such as glutathione, vitamin C, NAC, and alpha lipoic acid.
Buying organic is a good practice whenever it’s affordable. The most important foods to buy organic are thin-skinned vegetables and fruit; berries, apples, peaches, celery, peppers, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, and potatoes are some examples. Thick-skinned vegetables and fruit, such as citrus, melons, and avocados, generally do not have to be organic. Vegetables and fruit, organic or otherwise, should be either cooked thoroughly, peeled, or thoroughly washed before consumption. The Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org) provides reasonable guidelines for food choices.
Use filtered water. Reverse osmosis (RO) water filter systems are the most effective for removing toxins from tap water. RO filter systems can be purchased from any home improvement store and easily installed within a couple of hours. The small investment is worth the peace of mind. If RO is not possible or available, use filtered bottled water.
Clean outdoor air is a matter of selecting a location known for clean air and supporting clean air legislation. If you live in an area where clean air is not guaranteed, be mindful of smog alerts and times of day when it is not a good idea to spend time outdoors. Also, get out of the city as frequently as possible, and enjoy clean air.
Read labels on skin care products. Seek out products derived from natural sources. Deodorant products not containing aluminum are preferred. Creams, lotions, and other topically applied substances are often overlooked as sources of toxins and allergens. The Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org) regularly posts lists of safe skin care products.
Go natural for hair and nails. Most hairdressers use toxic chemicals for hair treatments. Manicure and pedicure treatments are also very toxic and best avoided during your recovery.
Quit smoking. Use of tobacco products should be discontinued permanently; your recovery absolutely depends on it. It is impossible to smoke tobacco products and recover from chronic illness. Electronic cigarettes may be better, but they still contain toxins. Get help if you need it (acupuncture, hypnosis), but you must stop!
Curb alcohol. Alcohol is a toxin and should be avoided while recovering from any sort of chronic disease. Your body just can’t handle any toxins right now. If you drink regularly, wean off slowly.
Use prescription drugs carefully. Most prescription drugs are therapeutically dosed toxins. They can be useful and important, but at the same time, drug toxicity must be respected. Most synthetic pharmaceuticals have direct toxic effects on tissues and contribute to a decline in liver function. If prescription drug therapy is indicated, use the lowest dose possible to achieve the desired result. As your health improves, drug therapy can often be reduced or discontinued. Always talk to your healthcare provider about changing doses or stopping a drug.
Heavy Metal Concerns
Historically, heavy metals have not been present on the surface of the planet to any significant degree, but manufacturing and burning coal for energy have ensured exposure of heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium) to virtually every living organism on earth. Mercury in large fish actually comes from mercury released into the atmosphere from burning coal and then concentrated up the food chain. Tobacco is a notorious source of heavy metals, especially cadmium.
What to do about heavy metals is hotly debated. While studies in healthy individuals show that mercury intake from environmental sources does not exceed the natural ability of the body to rid itself of heavy metals, this may be less true in individuals with chronic illness where detoxification is impaired. While this often inspires people to go through elaborate detoxification protocols to rid themselves of heavy metals, these types of practices may pose more harm than benefit.
The most logical solution is reducing intake and supporting the natural ability of the body to get rid of heavy metals. Even when detoxification is impaired, the body will still slowly and gradually purge heavy metals, as long as less metal is coming in than going out. Eating organic, avoiding tobacco, breathing clean air, being mindful of occupational exposure, and avoiding large deep sea fish will reduce the heavy metal burden. Glutathione is excellent for pulling heavy metals out of tissues. A FIR sauna and regular exercise expedite the process. Because heavy metal toxins accumulate in fatty tissue, staying thin is not a bad idea.
Many people are concerned about amalgam fillings. Amalgam consists of an alloy of silver, copper, tin, and zinc combined with mercury. The FDA has concluded that mercury present in amalgam fillings does not pose any harm. Studies have shown that mercury absorbed from amalgam fillings is under the tolerable limits of 30 micrograms per day established by the World Health Organization.
Autopsy specimens, however, show mercury levels 2-12 times higher in individuals with amalgam fillings. The mercury is found concentrated in brains and kidneys. High levels were also found in pituitary and thyroid glands.
Whether to replace amalgam fillings is a challenging question to answer. The process is difficult and potentially hazardous. Most dentists will tell you that polymers used to replace amalgam just aren’t very good. They don’t hold up very well. There is also building evidence that the polymers are toxic to cells and cause a higher incidence of allergic reactions than amalgam.
