Guide To A Successful Detox Program
Chapter 1: Why Detox #
There is a clear link to toxicity and disease
Chapter 2: Who Can Cleanse
It might be better asked who shouldn’t cleanse
Chapter 3: What to Expect
Channels of the body which you will eliminate toxins
Chapter 4: How Long A Program
You are continually detoxing where you know it or not.
Chapter 5: Detox Diet
What you eat is no big deal or is it?
Chapter 6: No Nos
This is what we say to our children when they begin to walk or crawl.
Chapter 1: Why Detox
What’s the big deal?
#There is a clear link to toxicity and disease, the same way that poor nutrition is linked to disease
A toxin is a poisonous substance produced by living cells or organisms.
Toxins are nearly always proteins that are capable of causing disease on contact or absorption with body tissues by interacting with biological macromolecules such as enzymes or cellular receptors. A toxic substance exerts its toxicity through interaction (covalent bonding or oxidation) with a cellular macromolecule, such as a protein or DNA. This causes changes in the normal cellular biochemistry.
Toxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemical, physical or biological agents on living organisms and the ecosystem. The term "toxin" is often applied to any toxic substance. Toxic substances not of biological origin are termed poisons.
IDENIFICATION TOXIN TYPES
Hemotoxins vary greatly in their severity, ranging from usually minor and acute (as in a bee sting) to almost immediately deadly (as in botulinum toxin).They target and destroy red blood cells, and are transmitted through the bloodstream. They disrupt blood clotting and/or cause organ degeneration and generalized tissue damage. An injury due to a hemotoxic agent is often very painful, and often causing permanent damage, such as loss of an affected limb, even with prompt treatment. Organisms that possess hemotoxins include: Rattlesnakes
Necrotoxins cause necrosis (death) in the cells they encounter and destroy all types of tissue. They spread through the bloodstream, but infect tissues. In humans, skin and muscle tissues are most sensitive to necrotoxins. Organisms that possess necrotoxins include: Brown Recluse, Flesh eating bacteria.
Neurotoxins primarily affect the nervous systems of animals. A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells – neurons – usually by interacting with membrane proteins such as ion channels. Many of the venoms and other toxins that organisms use in defense are neurotoxins. A common effect is paralysis, which sets in very rapidly. Many neurotoxins act by affecting the voltage-dependent ion channels. For example, sodium, potassium, calcium channels. Organisms that possess neurotoxins include: Black Widow Spiders, Scorpions, Jellyfish.
Toxins ingested from the environment (exogenous) include gases (such as carbonmonoxide), metals (such as mercury),liquids (ethanol). Ethanol (alcohol) is inebriating in low doses, only producing mild neurotoxicity. Prolonged exposure to"safe" alcohol levels slowly weakens and kills neurons.
Neurotoxicity also occurs from substances produced within the body (endogenous) neurotoxins.
A prime example of a neurotoxin in the brain is glutamate, which is paradoxically also a primary neurotransmitter. When the glutamate concentration around a neuron reaches a critical point the neuron
kills itself. This whole process is called excitotoxicity, so named because glutamate normally acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter at lower levels. (MSG is an example)
Apitoxin is a bitter colorless liquid. The active portion of the venom is a complex mixture of proteins which causes local inflammation and acts as an anticoagulant. Example: honey bee venom.
An Exotoxin is a soluble protein excreted by a microorganism, including bacteria, fungi, algae, and protozoa. An exotoxin can cause damage to the host by destroying cells or disrupting normal cellular metabolism. Both gram negative and gram positive bacteria produce exotoxins. They are highly potent and can cause major damage to the host. Exotoxins may be secreted, or, similar to endotoxins, may be released during lysis of the cell. Most exotoxins can be destroyed by heating. They may exert their effect locally or produce systemic effects. Well known exotoxins include the botulinum toxin, and the exotoxin which is produced during life threatening symptoms of diphtheria.
Mycotoxin is a toxin produced by an organism of the fungus kingdom, which includes mushrooms, molds and yeasts. Most fungi are aerobic (use oxygen). Fungi are found almost everywhere in extremely small quantities because of their spores, and are most commonly microscopically small. Mycotoxins can appear in the food chain as a result of fungal infection of crops. If an infected crop is not eaten by humans, the mycotoxin may still be dangerous to human health, because the crop may be given as animal feed to farm animals. Mycotoxins greatly resist decomposition or being broken down in digestion, so they remain in the food chain in meat and dairy products. Even temperature treatments, such as cooking and freezing, do not destroy mycotoxins.
In the feed and food industry it had become common practice to add mycotoxin binding agents such as Montmorillonite or bentonite clay. Since not all mycotoxins can be bound to such agents, the latest approach to mycotoxin control is deactivation. By means of enzymes, yeast, or bacterial strains. They are detoxified to non-toxic metabolites.
