A Functional Medicine Approach to Detoxing the Body

Daily our bodies are exposed to toxic chemicals from the environment that can be harmful to our health. Exposure to these toxins comes in many forms, including the air we breathe, the stress we feel, and the food we eat. Most of the harmful toxins are man-made artificial products introduced into the environment due to human activity. Examples of toxins include industrial waste products, pesticides, herbicides, food additives, and preservatives. Several metals (arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, and PCBs) are also believed to cause disease.
Once those harmful chemicals enter the body they are referred to as xenobiotics. Xenobiotics is a chemical compound (drug, pesticide, or carcinogen) that is foreign to the human body. Several of these xenobiotics are endocrine disruptors, meaning that they mimic or interfere with your body’s hormones. For example, arsenic can poison the beta-cell responsible for producing insulin in the pancreas and damage our DNA. It is suggested that arsenic may cause 15%-20% of diabetes.
The body has a natural detoxification system through the work of the liver, kidneys, large intestines, lymphatic system, and sweat glands. The liver is the major player in the body’s detox system, but they all work together to reduce the buildup of toxins. We all have different toxin exposure, and we all have genetic differences in how a person’s body is able to produce the enzymes that regulate detoxification. When a person’s body burden of toxins has exceeded the body’s ability to eliminate them, symptoms can occur. A few of the most common symptoms include fatigue, headaches, anxiety, depression, brain fog, difficulty losing weight, skin breakouts, and digestive issues.
Lowering your toxic load is vital to your health. However, what we eat can either support or hinder the body’s ability to process and eliminate harmful toxins. Several nutrients are needed to push detox pathways in the body and support and regulate detoxification. A deficiency in any of them could cause an increased body burden or buildup of chemicals in the body.
In functional medicine, we take a whole-body approach to toxin load by checking for nutritional status, genetic susceptibility to nutritional deficiencies, and environmental exposures. It is important to investigate exposure pathways to identify a source of toxicity elevation.
One of the best ways to protect yourself is to identify the toxic exposure and stop it! It is important to support the body’s natural detoxification system by eating organic colorful, plant-based diet rich in antioxidants. Finally, promote glutathione (powerful antioxidant) production in the body by taking vitamin C, eating sulfur-rich foods, and getting restorative sleep as it may increase the excretion of toxins. For more information, call Compassionate Healthcare Associates, 661 295-7777.