Reducing Toxic Stress

By Heather Granato

As fall approaches, we need to make sure we are ready to ward off those winter pounds that seem to sneak onto our bodies. Now is not only the ideal time to reconsider your health and diet, but also consider how to look and feel better by taking care of your internal self.

It's not just your perception that hibernation can fatten you up--the average American gains seven to 10 pounds during the winter season. For years in many native cultures, springtime was the time to clean the body of toxins accumulated over the winter. However, in modern society, pollution, stress, fast food and more lead to a cumulative load of toxicity that can be hard on the body, and any time of the year is a great time to rid yourself of toxins.

While the body is equipped to handle a great deal of toxic stress, it doesn't take much to throw off that machinery. A few extra sodas instead of water, skipping the daily workout or eating salty snacks can have a detrimental effect. The skin may get rough or oily, even show blemishes. Weight gain occurs, and the bowels misfunction (they're trying to hold onto what little water there is in the body, without fiber to cleanse them out).

Over time, a high toxic load in the body can manifest itself with more serious physiological symptoms. Physician Cass Ingram, D.O., said some of these symptoms include dark circles or bags under the eyes, intolerance to sugars, chemical sensitivities, chronic indigestion or constipation and persistent fatigue.

If you're seeing such symptoms, or even if you'd like to get preventive to avoid trouble down the road, this is the time to get on track. The first step is working with a qualified health professional to evaluate your eating habits and lifestyle choices. Start with the simple things. Omit items such as alcohol, food additives, cigarettes and anti-inflammatory pain relief drugs, which are extremely damaging to liver function, to allow the liver to degenerate already stored toxins without adding stress to the diet.

Then start improving your basic nutrition. Hippocrates said: "Let food be your medicine. Let your medicine be your food."

Step No. 1: drink more water. Eight to 10 8-oz. glasses each day is the bottom line. The more water you drink, the less time you have to drink caffeinated sodas or coffee. Water flushes toxins through the system, assists in digestion and gives the skin a healthy glow.

Step No. 2: eat whole foods and more fruits and vegetables. Not only are they powerhouses of nutrition (the original "functional foods"), but if you're eating apples and carrots in the afternoon, you likely won't have the room for toxic junk food. Eating lower on the food chain also reduces digestive load. It takes much longer for the body to digest a steak or fried chicken than an apple.

If you are interested in minimizing agrotoxins in your diet consider organically-grown and produced foods. Organic refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. In organic agriculture, farmers use minimal off-farm inputs (such as pesticides) and help to build soil fertility and diverse agriculture. Organic foods are minimally processed without artificial ingredients, preservatives or irradiation to maintain the integrity of crop production standards.

One misconception is that organic food is pesticide free. That isn't the case. Certified organic products are grown and handled without toxic chemical inputs; however, they still are exposed to the chemicals detected in rain, wind and soil due to overuse in the last 50 years. But no additional toxic chemicals is a bonus.

Once you've discussed your diet and exercise plan with your health-care provider, consider talking about nutrients and herbs that can support your detoxification efforts without adding their own burden. Some of the most popular additions include:

Antioxidants: Antioxidants are powerful compounds for those looking to lower their toxic load. They have been shown in studies to stop free radicals in their tracks. Free radicals are unstable molecules, often formed by toxic overload that are missing an electron. They steal one from another cell, damaging it and starting a chain reaction. Antioxidants "quench" the free radical by donating an electron without becoming damaged themselves. Some of the most well known antioxidants include vitamins A, C and E, selenium, grape seed extract and pine bark extract.

Dandelion: Despite human endeavors, the hearty "weed" continues as a harbinger of spring in most lawns. For ancient people who ate whatever came up seasonally, the dandelion was likely a fantastic thing to find while foraging after months of eating bark and berries. Not surprisingly, Mother Nature knew what she was doing.

Dandelion is rich in bitters, vitamin C, potassium and enzymatic substances that stimulate the liver and kidneys. It stimulates bile production, which has a laxative effect on the gastrointestinal tract, and stimulates kidney action through its diuretic action. Dandelion should be used with caution, as it may cause overproduction of stomach acid and increase the risk of gallstones. The herb can be taken in dried form as tea, capsule or tincture, or simply enjoyed in a mixed green salad.

Milk Thistle: Another lovely lawn flower, milk thistle is one of the best known liver protectant and healing herbs. It contains the antioxidant component silymarin, which supports normal liver function and inhibit factors responsible for liver damage. As an antioxidant, it helps to inhibit the free radicals that add to liver damage.

