Detoxification is our essential ‘waste disposal system’, ensuring our body chemistry is balanced so we can thrive in our environment. It’s a diverse process, cleverly designed to eliminate external and internally produced toxins to enable optimum physiological function and prevent the accumulation of toxins in the body which could lead to ill-health. Since the industrial revolution, millions of new chemicals have been created, posing a huge challenge for our overall health and detoxification capability. If detoxification is overloaded, it can have a ripple effect across the whole body, affecting our liver health, hormone balance, energy production, as well as heart and brain health.
Detoxification Challenges
In the current environment, we need to ensure optimum detoxification, especially if we are exposed to a high toxic load; from the air we breathe, the food we eat, or even the products we put on our skin. This overload, coupled with nutrient insufficiencies and poor detoxification, can leave us feeling tired, sluggish, have headaches or hormonal imbalances. Whilst the key intervention is to reduce our toxic exposure through dietary and lifestyle changes, we can also support detoxification with the right vitamins, minerals, and targeted botanicals that are cleverly combined in supplements to give you the best support every day.
Detoxification is a complex process, requiring a range of nutrients to detoxify different toxins and enable metabolism.
The liver is the main detoxification organ, but it is actually a whole-body process which involves the kidneys, lungs, gut, and skin. Detoxification often happens in stages, or phases. In the first phase, a toxin is processed to make it easier for the body to handle. Different nutrients and herbs such as choline, dandelion and milk thistle can naturally support liver function and detoxification. Artichoke, celery, and alfalfa also support the function of the kidneys and the urinary tract.
This phase generates a lot of free radicals, which can cause damage to our cells and tissues. That’s why it’s important to provide a good supply of antioxidants such as vitamin C, selenium or those naturally found broccoli, turmeric or pomegranate.
The second phase binds toxins to make them safe for elimination and includes the processes of sulphation, glucuronidation, and glutathione conjugation. This phase relies on a broad spectrum of nutrients such as sulphur amino acids (e.g. N-acetyl Cysteine), vitamins B5, B6, and molybdenum which support their metabolism.
Cleanse & Detox Solutions
We might have issues at one or many of these levels that are contributing to our detoxification capacity and overall health. It’s really all a case of balance, and because detoxification is such a broad process, the best way to support it is by providing a comprehensive nutrient support which will aid different cleansing stages simultaneously. So, we’ve created a range of different supplements, and identified some key lifestyle tips, to support all these areas and help you optimise your detoxification.