Phototoxins are toxins that can cause allergic reactions in particularly susceptible individuals and which can cause dangerous photosensitivity. Phototoxins are common in: a variety of plants, many citruses contain essential oils that are photosensitisers, some herbal remedies such as St John's wort, some prescribed medications such as tetracycline, and many essential oils, perfumes and cosmetics. Ironically, PABA found in some sunscreens can also cause photosensitivity
A toxoid is a bacterial toxin whose toxicity has been weakened or suppressed either by chemical (formalin) or heat treatment, while the immuno properties are maintained. Toxoids are used in vaccines as they induce an immune response to the original toxin or increase the response to another antigen.
Robert Hatherill, a researcher at the University of California, Santa Barbara, wrote in an editorial for the Chicago Tribune claiming, "A rapidly expanding body of research shows that heavy metals such as lead and pesticides decrease mental ability and increase aggressiveness."
The EPA banned the use of pesticides in the US that can damage the brain and nervous system. Young children are especially susceptible. But we still import food from countries, which use them.
With more than 70,000 chemicals in used in the United States and 2,000 new compounds being introduced every year, according to government figures, the average American is exposed to a cocktail of chemicals from various sources.
Charlotte Brody For 20 years ate organic produce and followed all the usual recommendations to reduce chemical exposure, from using non-toxic household cleaning detergents to avoiding pesticides in her home and garden. Brody used to think her efforts helped limit her exposure, but after volunteering to take part in a study measuring toxic chemicals in her body, she was shocked to find that she still had some 85 toxic chemicals in her blood and urine “I’m proof that a healthy lifestyle doesn’t shield you,” says Brody. Brody and eight other volunteers were tested for the presence of 210 chemicals, commonly found in consumer products and industrial. A total of average 167 chemicals found across the entire group.
Children can have twice the levels of certain pesticides in their blood as adults. A recent study that found feeding children organic food reduced their exposures to pesticides by 6 to 9 times and another study that found cutting consumption of fish decreased blood levels of mercury, a potent neurotoxin.
Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York examined the efforts of toxic exposure and found that an average of 91 industrial compounds, pollutants and toxic chemicals were found in the blood and urine of every person tested. Another disturbing fact is that these toxins can remain in the body for years, even decades.
Toxins created within:
Twenty two poisons have been identified from a toxic colon. The colon is a sewage system, but by neglect and abuse it becomes a cesspool, breeding disease, poisoning the whole body, causing premature aging, and death.
Toxins - block, destroy, damage cells, DNA, cause inflammation, weakens & destroys nerves & tissues causes sensitivities. Can effect every part of the body.
Conclude: Toxins are everywhere. Within and without. Every where – Doom!
We were built to detox naturally through the 7 Channels Of Elimination. Bowel, Blood, Skin, Kidneys, Lymphatics, Lungs, Liver. The problem is that there is an imbalance between what we ingest and what we eliminate.
Herbs are nature’s medicine! There are herbs to help in the release of toxins in every organ.
In the world we live in we need to detox and to do it often. It is recommended to do a system detox with each season.
Chapter 2: Who Can Cleanse
It might be better asked who shouldn’t cleanse
Any one who has had an operation that caused a restructure or has eliminated the use of any organ should consult a health professional to have your condition analyzed.
What age can you start to cleanse? My suggestion is not until age twelve without a doctor monoriting and not longer than 2 weeks. Until age 16 use ½ of the adult dose. 16 and older can use adult dose. Until around age 12 a child’s liver is under developed and not working at full capacity. That is why it is most important to use organic foods and natural substances on the skin of a child, make sure they drink water and are active. They cannot detox as well and will have a greater chance of toxins getting trapped in the body and thus interfere with development and function of body organs such as the brain.
Everybody needs to cleanse but unfortunately not everybody can or in the same way.
Chapter 3: What to Expect
Channels of the body in which you will eliminate toxins
If this is your first cleanse you are probably thinking that you will have to stay close to the bathroom. NOT TRUE IF YOU FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS! But I would carry around some breath mints.
So far it has been revealed that there are many different kinds of toxins (poisons) even ones we produce naturally within.
We have a marvelous body that is equipped with a system that can get rid of toxins on contact if need be. Look at pharmaceutical drugs. The side effects are really the body trying to get rid of the poison before it kills us. Some of the common symptoms of drug detox would be headache, diarrhea, tiredness, rashes. And it depends on the drug the dose and frequency how the body will take it and either store it or eliminate it. The same is with any toxin poison that we come in contact with.
Many times colds are nothing more than our cup of toxicity has reached its fullness and now the body needs to get rid of it.
Channels of the body which you will eliminate toxins will include: lungs, lymph, liver, kidneys, bowel, skin, & blood.
