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Detoxify Your Body for Better Health

by Dr. Julian Whitaker

Published 04/30/09

The toxin-removal organ of your body is your liver. It filters your blood-two quarts a minute-and removes bacteria and their byproducts and other toxins, and converts them into nontoxic substances for elimination. The liver also employs a two-step process known as phase I and phase II detoxification. In phase I, a group of enzymes called cytochrome P450 neutralizes some substances and breaks down others so they can be detoxified by phase II enzymes and eliminated from the body.

The detoxification process generates large amounts of free radicals which, if not neutralized by antioxidants, damage the liver. The predominant antioxidant involved in neutralizing free radicals is glutathione, a sulfur-containing compound.

Glutathione has several very important functions. As an effective antioxidant, it protects the membranes of your cells from the free radicals that are a natural part of oxidative metabolism. It detoxifies foreign substances that enter your body, such as pollutants and medications. It is essential for the health of your red blood cell membranes, and it is a powerful enhancer of your body's immune system.

As you age, you have less glutathione in your blood, partly because it is used up faster than it can be replaced. Recently, blood levels of glutathione were found to be a specific indicator of health-the higher your glutathione level, the less illness and disease you're likely to have. People suffering from obesity, atherosclerosis, and diabetes all have substantially lower glutathione levels. Cataracts only occur when glutathione levels in the lens are very low.

Symptoms of Toxic Overload

Normally, phase I and phase II detoxification go without a hitch. However, when the toxic load becomes too great or when you're deficient in certain nutrients, a wrench is thrown into the works. Furthermore, as we age, the systems that neutralize toxins and rid them from our bodies falter, toxins accumulate, and we become increasingly sensitive to them. This may result in fatigue, aches and pains, difficulty concentrating and other neurological complaints, skin problems, headaches, autoimmune disorders, and overall poor health. If you have any of these symptoms, you could be one of the millions of Americans suffering from the effects of toxin accumulation.

So what can you do to increase your glutathione stores, protect your liver and ensure efficient detoxification?

•       Make sure you get plenty of the nutrients that support the detoxification process. These include copper, zinc, magnesium, B-complex vitamins and vitamins C and E. Vitamin C is particularly important because it helps your body produce and increase stores of glutathione. Your multivitamin should contain at least 1,500 mg of vitamin C and 800 IU of vitamin E.
•       Your diet should include plenty of cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts, as well as oranges and tangerines which stimulate phase I and II detoxification. (Grapefruit, on the other hand, inhibits the process, which is why it shouldn't be taken with certain drugs.)
•       Supplemental glutathione is expensive and causes occasional gastrointestinal side effects. Instead, I recommend N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC)-the acetylated form of cysteine, which is the precursor to glutathione. Not only does NAC stimulate the production of glutathione, but it is a free radical scavenger with numerous health benefits. It acts on Lp(a), a form of cholesterol unaffected by most cholesterol-lowering drugs, and it raises HDL levels and interferes with the metabolism of homocysteine, thus protecting against homocysteine's damaging effects on arteries. Add 1,000 mg of NAC in two 500 mg doses daily, with meals, to your daily regimen. You'll find NAC in health food stores. I recommend brands by Jarrow Formulas at 800-726-0886, Twin Labs at 800-645-5626, and Vitaline at 800-648-4755.
•       Give up caffeine and alcohol, which must be detoxified by the liver. Instead, drink plenty of filtered water to help flush toxins out. I recommend 10 to 12 glasses per day.

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