Top 10 Ways to Detoxify: Part 2
Filed Under Dr. Zoltan Rona (MD) |
One of the major reasons why it is important to engage in regular detoxification is the presence of xenobiotics. Xenobiotics are chemicals found in the human body—chemicals it normally doesn’t produce nor is expected to carry. The term also covers substances that are present in much higher-than-usual concentrations (e.g., supplemental hormones or vitamins).
It is conservatively estimated that the average adult human carries about 5 grams of xenobiotics stored in the fat cells, muscle cells, and organs. These include a long list of environmental pollutants, hormones from external sources (e.g., xenoestrogens from HRT or the birth control pill), dioxins, drugs, synthetic vitamins, antibiotics, PCBs, and toxic heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and aluminum.
Use Far Infrared Sauna for Detox
Xenobiotics of any kind may re-enter the bloodstream during times of physical stress such as illness, fasting, high intensity exercise, or emotional stress. High temperatures like those experienced in a sauna will also drive toxins out of fat cells and various organs into the bloodstream. The only way the body can eliminate most of these toxins permanently is through perspiration and the skin. No amount of fasting, chelation therapy, colonics, or special detox diets will be effective. Studies show that the far infrared sauna is the most effective way of disposing of xenobiotics.
Wouldn’t a conventional sauna work just as well? Yes, but not as efficiently or as safely. A conventional sauna heats the air, typically to temperatures between 150° and 190°F (65.5° to 87.7°C). This super-hot air heats the skin by convection and only three percent of this sweat contains xenobiotics.
Far infrared heats the body in a different way, penetrating tissues more effectively to expel toxins. It creates perspiration at a lower and safer temperature, as low as 110° to 120°F (45° to 50°C, or a hot day in Mexico) and 20% of the sweat contains xenobiotics.
According to Dr. Sherry Rogers in her book, Detoxify or Die:
“Far infrared wavelengths lower lactic acid, stimulate endorphins, and kill organisms like bacteria and parasites. They penetrate tissues, detoxify cells by vibrating ionic bonds, stop swelling, improve lymphatic flow and blood circulation, and attract calcium to cell membranes where it is needed for healing.”
To do a good body cleanse, at least 2 weeks of a combination of exercise and sauna (at least half an hour daily) is needed. Ideally, this should be done under the supervision of a health care provider familiar with detoxification.
Drink Alkaline Water
The benefits of drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day to cleanse the system have long been the advice of numerous health gurus. But, what is the best water to drink and why?
When we drink a beverage, the pH value will be somewhere in the range of 1–14. A number below 7 pH units would be classified as acidic while a number greater than 7 would be alkaline. Human blood maintains a pH reading of 7.35–7.45 pH while saliva and urine pH should ideally read between 6.8 and 7.4.
Most toxicity and disease occurs in an acid media (as low as 4.5 pH units). Thus, to prevent disease, most health care practitioners of every stripe recommend eating and drinking that creates an alkaline media. The best water to drink is therefore alkaline water.
Alkaline water is high in trace minerals, especially calcium. Distilled or reverse osmosis treated water are both devoid of minerals and have low (acidic) pH readings. They should be avoided as much as possible, especially if one wishes to detoxify the body.
Mineral-laden (hard) alkaline water combined with the far infrared sauna flushes toxins out of the system, disarms free radicals, restores alkalinity to the body, and increases stable oxygen. It also neutralizes the acidity of acid-forming foods such as red meats, refined carbohydrates, and other junk foods while helping to reverse many diseases which only thrive in an acidic environment.
For more information on alkaline water, see http://www.watopcanada.com/
Enhance Liver Detox Systems
The liver sits in the right upper side of your belly and performs thousands of tasks vital to life. Its most valuable role is in detoxifying the body from harmful foods, chemicals and microbes through complex enzyme systems known as Phase I and Phase II detoxification pathways. These enzyme systems require a long list of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and phytochemicals found in foods to work properly.
While there are dozens of different liver cleansing programs, they all boil down to basic diet changes and some health-enhancing supplements. It isn’t necessary to go to extremes like daily coffee enemas (without milk and sugar) to get good results.
Drink lots of alkaline water (6–12 cups per day) because it helps the kidneys flush out toxins. Avoid multiple vitamins containing iron and high doses of pre-formed vitamin A as these too can stress an unhealthy liver.
While vegetable juice fasting with beets, celery, and carrots is ideal, not everyone will find this convenient. At least avoid animal products and eat mainly high fiber fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and legumes. Avoid saturated fats, refined sugar, drugs, and alcohol.
