XIII. Specific Nutritional Supplements for Detoxification

48. So there are ways that individuals can increase the ability to detoxify and remove toxins from their body, is fasting one of them?

No, to detoxify at this cellular level we need vital nutrients. If we fast we may rest our digestive system, but vital enzyme pathways for detoxification in our liver, kidneys, muscles, and nerves are not getting the vital nutrients they need. Not only that but we need energy to run these detoxification pathways. Therefore, to produce ATP for detoxification and ant-oxidant protection we need vital nutrients and calories.

So fasting can actually make things worse, it can even upset the balance between Phase 1 and Phase 2 detoxification systems in our liver. This imbalance actually causes us to take toxins from our environment through air, food, and water; and create even more toxic metabolites so it's vital to keep Phase 1 and Phase 2 detoxification systems in our liver balanced. Milk Thistle and Green Tea standardized extracts are excellent for balancing out our Phase 1 and Phase 2 liver detoxification, more on this later.

49. Well, if fasting is not a good way to detoxify, how do we improve our ability to remove chemical toxins?

First it's important to clean up our diet as much as we can. Get rid of junk foods, they are mostly empty calories and filled with chemicals. Remove the stimulants, the highly sugared foods, drinks, and excessive caffeine. Eat lower on the food chain, the higher you go the more concentrated the industrial chemicals tend to become. In other words, a large mammal is generally going to concentrate more herbicides and pesticides than a soybean.

It is extremely important to eat as organic as you possibly can. The less pesticides and herbicides you bring into your body the sooner you can detoxify your tissues. Once you lower the influx of industrial and agricultural chemicals into your body, you can start to specifically improve your detoxification pathways.

50. What is the best way to improve these detoxify pathways to overcome chronic pain, fatigue and fibromyalgia?

By performing a metabolic tune-up through specific nutraceuticals, utilizing a mixture of vitamins, minerals, and herbs such as those previously mentioned. These specific supplements enhance detoxification pathways and act as powerful anti-oxidants in our mitochondria, helping to protect and promote energy production. As previously stated, increasing the available ATP in our tissues promotes detoxification pathways and helps clear toxins from our tissues. Of course more available ATP in our tissues assists in releasing pain-causing trigger points and gives us more energy in general.

51. For enhanced detoxification and pain reduction how does an individual perform a metabolic tune-up utilizing specific nutrients?

What's nice about this is you get two for the price-of-one; the same nutrients can be used for improving detoxification pathways as well as increasing mitochondrial energy production, when treating chronic pain. The primary nutraceuticals shown by research to be effective are Alpha-lipoic and (ALA) , Co Enzyme Q10 (CoQ) , and Vitamin E, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) , Silymarin from Milk Thistle seed extract, and Green Tea extract.

Mito-Detox

Research has established that these nutraceuticals used in combination act as powerful anti-oxidants protecting against free radical damage to the powerhouse of the cell, the mitochondria. This functions to improve energy production in the muscles. These nutrients also improve vital detoxification pathways such as sulfation detoxification and glutathione conjugation.

A study by Parker et al (1997) found alpha lipoic-acid (ALA) raises glutathione peroxidase enzyme production and protects the energy producing inner membranes of the mitochondria. ALA dosages in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue should reach about 300mg per day.

An excellent formula combining many of the nutraceuticals we have just listed is Biospec Mito-Detox. It has specific vitamins and minerals and herbs to promote detoxification pathways, herbs such as Milk-Thistle seed extract and Green Tea extract. Suggested dosage is two capsules twice daily.

52. You have mentioned how ALA works but how do other nutrients help such as NAC, Co-enzyme Q10, Vitamin E, and herbs such as Milk-Thistle, and Green Tea extracts?

Well let's take them in order N-acetylcysteine or NAC acts as a direct precursor to glutathione peroxidase enzyme systems. This is probably one of the most important detoxification and anti-oxidant system in the body. When NAC is combined with the B vitamin niacinamide it is particularly helpful in promoting: cellular energy production, joint health, and anti-oxidant protection. Biospec Mito-Detox contains a blend of NAC and Niacinamide with excellent dosage when taking one tablet twice daily. Mito-Detox is an excellent formula to take when attempting to enhance detoxification and promote healthy energy production.

Q-Sorb 100

If you have Fibromyalgia Co-enzyme Q10 is a nutrient you may want to add to the above formulas, especially if you want to increase energy production. CoQ10 acts as a key co-enzyme in the mitochondria's production of ATP, our body's primary energy. Recent studies have shown CoQ10 to be effective in cases of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. Biospec Q-Sorb 100 is a highly absorbable CoQ10. Suggested dosage would be one soft gel per day along with Mito-Detox two times per day, to assist in detoxification and enhance energy production.

Vitamin E is an anti-oxidant that works in the cell membranes, especially in the energy producing inner membrane of the mitochondria. Suggested dosages run between 200IU to 400IU depending on the condition involved. Mito-Detox contains 400IUs Vitamin E and 200mcgs of Selenium at a suggest dosage of two tablets twice per day.

Milk-Thistle seed extract containing standardized levels of the active component Silymarin is one of the best herbs for detoxification. Wellington (2001) found that silymarin increases the all important glutathione peroxidase detoxification enzyme system previously discussed. Biospec Mito-Detox formula contains 400mg Milk-Thistle extract.

The last nutraceutical I want to discuss is Green Tea extract. This herb has become quite popular lately because of its "anti-aging" effects. This would primarily come from its anti-oxidants properties and its ability to balance Phase 1 and Phase 2 liver detoxification. These combined activities greatly enhance the body's ability to rid it of toxins. If you have chronic myofascial pain or fibromyalgia, this may help to lower your levels of pain, as based on the studies of Ursin and Bell.

The primary components of Green Tea that promotes these functions are Catechins. Bu-Abbas (1994) studies found Catechins in Green Tea selectively balancing Phase 1 and Phase 2 detoxification pathways. Mito-Detox has Catechins from Green tea, Silymarin from Milk-Thistle, along with other herbs, vitamins and minerals that help with detoxification pathways and promotion of good energy production.

Next: Toxic Bowel Effects