Every day, our bodies are exposed to a variety of toxins from the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the beverages we drink. Our bodies naturally detox, but sometimes the body needs a little break from all the detoxing it does. This is why you should implement a detox program. It will make the process of detoxing easier and quicker, putting less pressure on the liver.
Brain fog, fatigue, aching bones and joints, weight gain, headaches, irritability, and more can be signs that your body needs to detox. So, how exactly does it work?
Here are the 3 main detox processes you should know about.
What Is Detoxification?
Different toxins enter our bodies every day, and they are produced by all living organisms. Toxicants, on the other hand, are either naturally occurring or produced by man. Detoxing is a means to clean the blood by removing toxins or impurities from it. It’s not a new practice by any means; ancient societies and cultures used to practice it, usually in the form of fasting. They didn’t know it at the time, but we know now that detox works because it addresses the needs of each cell in our bodies.
The liver is the largest detoxifying gland we have, but the kidneys, the digestive system, skin, and lungs detox themselves as well. Most people might not know that there are many ways to detox the lungs or how beneficial these methods are for one’s health. If you’re keen on taking better care of your body, you should start with a lung cleanse and discover more about the natural ways to detox your lungs and how effective they are. Generally, for proper detox to happen, you need to be more aware of what you consume, replace poor lifestyle choices with healthier habits, and understand the process of detox.
Most of us know that the benefit of detox is to help the body feel better, more robust, and energetic, among other benefits.
We might not be aware, however, that before that can happen there are 3 processes that must happen first in the detox process to be successful.
1. The Enzymatic Transformation Process
As mentioned, the liver is the main gland that processes toxins. Many of the toxins that enter our bodies are fat-soluble. This means they can only dissolve in fatty solutions and not in water. The main idea behind detox is to transfer these toxins into water-soluble substances that the body can easily eliminate through natural means.
This first process is totally dependent on the Cytochrome-P450 enzyme. This group of enzymes helps speed up the metabolism rate., and the speed depends on such things as genetics and exercise. Lack of exercise, for instance, will slow down the metabolism rate. Making the toxins more water-soluble, prepares them for the 2nd process.
2. Enzymatic Conjugation Process
During this process, the liver adds other substances to the toxins to make them less harmful. This part must be balanced with the previous one. It is this binding of other substances that create conjugation. The liver is able to make water-soluble toxins through conjugation.
For efficient detoxification to happen, liver cells need substances like amino acids. Sulfur-containing amino acids are found in foods like eggs, broccoli, cauliflower, raw onions, and garlic. Other nutrients are also required, such as glycine. It’s important that the second process 2 starts rapidly right after the first one. If it doesn’t work fast and if it is not balanced with phase 1, then there is a risk of increasing toxins even more.
There is some scientific evidence to prove that slow conjugation in this phase can contribute to certain chronic diseases as well. Since part 2 absolutely needs sulfur, amino acids, vitamin B12, (found in meat), and glutathione, which is composed of all these amino acids, the process can be slow because you might not be getting enough of the nutrients mentioned. Consuming bitter herbs can help the first 2 processes.
3. The Elimination of Toxins
Now that toxins have turned into soluble substances and decreased in potency from the previous stages, it’s time to transport and remove them from the body. This phase is commonly referred to as the excretion process. It’s where toxins transport to your kidneys for further filtration and then are removed via the bladder; either in the form of urine or stool. You need to have a healthy gut for this part. You can help the process by making sure you remain well-hydrated and maintaining regular bowel movements.
Some people consider detoxing as a type of diet, such as intermittent fasting, but it’s more than that. It’s a biological process and you need to know what it involves. When done in the right way and under the right conditions, this practice can provide you with many valuable health benefits.
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