Guidelines for Detoxification

The Impact of Toxins on Our Health

We live in a toxic world where harmful substances affect our bodies through the air, ground, water, and food supply. If our environment is sick and toxic, so are we.

The Body’s Natural Detoxification Process

Our body is designed to break down and eliminate toxins. If it fails to do so, these toxins are stored in our bones, brain, and fatty tissues. The body disposes of unneeded toxins through:

• Perspiration
• Respiratory system
• Liver
• Colon
• Lymphatic system
• Urinary system

When these systems become overloaded over time, additional support may be needed in the form of fasting or detoxification.

The 4 R’s of Detoxification

1. Remove – Eliminate toxins from the body.
2. Replace – Support detoxification with essential nutrients.
3. Reinoculate – Restore beneficial gut bacteria.
4. Repair – Heal and strengthen the body’s natural defenses.

Fasting and Its Role in Detoxification

Fasting allows the body time to heal and catch up on waste and toxin removal. By resting the digestive system and consuming only juices, the liver, blood, and lymphatic system can focus on eliminating toxins more effectively.

The Dangers of Toxin Accumulation

A buildup of toxins can lead to serious health issues, including:

• Neurological conditions (psychosis, memory loss, Parkinson’s disease)
• Mental health disorders (depression, anxiety, mental illness)
• Autoimmune diseases
• Hormone-sensitive cancers (breast and prostate cancer)

Many individuals with neurological conditions are found to have high levels of pesticides in the brain. The liver’s inability to break down these toxins forces the body to store them in the brain’s fatty tissues. This can lead to forgetfulness, fatigue, and mental fog.

Toxins and Fat Storage

When the body is overwhelmed by toxins, they accumulate in fatty tissues, including:

• Adipose tissue (belly fat)
• Brain
• Breasts
• Prostate gland

Belly fat, in particular, becomes a major storage site for toxins, making them difficult to eliminate.

Free Radicals and Cellular Damage

Although cells are surrounded by a protective fatty membrane, excessive free radicals can infiltrate these membranes, damaging:

• Mitochondria
• Cell nucleus

Antioxidants help protect cells from free radical damage and prevent cellular mutations.

Signs of Toxic Overload

Symptoms of excessive toxins in the body include:

• Autoimmune diseases (Multiple sclerosis, lupus, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)
• Chronic conditions (fatigue syndrome, headaches, arthritis, diabetes, arteriosclerosis)
• Skin issues (psoriasis, acne)
• Digestive problems (constipation, chronic infections)
• Cardiovascular issues (CAD, angina, hypertension)

Symptoms of Liver Toxicity

If the liver is struggling to detoxify, common symptoms include:

• Irritability
• Dark circles under the eyes
• Itchy skin and eyes
• Body odor
• Altered or bitter taste in the mouth

Environmental and Chemical Toxins

Persistent Agricultural Chemicals

• DDT (banned in 1972) remains in the environment for thousands of years.
• DDT accumulates in animals, especially in fatty tissue, and can be found in dairy products and fish.
• In some countries, 99% of people have DDT in their bodies in some amount.

Second-Hand Smoke

• Contains higher toxic chemical levels than firsthand smoke.
• Includes cadmium, cyanide, lead, arsenic, dioxin, radioactive materials, carbon monoxide, and over 4,000 other toxins.

Airborne Chemical Pollution

• Common airborne toxins include carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde, vinyl chloride, and toluene.
• Carbon monoxide exposure can cause heart disease.

Indoor Pollution

• New buildings release toxins like benzene, styrene, and carbon tetrachloride through outgassing.
• Sick Building Syndrome results from toxin buildup, causing:
  • Headaches, itchy eyes, sore throat, nasal congestion, fatigue, dizziness, memory issues, and skin rashes.
• Airborne mold and yeast spores from air conditioning systems can lead to pneumonia.

Household Pollutants

• Furniture, carpets, and paints release formaldehyde, which causes fatigue, headaches, nausea, allergic reactions, and immune dysfunction.
• Houseplants like ferns, ivy, and spider plants improve air quality by absorbing pollutants.

Pesticide Exposure

• Pesticides are found in foods, diapers, shampoos, air fresheners, and carpets.
• Chlorpyrifos, a pesticide used on golf courses, food crops, and in homes, is linked to male infertility, birth defects, and developmental disorders.

Benzene Toxicity

• Benzene is linked to leukemia and other blood cancers.
• Food scientists suspect benzene can form in soft drinks containing sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid.

Water Contamination

• Aluminum and chlorine in drinking water can react with organic matter to form trihalomethanes, which promote cancer.
• Chlorine fails to remove viruses, parasites, or pharmaceutical residues from water.

Household Cleaners

• Contain solvents harmful to the nervous system, respiratory system, and immune function.

Detoxification and Gut Health

Juicing for Detoxification

• It is recommended to consume juiced fruits and vegetables in the morning and vegetables in the evening.

• Main vegetables to include: Carrots, apples, celery, and tomatoes. These should make up the bulk of the juice and help mask the taste of other ingredients used in smaller amounts.

