Detoxification
Toxic substances enter out bodies through several venues: the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, the medications we swallow and the chemicals we apply to our skin. In the course of normal metabolism, you body creates toxins from the chemicals it uses to do its job. The toxins enter your body by one means or another, are transported by blood and lymph throughout the body, and are either deposited in certain susceptible cells or chemically modified by, for example cells in the liver.
How Toxins Work; Why They Are Bad
The toxins can attack all cells in the body and have very different means of destruction. Some compete with natural bodily substances, interrupting the chain of communication. This can result in a disturbed metabolism, an imbalance in the system, with terrible consequences. Examples are changes in hormonal balance, which can lead to certain kinds of cancer. Other examples are immunological disorders such as the development of allergies and autoimmune diseases.
Other toxins act by killing cells directly. This can occur when, for example, free radicals are released and damage the mitochondria, the microscopic parts of cells responsible for the production of energy. Without energy, metabolic processes shut down and the cells die. When enough cells have been lost, the tissue and finally the organs lose their functions and can die.
These mechanisms combine to gradually weaken the organism. The constant attack on our bodies from environmental toxins strains and weakens in particular the immune system. This opens the body to more successful infections by microorganisms, causes immunological problems, etc. In time, the system becomes so weakened that it crashes. Debilitating disease can ensue.
In other words, toxins contribute to the aging process, which can be observed both internally and externally. For example, heavy smokers suffer from advanced aging on the skin. This is in part due to the toxins and in particular the oxidative stressors that enter their bodies through the lungs.
The Liver To The Rescue
The Three Stages of Detoxification
The liver is the toxin clearing house of the body. In the initial phase of detoxification, the liver breaks down the toxic chemicals into less harmful forms. This process can, however, generate free-radicals, which can damage liver cells. In the absence of antioxidants, the free-radicals can actually destroy the mitochondria of liver cells causing their eventual death.
The second stage of detoxification, the conjugation pathway, consists of the fusing of the broken molecules of stage one with other substances. This lowers their toxicity even more and prepares them for the third stage, the passage through the liver and elimination from the body via the bowels or kidneys.
The prerequisite for this complicated procedure is a healthy, functioning liver.
We can help our livers by eating a well balanced diet and including some specific foods and supplements, which support liver function. Antioxidants are very important to minimize the cellular destruction from free-radicals. Milk thistle, medicinal mushrooms and other herbs helps support liver function. Other foods, which deliver active phytochemicals to support liver health are broccoli and cabbages, garlic and onions. Including large amounts of fiber in our diets can help the body rid itself of toxins after they have been degraded by the liver.