A conservative approach is reasonable. If you have amalgam fillings, reduce other potential sources of mercury, and take supplements to enhance detoxification. If your health is not rebounding completely, you may have to make the very difficult decision to have amalgams replaced, but do everything else possible to restore your health first. Many people have amalgam fillings without having any health problems.
Detox Your Home and Workplace
Most people spend more time indoors than outdoors, and indoor air quality is easy to maintain. Change AC filters regularly. Write a date on the filter, so you know when it was placed. Self-contained, free-standing HEPA air filters for individual rooms, especially the bedroom, are very effective for cleaning indoor air.
Replace indoor cleaning products with natural cleaners, such as white vinegar and ammonia. Avoid using sprayed pesticides for crawling pests; use traps and solid baits instead.
If you have carpet, invest in a first-class vacuum cleaner. Also have carpets professionally cleaned regularly. Even better, have carpets replaced with wood or cork floors.
Have upholstered furniture cleaned regularly.
Declutter your home. Clutter collects dust and mold.
Get houseplants. Plants clean the air and add a pleasant feel to a home. Do not overwater plants, and make sure pots are not a source of mold.
Wash your bedsheets regularly. Unclean sheets harbor dust and mites.
Musty indoor odor signals a mold problem. (See Chapter 27, Mold and Mycotoxins, for advice.)
Be wary of exposing skin to toxic chemicals. If you must use toxic chemicals, wear gloves and a mask with a chemical filter. Replace toxic cleaners with safer natural alternatives.
For years, the government required flame retardants to be applied on all upholstered furniture. It turns out that the chemicals were extremely toxic and did not prevent fires. They are no longer required, but many upholstering cloth manufacturers still use them. You probably have furniture in your home that contains toxic fire retardants. If you buy new furniture or have furniture reupholstered, make sure the cloth does not contain fire retardants.
Protection from Artificial Radiation
In the modern world, we are constantly exposed to artificial electromagnetic radiation in the form of radio waves, microwaves, and radiation from electrical devices, such as computers and cell phones. Eliminating exposure is impractical, but reducing exposure and gaining protection from this type of radiation is not only possible, but smart.
Create distance. If you can, avoid living near cell phone towers, radio towers, or large electric power grids. Distance is the only way to limit this type of exposure.
Protect your vitals. Laptops put out copious radiation. If you have ever experienced the “toasted legs” feeling that occurs while using a laptop, you know what I mean. Fortunately, there are shields available, that when placed under the laptop, block some of the radiation. There are various different shields on the market.
Desktops are a little easier. The processor can be located far enough away from your body so as not to be a problem. This is advisable, both at home and work. A shield can also be placed between you and the processor.
Take breaks. If your livelihood has you strapped to a computer, try to break up the time you spend staring at a screen. Beyond the radiation, you get from the computer, staring at a screen for long hours disrupts hormone balance and suppresses immune function. For every 1-2 hours you spend on the computer, try to spend 15-30 minutes doing something else that does not involve staring at a screen, preferably something active.
Be smart about your phone. Cell phones are smaller, but are used often and are kept near or on the body continually. Shields can now also be purchased for cell phones. Other ways to limit radiation exposure include the following:
Supplement for safety. Radiation causes damage that is very similar to that of free radicals. Antioxidant supplements can offer protection. Certain natural supplements have been defined by studies to offer protection from different types of radiation. Not surprisingly, many of the recommended herbs offer protection against damage from radiation.
Review your radon risk. If you live in a high-risk area for radon gas, have the crawlspace of the home checked. Testing kits can be ordered over the Internet. A simple Internet search for “radon gas high-risk areas” will tell you if there is need for concern.
Sun protection. The sun is a potent force; spending a day in bright sunshine, even with sunscreen and protective clothing, can be quite debilitating. Clothing offers the best protection. Protection can also be gained from eating certain vegetables. Chemical compounds called carotenoids, found in yellow-orange vegetables, build up in the skin and retina of the eyes and counteract the damaging effects of sun exposure. Two carrots a day is a good practice. Lutein/zeaxanthin supplements offer additional protection.
Though using sunscreen is a good idea, many sunscreens contain chemical compounds that can become carcinogenic when exposed to UV light. The Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org) regularly posts lists of sunscreens that are free of potentially harmful chemical compounds.
Sunscreens also block vitamin D synthesis. Limited exposure (20-30 minutes several days a week) without protection is not harmful and is enough to generate daily requirements of Vitamin D. Even with sun exposure, having your vitamin D levels checked and supplementing as indicated make sense.
All the little things add up. Living in a clean environment is not only better for you, it is a gift to the rest of the world.