The word “detox” has become a very common but often polarizing term. For some, it is viewed as a necessity for maintaining optimal health. For others, it’s a complete turn-off, knowing some will use it as a gimmick to sell a product or a program. As a naturopathic doctor who has studied extensively in environmental toxicology and human physiology, I can tell you that both are true. Detoxification is essential, now more than ever. But because of that, many people are exploiting it for profit and publicity. Navigating and understanding proper detoxification starts here.
We are designed to detox independently of expensive and intense therapies or procedures. Our liver, lymphatic system, immune system, cell membranes, and many other organ systems are designed to work synergistically to rid our bodies of toxins that we are exposed to daily. However, our resources to aid this detox system have reduced dramatically. General weight gain, increased medication use, sedentary lifestyles, inflammation, and poor health quality with less sleep, nutrition, hydration, sunlight, and so on, have led to an impaired detox system. At the same time, toxins accumulate more rapidly than ever before.
Increased Exposure to Toxins
Our exposure to toxins has grown dramatically over the past few decades, both in volume and in new exposures, making our detox system work overtime. Approximately 2000 new chemicals are introduced into the U.S. commercial market each year, while global figures are much higher. The average American is exposed to thousands of chemicals and toxins in food, air, water, and the environment every day.
The main controversy of detoxification comes from understanding acute toxicity, like carbon monoxide poisoning, versus chronic accumulated toxicity, such as heavy metal or mold toxicity. Almost all research and testing is focused on acute toxicity that would cause immediate and life-threatening concern. Most daily toxic exposures are below thresholds of immediate concern, resulting in data showing “no harm” because they are only studied in the short term. But with chronic daily low-grade exposure, accumulation can eventually lead to severe chronic disease patterns.
A slow, undetected toxic exposure can cause significant harm. These toxicities will slowly accumulate in tissues, impairing normal cellular function, bringing patients to our clinic with symptoms of fatigue, lower mood status, chronic inflammation, weight gain, musculoskeletal pain, routine infections, and more. Toxicity also creates chronic inflammation, the root of all illness. Chronic inflammation creates significant stress, affecting energy, mood, hormones, fertility, immune function, weight gain, pain, and even predisposition to cancer.
Our exposures come from a variety of locations, and unfortunately, avoiding them all is impossible. But the more we can lighten the toxic burden, the more effective our function and quality of life will be. Identifying sources in our food, water, air, and environment can be relatively simple and very effective. I often refer patients to the Environmental Working Group as a starting point for understanding where to reduce toxic exposures.
Help Your Body with the Detox Process
Our detox system is designed to excrete toxins through urine, stool, and sweat. We can enhance our detoxification tools using sauna for increased sweating capacity, massage and exercise for increased lymphatic drainage, colonics with bowel regularity, and nutrient IV therapies to support hydration and mitochondrial energy. Supplementation with herbs and vitamins can also support these detox strategies, including cellular detoxification.
Here at Roots, we use diagnostics to accurately identify the type and volume of toxins that have accumulated. Then we use a variety of therapies and procedures to help patients detox and reduce their toxic burden. It is a science-based approach to personalizing the need for detoxification.
Most of our patients at Roots are seeking care for chronic infections, chronic inflammatory diseases, chronic autoimmune diseases, cancer, and other conditions that don’t come from obvious causes. When we comprehensively investigate each patient’s health conditions, we often see a strong connection to high levels of toxicity. Because of this, we strongly advocate for routine, proactive detox through clean water, food, and air, along with routine sweating and bowel movements, while adding nutrition and hydration so we can live the cleanest and healthiest lifestyles.
Dr. Zach Moran of Roots Natural Medical Center is a board-certified and licensed naturopathic physician and has completed a medical residency program. He has an extensive research background and specializes in chronic infectious disease and environmental toxicity, which he believes to be at the core of most chronic diseases. Roots is a Naturopathic Medicinal Center that focuses on addressing foundational root causes of complex chronic diseases. The clinic aims to properly identify, diagnose, and treat patients with unexplained chronic illnesses. Our services are individualized and patient-focused, as medicine should be.
Visit: rootsmedicalcenter.com, email: info@rootsmedicalcenter.com, or call 860.471.1434 to learn more.
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