It is estimated that, no matter where you live, the average
person has over 250 chemicals in their tissues. It is a reality of our time
that our environment, the food we eat and the number of medications we take all
affect our bodies functioning.
Most of the time, the body is a very
tightly regulated machine that is programmed to sort through what we put into
it– keeping what is beneficial (like nutrients from our food) and getting rid
of what isn’t (like metabolites from alcohol and medications). There are many
ways the body naturally detoxifies including through the liver, kidneys, lungs
and skin. Like any machine, however, the body is subject to wear and tear and
requires a “tune up” every now and then. If you consider the growing amount of
toxins we are exposed to including environmental toxins (such as car exhaust,
pesticides, industrial pollutants), food (sugar, deli-meats, certain fish), alcohol,
and plastics (to name a few) our detoxification mechanisms are inevitably going
to be taxed. Our bodies start to get less efficient and eventually toxins start
to build up, leading to a variety of symptoms.
A number of patients walk through our doors
with what we call “toxicity
diseases” such as allergies, unexplained fatigue, skin disorders, thyroid
problems, infertility, auto-immune disease and arthritis (to name a few). We
must view these symptoms as warning lights on the dashboard and recognize that
these are symptoms of our body’s attempt to deal with toxic overload. It is not
to say that these conditions are always attributed to toxicity, but when we
consider the role our environment plays in our health we quickly see how it is
always related. You are what you eat, drink, wear, and breathe.
Even as a naturopathic doctor I am
overwhelmed with the many detox/cleanse kits on the market. It is important to
ask your ND which one is best for you, as they are not all created equal. Many
of the over the counter kits also contain upwards of 20 or more ingredients
that may or may not interact with medications and supplements you are taking. Some
focus on improving digestion, others focus on liver health, others might be
marketed as a “candida cleanse” for those prone to yeast overgrowth. As a
general rule of thumb, it is best to do a detox under the supervision of your
licensed naturopathic doctor to be sure your goals are being met safely.
For my patients, I tell them that the main
features of a detoxification program should include:
§ Reducing toxin exposure through dietary and
lifestyle changes
§ Improving digestion
§ Increasing the efficiency of toxin removal
§ Supporting the body with therapies like
botanical medicine, homeopathics and infrared sauna sessions and always,
§ Stress management
They should not be
geared towards rapid weight loss (by excessively restricting calories) or
contain primarily laxatives as this stresses the body and is too aggressive.
You should not feel overly weak or worse than before you started. While many
people do experience a shift in their energy or a change in their symptoms, the
point is not to deplete yourself, it should be to support and nourish yourself.
For those who are pregnant or breast-feeding, have an auto-immune condition
such as multiple sclerosis or are elderly, a detox is most likely not safe and
best to avoid. There are other naturopathic treatments that are better suited
for you.
If you would like to
do a detoxification program, now is an ideal time, as the change of season is
often a time when we tend to get sick or when our symptoms get worse. What do
you have to lose (except some toxins!)?
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