In this day and age, it is nearly impossible to live in an urban setting and not be exposed to toxins on some level. In our clinical practice, we are seeing more fatigue, more chemical and food sensitivities, more sickness, more infertility; something is clearly not right. Can this toxic exposure be a contributing factor?
These toxins can come from multiple sources:
- Lifestyle (i.e. caffeine, alcohol, food additives, drugs, and sugar, etc.)
- Environmental (i.e. vehicular and factory exhaust, pesticides, herbicides. Heavy metals, etc.)
- Internal (i.e. bacterial and yeast overgrowth, stress, psychological and/or emotional trauma, etc.)
These toxicants cause damage to different target tissues in our bodies, directly and indirectly disrupting our cellular biochemistry and physiology. Anything from mitochondrial function to liver detoxification pathways can be rendered dysfunctional, thus increasing individual susceptibility to cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, bowel disease, joint disease, immune dysfunction, to name a few. Disease progresses in this toxic and poor environment.
WHY DETOX?
We ingest 30-50 tons of food in our lifetime. CDC has reported that the average American has 116 of 148 synthetic compounds in the body. U.S. EPA biopsy studies of chemicals stored in the fat of human beings show 100% of people studied had dioxins, PCB’s, dichlorobenzene, and xylene. As our world becomes increasingly more toxic, we are faced with a situation where our bodies are not ridding our toxins as quickly and readily.
CAN I TEST FOR TOXINS?
We are exposed to many different chemicals. There is available urine and blood testing for many of these different chemicals.
IS IT SAFE TO DETOX?
Supermarket and pharmacy shelves are now lined with Do-It-Yourself detox and cleanse programs.
Detoxing, though a healthy necessity for all of us being exposed daily to toxins, can cause harm if done improperly. It’s important that organ function, especially of the liver and kidneys, are evaluated and cleared to handle the burden of detoxing. Detoxing increases the demand for certain essential vitamins and nutrients, thus potentially disrupting normal cellular function. It’s important that your body is well and able to handle a detox.
IS IT HARD TO DETOX?
When detoxing, it’s important that your diet and lifestyle also supports this goal.
Foods to be avoided during a detox include:
Red meat. Animal products minimal and organic wherever possible
- Processed and added sugar
- Dairy and added dairy
- Wheat and gluten
- Alcohol and caffeine (green tea OK)
- Food additives, coloring, preservatives
Foods that are helpful in supporting the liver’s detox function:
- Beets and artichokes
- Garlic and onions
- Leeks
- Shallots
- Mustard greens, collard, kale, chard
- Sea Vegetables
LOOKING TO DETOX?
DOWNLOAD THIS DETOXIFICATION QUESTIONNAIRE.
DR. NGUYEN CAN PROPERLY EVALUATE YOU AND PUT YOU ON A PERSONALIZED DETOX PROGRAM. CALL THE OFFICE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY!!
