What Do You Mean By Detox?

There is a lot of misunderstanding about what a detox is and how to do it, so let me explain how I understand detoxification.

Detoxification is what your body does naturally to neutralize, transform or get rid of unwanted materials or toxins. It is a primary function of the body, constantly working and interacting with all other functions of the body. So when I am talking about detoxification, it is about improving and optimizing the function of your body’s own detoxification systems. This is done by decreasing the amount of toxins we put into our bodies while at the same time supporting our body’s detoxification and elimination systems with the nutrients it needs to function properly.

As a culture we are very aware of our external cleanliness. We clean our teeth daily, we bath and wash our hair daily or every other day and we like to look and smell clean because it makes us feel better. Similarly, I see detoxification as internal cleansing. The problem is that it’s often hard to know when our internal cleansing mechanisms are not functioning well. Unlike other parts of our body it is very hard to know how well our liver is working, and our liver is the main detoxification organ. It filters the blood of bacteria and toxins, chemically neutralizing toxins and converting them to substances that can be eliminated by the kidneys and synthesizing and secreting bile.

Although it is mostly ignored by our current medical system, the detoxification system is a key component of our body’s functioning. Most of the molecules made by our bodies every day, are for getting rid of waste products. We need hundreds of enzymes, vitamins and other molecules to help rid the body of unwanted waste products and chemicals. We need to manufacture these molecules to help take the good from what we ingest and get rid of the unwanted. Although the bulk of the work is done by the liver and the intestinal tract, the kidneys, lungs, lymphatic system and skin are all involved in this complex detoxification system.

The purpose of a detoxification program is primarily to support these organs of elimination so that toxins present in the body can be metabolized and excreted. Time and time again I’ve seen the benefits a good internal cleanse can bring.

I think an effective detoxification system is necessary for good health and in response to the many requests I’ve had, I have put together my own program based on what I’ve seen working in my practice. I designed a 2 week detox with all the components I feel are necessary to optimize your body’s detoxification systems. This is now available for everybody online.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Wendye K.

4:49AM PDT on May 18, 2012

Thanks.

send a green star

Anastasia J.

1:17PM PDT on Mar 14, 2012

Don't really like that this post is basically an ad for a detox system. I appreciate that the product can be presented as an option for those who want to cleanse, but there's no real advice or info given.

Glenn A.

11:06AM PDT on Mar 14, 2012

Detoxing is easy anyway...just eat a proper diet of fruits, veggies, grains and nuts, and if you are a meat eater, keep it to a minimum, as lean as possible, low fat...stay away from fast foods,processed foods and high sugar/empty calories, such as soda, candy and junk-food, drink sensible amounts of water and fresh juices daily, and your body will be able to keep up with any toxins that are there...and if one ends up with extra toxins like heavy-metals and crud from just breathing the air, etc, see your health provider for help removing these. If you are not having at least 2 bowel movements a day, you are not properly cleaning out your system. You don't need to spend no $200.00 bucks on any kind of Kit if you just eat healthy in the first place.

Ra S.

10:34AM PDT on Mar 14, 2012

I think it's mostly ignored because the body eliminates most things that are harmful no matter what you do. When you have things that are toxic and your body cannot deal with it on its own, you need to see a doctor. As far as keeping yourself healthy, that is best done by good nutrition and other good health habits. And, as any doctor would recommend, you should be doing those things all of the time, not in periodic bursts. The things that are best for your body are best incorporated into your regular routine. If you cannot manage to do them all of the time, then you should be striving to do them as often as possible. But the idea of periodic bursts of living a healthy lifestyle mixed in with not doing so is not a very good approach to health. It may be better than never trying to do things that are good for you, but it certainly isn't a path to recommend.

Kyre Z.

10:09AM PST on Nov 7, 2011

Good to know

holly m.

4:33AM PST on Nov 7, 2011

good to know.

KS G.

6:11AM PDT on Sep 7, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Ida J.

5:08AM PDT on Sep 4, 2011

thanks