Straight nutrition : Detox time

So now you’ve done it! You had a great Christmas season and ate your way through it! And reality hits when you hit the scales. Welcome to the top of the year and let’s get going! What’s the plan?

Wikipedia describes detoxification as “the removal of toxic substances from the body. It is one of the major functions of the liver, lower gastrointestinal tract and kidneys.”

Alcohol detoxification is used as a form of drug rehabilitation to treat alcoholism or other drug addiction. The process involves abstinence to clear the drug from the body.

Metabolic detoxification, or metabolism, can produce harmful substances which it can then make less toxic through oxidation, conjugation and excretion of molecules from cells or tissues. This is called xenobiotic metabolism.

Enzymes that are important in detoxification metabolism include cytochrome P450 oxidases, UDP-glucuronosyltransferases and glutathione S-transferases.

Toxins can be described as any compound that has a detrimental effect on cell function or structure. Heavy metals, chemical toxins, microbial compounds and breakdown products of protein metabolism are the focus of this next Straight Nutrition series.

Toxins damage the body in an insidious and cumulative way. Once the detoxification system becomes overloaded, toxic metabolites accumulate and sensitivity to other chemicals, some of which are not normally toxic, becomes progressively greater.

We’re talking volume here. Calories input verses energy burned equals plus/minus weight.

Over the next few weeks we’re going to focus on natural ways to support detoxification and elimination, enhancing the function of the liver, the body’s primary organ for neutralization of undesirable chemicals.

Step one: Stop accumulating more waste than your body can eliminate and/or increase your burn rate.

Check your volume intake against your energy output. An inactive, 40-year-old adult female, 5’6” tall, can burn approximately 1,650 calories per day. That breaks down to three 100-calorie snacks and three 450-calorie meals.

An inactive, 40-year-old male, 6’0” tall, burns about 2,200 calories, equating to eating three 135-calorie snacks and three 600-calorie meals.

Are you causing congestion by forcing your liver to filter more food than it can handle?

If you would be interested in knowing more about a specific area or approach in natural health or nutrition, send me an e-mail at [email protected]. I’m open to your suggestions on topics of interest.

1. This article is for educational purposes only and contains information that is the opinion of the columnist.

2. Your individual health status and any required healthcare treatments can only be properly addressed by a professional healthcare provider. We encourage you to make your own healthcare decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified healthcare professional of your choice.