Studies have shown that silymarin increase liver cell protein synthesis and may inhibit lipid peroxidation. It is theorized that silymarin may alter the membrane structure of cells, blocking the absorption of toxins into the cells. It is best taken as a standardized extract, either in liquid or capsule form.

Garlic: An important part of any Italian meal, garlic is well-known medicinally for its ability to lower cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. Its sulfur-containing compounds stimulate the release of bile and decrease the liver's production of cholesterol.

Garlic helps to detoxify the body through its antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial properties. It also is a good source of antioxidants such as selenium and vitamin C. Garlic can be taken fresh (raw or lightly cooked)--those healthful sulfur compounds also are the ones responsible for its potent aroma--or as a supplement as encapsulated oil or dried powder.

Green Foods: Your mother always said to eat your greens. Green foods, or "super foods," can provide an array of vitamins and minerals needed to sustain the healthy diet your mother always wanted for you. Sectioned in two categories--microalgae and cereal grasses--these whole foods provide vitamins A, B-complex, C and E, plus the minerals calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, sodium, phosphorous, zinc, manganese, copper and chromium.

Studies have shown that green foods, such as barley grass, have the ability to block toxic effects of pesticides in the body. And chlorophyll (the "green" in green foods) has been shown to help build blood levels and detoxify organs; researchers postulate this is due to its cell structure, which is identical to that of hemoglobin, but is centered on magnesium instead of iron.

Enhancing Health

Obviously, the purpose of a detoxification program is long-term health enhancement. While many types of cleansing programs are available, some may be too harsh for long-term use, and most carry warning labels about not using for an extended period of time.

"If people are concerned about their bodies, they should detoxify and cleanse under medical attention," says Dr. Stephen Holt, M.D. "Those who want to do it themselves should be cautious of the ups and downs and do it in a safe manner."

For example, therapeutic fasting (abstinence from all food and drink except water) has been used for many years as a detoxification method. However, the American Dietetic Association noted that fasting deprives the body of nutrients, resulting in low energy, weakness and lightheadedness--not sustained weight loss. And when carbohydrates are not available for energy, ketones can build up and stress the kidneys.

Another category of detoxification products to use with caution is that of detox/diet teas. While these can be positive used within a healthful detox program, directions must be followed; ideally, use these products under supervision of a health-care provider. Teas that contain large amounts of diuretic herbs, for example, can tax the kidneys and result in dehydration, electrolyte shock, stroke and death.

Overall, detoxification is a way of caring for the body by treating it well and helping it run optimally. Rather than focusing on weight loss, focus on healing. Eating whole foods, exercising regularly, and using dietary supplements responsibly for nutritional support form a strong foundation for long-term health.

Heather Granato is the editor for the Natural Products Division of Virgo Publishing. She has been involved in the natural products industry for more than eight years.

Detox Machinery

At the beginning of the body's detoxification chain is the digestive system. Through the stomach, the intestinal tract, the colon and bowels, the body works to break down food, extracting nutrition and sending toxins through its outside cleansing organs.

Approximately 25 percent of detoxification is accomplished in the intestinal tract. Constant constipation, indigestion or slow elimination can all be symptoms that the digestive system is backing up, adding stress to your other organs and adding weight to the body.

Once food is broken down, toxins are sent to the liver, which removes the remaining 75 percent of toxins from the body. "The liver breaks down toxins and puts them where they should go," said Monika Klein, a clinical nutritionist. "They travel back into the bloodstream or are eliminated through the bowel, kidney, bladder or skin."

The liver also regulates the supply of blood fuel (fats, carbohydrates and proteins), produces bile for the digestive system and regulates hormone balance and cholesterol.

When the liver is overwhelmed with toxins over a long period of time, it can lead to diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatitis. In cirrhosis, non-functioning, fibrous tissues take the place of healthy liver cells. Hepatitis has several forms and can be caused by viral infection or by chronic alcohol abuse. Although nearly three-quarters of liver cells can be non-functioning before a person recognizes disease symptoms, early detection is possible. Early and late symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite, lower resistance to infections, jaundice, abdominal swelling, intestinal bleeding and kidney failure.

The kidneys work in conjunction with the intestinal tract and the liver. The main function of this pair of bean sized organs (located on either side of the spine just above the waist) is to regulate the body's fluid balance and eliminate toxins through the urine. All of the blood in the body is passed through the kidneys about 20 times per hour. Toxins are broken down by the liver and sent through the bloodstream to the kidneys for removal.