By Dr. Lina Sakr
As the calendar turns to another year, the new year brings a new round of health-focused resolutions – how to eat better, get more exercise or shed unwanted pounds.
One promise is particularly popular in January: the vow to “go clean,” or “detox” in the new year. Such goals are admirable – but beyond the buzz words, what does this really mean?
A Google search for “cleanse” generates a bevy of products promising a full-body detox, often via liquid-only diets of juice and teas, augmented by pills, vitamins and supplements. Such approaches, though, can be both ineffective and unhealthy, temporarily reducing water weight as well as muscle mass, or perhaps leading to overeating and weight cycling.
A deeper detox, by contrast, takes a holistic approach to release accumulated toxins from the body – including a detailed assessment of environmental influences. This 360-degree review is at the core of functional medicine, where the physical examination will be preceded by a detailed compilation of a patient’s health history to better understand the role of familial, genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors.
At the Naples Center for Functional Medicine, we take a deep dive into your medical history and tailor a treatment plan to individual needs.
Disease Detectives
Only through such detailed histories can we measure a patient’s potential toxic exposures to chemicals, whether occupational or environmental – including potential mold exposure, a significant consideration here in Southwest Florida, where hurricanes and floods are a constant concern.
Here are some of the questions you can expect to answer:
- Do you drink water from a well, spring or cistern, or from plumbing pipes or fixtures installed before 1986?
- Does your home or workplace contain new construction material or furniture?
- Do you frequent parks, golf courses or other outdoor areas treated with herbicides, pesticides or fungicides?
This detailed medical history is crucial. Our environment is filled with a wide variety of toxins that can impact our health. There are airborne toxins, including pollutants that can originate from vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions or construction activities.
Water-borne toxins can be contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, industrial chemicals, pharmaceutical residue and microbial contaminants. Food contaminants include pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables, heavy metals (e.g., mercury in fish), additives (e.g., preservatives, artificial colors), and chemicals leaching from packaging materials. Our common household cleaning products can also expose us to a bevy of contaminants.
From the Liver to the Gut to the Kidneys (and beyond)
Our livers play a crucial role in breaking down and filtering toxins and waste products from blood, via a complex system of enzymes and biochemical reactions.
The liver also helps protect the body from oxidative stress, a condition caused by the imbalance between free radicals, which are unstable molecules and antioxidants that can damage the cell and tissue, leading to inflammation and disease.
Key to liver health is glutathione, a super antioxidant produced in the liver that neutralizes free radicals and supports the detoxification process, and which is essential for breaking down and removing heavy metals and other harmful substances.
To best support a healthy liver, reduce or eliminate processed food, while incorporating detoxifying foods like beets, leafy green and cruciferous vegetables, augmented by plenty of water, herbal tea and fresh green juices to support digestion.
Liver detoxification is a two-step process. In the first phase, fat–soluble toxins are converted into water-soluble compounds, which makes it easier to eliminate toxins from the body.
The second phase focuses on excreting those water-soluble toxins through the skin, kidneys, liver, lymphatic, nervous and digestive systems.
Gut and kidney health can also be elevated through a deep detox. As previously noted, the gastrointestinal tract serves as a barrier between the internal body and the external world, allowing nutrients to enter while preventing harmful substances from passing into the bloodstream.
The gut also produces microbiome, a form of helpful gut bacteria that can aid in the production of nutrients, including Vitamins B and K. These organisms help maintain health and functional digestion and absorption, protecting against pathogens.
A leaky gut, by contrast, can adversely impact the immune, nervous and endocrine systems. That can create what’s known as dysbiosis, an imbalance of the GI bacteria.
Getting Started with Environmental Detoxing
Looking to make a difference with your health in the new year? Avoid the hype of juice cleanses and other promised quick fixes. From chronic stress and poor diet to environmental toxins and a leaky gut, external factors must be considered before your detox journey.
There’s no single remedy: each patient is unique, and we must consider that individual’s overall health, lifestyle and diet – including the myriad substances we breathe or ingest while navigating the modern world.
As always, consult with your physician prior to making any substantial lifestyle, health or nutritional changes. For questions, please contact our office at 239-649-7400.
About the Author
Dr. Lina Sakr is a board-certified internal medicine physician at Naples Center for Functional Medicine with nearly 40 years of experience. She specializes in metabolic and nutritional medicine, anti-aging medicine, and women’s health.
READ MORE:
Functional Medicine & Diagnostic Testing
Chelation Therapy for Heavy Metals
EMF Exposure in a Digital World
Start Your Journey to Better Health with a Detox
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