Hold the juice cleanses and detox kits! If you want to detox for higher energy, there’s a right (and a wrong) way to do it.
First, a little anatomy and physiology lesson (because I love to talk about this stuff).
Phases of Liver Detoxification
When your liver is going about its daily detox processes, it runs the toxins and by-products through a 2-phased system.
Phase 1 – Oxidation
During Phase 1 – the Oxidation Phase – oxygen and enzymes tear down toxins, making them soluble in water. This helps them more easily leave your body as waste (and you want that, right?).
Caffeine, alcohol, sleeping pills, contraceptives, steroids and dioxins are chemicals that speed up Phase 1 detoxification.
And, milk thistle, oranges, bell peppers, cruciferous vegetables, vitamins B and C, and magnesium also speed up this phase. Grapefruit inhibits phase 1 detoxification (although this isn’t always a bad thing).
Phase 2 – Conjugation
This important phase involves processes to remove toxins from your body via bile, stool and urine. Phase 2 is more often impaired over phase 1, and you need abundant amounts of cruciferous vegetables, protein, and fruits and vegetables for healthy phase 2 detoxification.
What Happens Between Phase 1 and Phase 2?
It may seem like all we need to do is speed up phase 1 and make sure our bodies are eliminating toxins properly, but there is more to this overall process.
In between Phase 1 and Phase 2, the liver creates free radicals. If Phase 2 is sluggish, those free radicals will lead to oxidative stress throughout the body, contributing to inflammation and disease.
Which, of course, will cause chronic fatigue.
Therefore, to properly address healthy detoxification, Phase 2 nutrients should be the first focus.
And following common popular detox kits or cleanses removes many of the most important nutrients needed for healthy Phase 2 support!
Nutrients to Support Phase 2
Phase 2 detoxification involves 6 steps, each affected and improved by certain substances and nutrients.
The most common substances that are neutralized in Phase 2 include:
- Estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and thyroid hormones
- BPA, BHT, triclosan, toluene
- Norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine
- Prescription and OTC drugs, vaccines stabilizers
- Heavy metals and mycotoxins
- Histamine
- Carcinogens
- Caffeine, alcohol, food dyes
The best nutrients to support overall Phase 2 detoxification include:
- Cruciferous vegetables (kale, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts
- Good quality protein (especially animal protein)
- Fruits & vegetables
- Citrus fruits (grapefruit improves Phase 2)
- Garlic, turmeric, cilantro, beets, lemons
- Dandelion, shellfish, algae
- Vitamins C, D, E, B12
- Sunflower and pumpkin seeds
- Zinc, magnesium
- NAC, glutathione (potent antioxidants)
- Quercetin, resveratrol
- ECGC, Alpha Lipoic Acid
Reasons to Improve Your Liver Detoxification
Chronic fatigue is one major symptom of a sluggish liver. If Phase 1 detoxification is happening faster than Phase 2, the free radicals produced will lead to more inflammation. And inflammation triggers your stress response, kickstarting your Fatigue Cycle.
Skin problems, such as acne, psoriasis, rosacea or hives, are all indications of a sluggish liver. I like to increase my intake of beets, lemons and leafy greens when my skin starts to bother me.
Migraines, mood swings, anger and weight gain can also be attributed to liver problems.
In fact, because your liver filters out all the toxins, hormones and chemicals circulating in your bloodstream, this important organ is essentially the main regulator of health.
And it needs a lot of love daily!
It’s Not Just About Food Either
Obviously, nutrients are important. Your entire body runs on nutrients. And your liver uses the entire array of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, cofactors and macronutrients to keep you healthy.
But you can give your liver a lot of extra support in other ways too.
Replace your commercial cleaning and personal care products with all-natural versions. Avoid dyes in clothing and sheets and choose hemp over synthetic materials.
Avoid toxic chemicals found in carpet, fire retardant mattresses and furniture protector sprays.
Air out your home daily by opening windows, even just for 15 minutes, especially where you spend the most time.
And take off your shoes when you go into your home!
I also used to have an amazing air purifier – by Air Doctor – that I ran inside my home 24/7. It really helped to remove excess toxins, especially when my husband cooked! Along this line, replace furnace filters regularly, too.
Getting Help With Your Detox
Detoxification is easy to do wrong. And most commercial products and kits are not supportive of your liver and its essential services.
If you’re battling chronic fatigue and any other symptoms associated with a sluggish liver, you may benefit from a holistic detoxification program.
My 14-Day Clean Energy Program is designed to support the entire liver in all its over 500 processes. Click here to learn more.
References:
https://www.kithandkinwellness.com/blog-posts/phase-two-detoxification
https://www.joshgitalis.com/the-truth-about-detoxification/
