For those attending my residential detox courses my therapeutic emphasis varies depending on whether they need general detoxification or specifically targeted gastrointestinal or liver support.
Milk Thistle, green tea, detox greens and amino acids are foundational ingredients that support toxin resistance and encourage the necessary channels of elimination, particularly the gut, liver and lymphatics (though I do support the other three, the lungs, kidneys and skin).
Amino acids richly and readily present in easily absorbable plant protein powders are required for phase II conjugation reactions to render toxins water soluble and are a fundamental ingredient for healthy detoxification.
Green tea and the Taiga I import from Siberia extracted from pine resin both have renowned antioxidant properties and have been shown to to overcome some of the detrimental effects of various toxins such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and arsenic. The epigallocatchechin gallate (EGCG) in green tea has been shown to favourably alter the intestinal microbiota by increasing it’s diversity while supporting phases I, II and III of detoxification.
Milk Thistle aligns perfectly with green tea to provide support for phases I, II and III and protects the liver from a wide range of toxic insults.
Detox Greens ( I use Kiki’s Organic Superfood on my courses) containing spirulina which is a really powerful antioxidant and has been shown to provide protective effects against the toxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, lead, fluoride and insecticide deltamethrin. It is also a clever prebiotic improving the health of the microbiota. Combine it with turmeric and zinc and it blossoms into a real powerhouse accelerating the resistance to heavy metals while encouraging their elimination via the lymphatics and kidneys. Spirulena also induces an endotoxin tolerance-like state where exposure of LPS to innate immune cells produces a resistance to subsequent endotoxin exposure. Particularly helpful to those with a leaky gut.
Tumeric is well known for its anti-inflammatory effects. It stimulates the expression of phase II detoxification enzymes and improves cellular protection against toxins. It digs deep and enhances microbial diversity, improves intestinal barrier integrity and reduces endotoxaemia.
Mind boggled? I’ll be merciful and give you a rest before enrobing you with part three of this series!