Lets look at each organ and the symptoms that you might notice.
Lungs: coughing, bad breath
Lymph: swelling in lymph nodes (tonsils, neck, under arms, groin), tiredness, runny nose
Liver: tiredness, poor elimination, or more frequent elimination (the liver breaks toxins down and moves them to the bowel to be eliminated
Kidneys: frequent voiding of urine, cloudy and foul smelling urine
Bowel: more frequent softer bowel movements, strong odor, mucus, parasites (if large enough to see), gas, mild cramping.
Skin: mild break outs, mild rash
Blood: tiredness (the blood acutaly moves the toxins to elimination sites)
You always want to ease into a cleanse. If you don’t your body will open every door at once and you will be sick!
Not everyone will experience all of these symptoms. You may experience on or two at first, then as the body finds these storage spots it may use a different area to eliminate. For instance with my experience I am usually a little more tired the first 2 days into a cleanse so I try to start it on a week end or a time when I have more time for rest. During the first week I will have more bowel movements but I watch to see if I will start to have unformed stools. This is your first sign that if you continue you will probably get diarrhea which you do not want to get. The evening dose has more stool softening agent in it so I will reduce the dose or eliminate it to every other day. The object is to achieve 2-3 good bowel movements a day. In the second week I may have other 1 day symptoms such as a runny nose or slight congestion in the lungs.
Reducing Detox Symptoms
1. Increase your water consumption. This is so important because water dilutes toxins and you will probably eliminate them through the kidneys instead of the skin or other areas the will give you more uncomfortable symptoms. Take your body weight and divide it in half and that is how many ounces of water you need a day. (200lb = 100oz water). If you don’t drink water you will suffer.
Water should never be plain tap water always filtered. Distilled, filtered or even better alkaline water to cut the acid effects of the toxins.
2. Fiber consumption should be 35-40 grams a day. Try to stay away from psyllium unless you are prone to diarrhea. Psyllium even though it is a good fiber can be to drying to the colon and we are trying to hydrate and dilute fecal matter and at the same time absorb. Better choices would be flax fiber, acacia fiber, or oat fiber.
Fiber does two things it absorbs or bines to toxins, and it acts as a broom in the colon to sweep and clean the walls. There are some fibers such a inulin which the good bacteria in your intestinal track feed on. Toxins can’t reabsorb back into the blood stream especially if you have leaky gut syndrome.
3. Essential fatty acids such as fish and flax oil. Toxins will find their way into all kinds of cracks and creveses of the body. Fatty acids keeps things soft and pliable such as the bowel wall, joints, skin, brain, hormones, has an anti inflammatory and soothing effect.
4. Exercise can be mild but some form of exercise to clear out poisons in the lungs is very important. Without good lung action acids can keep you acidic which keep you in a disease process.
Chapter 4: How Long A Program
You are continually detoxing where you know it or not.
A good detox program should be between 14 and 28 days four times a year. To long and it will drain the system and to short will not get the job done. For some people who are weak from Chemotherapy treatments or has a chronic disease shorter durations more often can be helpful especially if the person is weak. The break helps to build the energy that they need so they can cleanse. I would also caution someone with very weak adrenals to wait until adrenal function can be improved so energy can be created. It takes a lot of energy to break down toxins and move them out. Children 12-16 of age should only be on a two week program also.
You are continually detoxing where you know it or not. If you are working normally your kidneys are always voiding, liver is always breaking down things and building up things, bowel is moving.
I suggest to not continually do a strong detox because it will zap your energy. The body is naturally detoxing and rebuilding. If the body is putting all it’s energy into deep cleaning it will not have time or energy to repair and rebuild new cells at the rate that it needs to. Instead assist the body by proper rest, proper food, & exercise.
If your energy is good after your initial cleanse you can go on to another cleanse such as your liver or target other areas such as kidneys, pathogens, or metals.
You can use a liver support if needed to support the liver to keep detoxing. Especially with a sluggish thyroid your liver and bowel will be sluggish thus toxic build up will happen sooner.
After a cleanse be sure to follow up with 1 month of a good probiotic 30-50 billion. If you are prone to poor health or work in an unhealthy environment or during the winter continue with a good probiotic of at lease 15 billion.
Chapter 5: Detox Diet
What you eat is no big deal or is it?
For some of you eating is no big deal on a cleanse for others it is like being on another planet.
If you have been on a proper diet you will probably change nothing. So what I am going to tell you is simple to say and maybe hard to execute.
Lots of water ½ of your body weight in ounces (200lb = 100oz water). That’s simple right? For some people water is a foreign substance. The majority of your body is water. Your body uses over 20 gallons of water a day but fortunately it can recycle it. But you need to replace what is being lost. So drink, drink, drink.