• Other recommended choices: Greens, sprouts, grapefruit, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, parsley, artichoke, watermelon, cantaloupe, collard greens, cucumber, cilantro, garlic, spinach, radishes, kale, and watercress.

• Green superfoods: Wheatgrass, barley grass, alfalfa, and spirulina.

Note: Some medications should be tapered; however, hormone and thyroid medications can be taken during fasting.

Recommended Supplements for Detoxification

• Vitamin E: 400-800 IU daily.

• CoQ10: At least 100 mg daily with food for energy production.

• Turmeric: Recommended after each meal during detox.

• NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine): Helps increase glutathione levels; recommended 500 mg, 1-2 times daily.

• Glycine: Supports phase two detoxification; recommended 500-1000 mg three times daily between meals.

• Glutamine: Helps those with excessive alcohol consumption; recommended 500-1000 mg, three times daily, 30 minutes before meals.

• Lecithin: Promotes smooth bile flow from the liver; recommended 1000 mg three times daily.

• Potassium citrate: 1000 mg after each meal with water to improve detoxification and alkalize the body.

Liver Support with Beets

• Beets contain betaine, which:

  • Protects the liver from alcohol’s toxic effects.

  • Promotes fat and bile flow from the liver.

• Recommended to be eaten or juiced during detoxification.

The Role of Fiber in Detoxification

• Soluble fiber: Lowers blood sugar, cholesterol, and promotes fullness.

  • Excessive consumption (e.g., beans) can cause bloating and gas due to bacterial overgrowth.

• Insoluble fiber: Helps remove intestinal toxins and prevents harmful bacteria and parasites from attaching to intestinal walls.

• Ground flaxseed:

  • Excellent fiber source containing lignins, which:

    • Relieve hot flashes in menopausal women.

    • Block enzymes responsible for estrogen conversion.

    • Possess antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.

Note: The above guidelines are for informational purposes only. If you have health concerns, consult your physician before starting any medication, exercise, or nutrition program.

Reinoculate the Gut

• Repeated fasting is recommended for maintaining a clean and healthy body.

• Benefits of fasting:

  • Increased energy

  • Reduced fatigue

  • Improved concentration and memory

  • Less water retention

  • Fewer food cravings

Supporting Digestion and Gut Integrity

• Before eating: Relax, sit up straight, practice deep breathing, and de-stress.

• Late-night eating overstresses digestion and contributes to food stagnation.

• Leaky Gut Syndrome:

  • Partially digested food particles, bacteria, toxins, yeasts, heavy metals, and food antigens can enter the bloodstream due to increased intestinal permeability.

  • These substances can reach the liver and cause widespread damage.

Conditions Linked to Leaky Gut:

• Chronic fatigue syndrome

• Fibromyalgia

• Hives

• Psoriasis

• Crohn’s disease

• Ulcerative colitis

• Celiac disease

• Lupus

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Schizophrenia

• Autism

• ADHD

Reintroducing Foods After a Fast

• Gradually introduce foods as the body restarts enzyme and HCL production.

• The longer the fast, the slower food reintroduction should be.

• Minimize over-the-counter medications and explore natural alternatives.

• Be mindful of food sensitivities, which may manifest as:

  • Bloating

  • Skin irritations

  • Fatigue

  • Stomach upset

Note: The above guidelines are for informational purposes only. If you have health concerns, consult your physician before starting any medication, exercise, or nutrition program.

Repairing the Gut with Probiotics

• Probiotics are live microorganisms that support gut health.

• Most Lactobacillus probiotics are transient and may be missing in some populations.

• Best time to take probiotics:

  • Between meals or before meals.

  • Start on the third day of the detox program.

Avoid These for Optimal Detoxification

• Charbroiled foods → Contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which generate free radicals.

• Sugars and refined carbohydrates → Empty calories that promote free radicals.

• Excess alcohol

• Ionizing radiation exposure → Includes radon gas, excessive sun exposure, and X-rays.

• Tobacco smoke and secondhand smoke

• Air pollution → Use HEPA and ULPA filters.

• Toxic household and personal care products → Avoid:

  • Underarm deodorants

  • Antacids

  • Aluminum-containing cookware

• Imbalanced exercise → Both insufficient and excessive exercise hinder detoxification.

• Inadequate sleep → Aim for 7-9 hours per night to prevent stress and weight gain.

• Fungal toxins in the home → Mold and fungi can grow in bathrooms and old buildings.

• Chronic stress → Reducing stress supports overall detoxification.

• Breathing and oxidation → Improve breathing techniques for better oxygenation.

Note: The above guidelines are for informational purposes only. If you have health concerns, consult your physician before starting any medication, exercise, or nutrition program.

How Long Does It Take to Detox the Body?

• The entire body undergoes cellular renewal every 7 years.

• More than half of the accumulated toxins are eliminated in the first 7 days, but deeper detoxification occurs over time:

Detox recipes available at: 

• http://healthyfunction.com/uploads/10-day_recipes.pdf>
• http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=2295675
• http://www.tvshowupdate.com/dr-oz-morning-lunch-dinner-detox-drink-recipes-3-day-detox-list/