Detox
“Detox” is definitely one of those touchy words with ‘varied’ definitions. We do not have one detox diet or detox regimen that we recommend to people as we take an individual approach for each person. We live in a world where humans are exposed to toxins more than ever before in human history. No matter how “clean” you live your life, just about everybody shows some evidence of a buildup of toxins. When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted the Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, they found some pretty shocking results. On average, the CDC’s report found 212 chemicals in people’s blood or urine, 75 of which had never before been measured in the U.S. population. Just to name a few, the chemicals included:
- Acrylamide (formed when foods are baked or fried at high temperatures, and as a byproduct of cigarette smoke)
- Arsenic, found in many home-building products
- Environmental phenols, including bisphenol A (found in plastics, food packaging and epoxy resins) and triclosan (used as an antibacterial agent in personal care products such as toothpaste and hand soap)
- Perchlorate, used in airplane fuel, explosives and fireworks
- Perfluorinated chemicals, used to create non-stick cookware
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, used in fire retardants found in consumer products such as mattresses
- Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), found in paints, air fresheners, cleaning products, cosmetics, upholstery fabrics, carpets, dry-cleaned clothing, wood preservatives, and paint strippers
These are likely coming from any combo of the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breath, and the products we allow to touch our skin and hair.
When you put all these things from this resource together, these chemicals can potentially present a toxic burden to the human body, and (as the CDC has found) can accumulate in your body’s blood, urine and tissue. While your body does actually have detoxification organs like your liver, kidneys, gut and skin, among others, that can process many of these chemicals and toxins, they can potentially cause medical problems if your organs are not functioning optimally or are overburdened with a poor lifestyle or diet.
Many medical conditions and diseases are associated (and likely caused by) these toxins. One of many great resources showing this is Dr. Joe Pizzorno. His recent book, The Toxin Solution, presents a harrowing picture yet offers good clinical guidance on how to manage the onslaught. Consider the following:
- 94% of Americans are exposed to enough polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to double their lifetime risk of asthma.
- 60% of US women carry loads of PCB187 sufficient to double their risk of breast cancer.
- 33% of Americans have lead levels high enough to double the risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
- 25% are exposed to enough aluminum to double Alzheimer’s risk.
Check out one of many great talks by him at this link: https://vimeo.com/
Again, these toxins can be objectively measured in the body as they are measurable physical compounds such as: plastics, phytoestrogens, metals, pharmaceuticals, herbicides, pesticides, etc. They are pervasive in our environment and depending on what toxins are identified, a different ‘detox’ protocol will be suggested. These suggestions may include any one or a combo of the following:
- Dietary suggestions
- Chelation
- Herbs
- Micronutrients
- IV nutrition
- Pulsed electromagnetic field
- Energy work
- Emotional & mental guidance
- Lifestyle guidance