Eat more foods that support liver detoxification pathways. These include asparagus, artichokes, garlic, onions, brown rice, carrots, oat bran, walnuts, apples, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, Brussels sprouts, artichokes, beets, caraway seeds, dandelion, and herbs and spices like turmeric, cinnamon, and licorice.
When following a very healthy diet, eating only organic foods and drinking spring water is ideal. However, in the real world most of us are still exposed to thousands of chemicals and drugs in our daily lives. Our only reasonable defense is antioxidant vitamins, minerals, and herbs, the best known of which are:
• Beta-carotene: 10,000 IU daily
• B complex: 50 mg or more daily (must contain folic acid and vitamin B12)
• Vitamin C: 1000 mg or more daily
• Vitamin E complex: 400 IU daily
• Bioflavonoids: 1000 mg or more daily
• Zinc: 25 mg daily
• Selenium: 200 mcg daily
Use Lipotrophic Agents to Remove Fats and Improve Bile Flow
Those suffering from weight control difficulties, digestive problems, and high blood fat levels would especially benefit from the following natural supplements:
• Choline (from lecithin): 1200 mg or more daily
• Betaine: 100 mg or more daily
• Methionine: 500 mg or more daily
• Hempseed oil (or flax seed): 1 tbsp or more daily (helps replace the bad fat with essential omega-3, -6 and -9 fats)
Reverse Liver Damage and Enhance Liver Regeneration with Other Nutrients
One or more of the following nutrients can be used in any detoxification program to both protect as well as regenerate an unhealthy liver:
• Silymarin (milk thistle extract): 500 mg or more daily
• N-acetyl-cysteine: 500 mg three times daily
• Alpha lipoic acid: 300 mg three times daily
• Coenzyme Q10: 100 mg three times (or more) daily
• Curcumin: 500 mg three times daily
• L-taurine: 500 mg three times daily (prevents or breaks down gallstones)
• S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe): 400 mg three times daily (boosts phase 2 liver detoxification pathways)
• Ginger root herb tea: 2 or more cups daily (NOTE: may interact with anti-coagulants)
• Dandelion tea: 2 or more cups daily
• Burdock tea: 2 or more cups daily
• Licorice root tea: 2 or more cups daily (NOTE: may elevate blood pressure in susceptible individuals)
• Schisandra tea: 2 or more cups daily (especially effective for hepatitis)
Detoxification programs need not be done forever. Most generally healthy people can do an excellent job of it following these guidelines for a period of two to three weeks. For those suffering from hepatitis, cancer, autoimmune disease, or other serious health challenges, detoxification would take considerably more time depending on the individual. Check with your natural health care practitioner for further information and advice.
Dr. Zoltan Rona
REFERENCES
Alive Research Group; Gursche, Siegfried, Publisher; Rona, Zoltan P., Medical Editor. Encyclopedia of Natural Healing. Vancouver:Alive Books, 1998.
Rogers, Sherry. Detoxify or Die Sand Key Company, Inc. 2003 P.O. Box 40101?Sarasota, Florida 34242 USA
Gard, Z.R. and E.J. Brown. History of Sauna/Hyperthermia Past and Present Efficacy in Detoxification. Townsend Letter for Doctors, June 1992 470-478, July 1992 650-660, Oct 1992 846-854, Aug/Sept 1999 76-86. References 201-334.
Krop, J. Chemical sensitivity after intoxication at work with solvents: response to sauna therapy. J. Altern. Complement. Med. 1998; 4(1): 77-86.
Boari C, et al.: Occupational toxic liver diseases. Therapeutic effects of silymarin. Min Med 72:2679-88, 1985.
Ferenci P, et al.: Randomized controlled trial of silymarin treatment in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. J Hepatol 9:105-13, 1989.
Biewenga, G.P., Haenen, G.R., Bast, A. The pharmacology of the antioxidant lipoic acid. Gen. Pharmacol. 1997 Sep; 29(3): 315-31.
Khanna, S., Atalay, M., Laaksonen, D.E. et al. Alpha-lipoic acid supplementation: tissue glutathione homeostasis at rest and after exercise. J. Appl. Physiol. 1999 Apr; 86(4): 1191-6.
Sherry Rogers, MD, author of Detoxify or Die (Prestige Publications, 2002)
http://www.drlwilson.com/Articles/sauna_therapy.htm INFRARED SAUNA THERAPY by Lawrence Wilson, MD
http://watopcanada.com/watop/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=101&Itemid=68
Comments
1 Comment so far
Great blog! There’s plenty of useful information and motivation. I’ll definitely be back. Check out my blog at Http://www.realfoodforlife.blogspot.com . I’ve been juicing for years starting with a “Vitamix” in the 70’s to a “Juiceman in the 90’s and love juicing’s benefits.
Grace and Peace,
Ed