Clear out your body's toxins for more energy and better overall health

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 by: Katherine Leonard, MS, NC
Tags: detoxification, pesticides, improved health

(NaturalNews) Not only are we exposed to external environmental toxins (air pollution, pesticides, heavy metals...), but we are also exposed to their own internal toxins produced by the body. External toxins are often not neutralized and excreted from the body, but rather stored in the fat cells. When the body is under stress, it can release these toxins into the blood stream where they can wreak havoc on many other places in the body, causing inflammation and burdening the liver. So how do you know if you are toxic? Do you suffer from headaches, excess weight, muscle/joint pain, food allergies, depression, insomnia, fatigue, asthma, body odor, or acne/eczema? If so, your body is trying to tell you that it is out of balance and these matters need to be addressed before they become serious health conditions.

When stored toxins are released from fat cells, as in times of stress or weight-loss, these harmful molecules can lead to cellular damage and the creation of more toxic byproducts that the liver will also have to detoxify. But if the body is lacking a certain vitamin or if external toxins inhibit the enzyme reactions, then the liver may not be able to neutralize and detoxify all of the harmful chemicals. The liver may be overwhelmed and unable to handle incoming toxins, let alone the toxins already stored inside the body.

Instead, the liver continues to shuttle toxins back into fat cells rather than filtering them out, neutralizing them, and sending them to the kidneys for excretion. Toxins can also be stored in brain tissue, muscle tissue, nervous tissue, and even in cellular membranes. Virtually every biological system can be inhibited by toxic exposure. Disruption of hormonal and neurotransmitter function (due to toxin exposure, poor diet and lifestyle choices, and pharmaceuticals) can also cause harmful imbalances.

Why nutritional deficiencies make us more toxic

In addition, nutritional deficiencies predispose an individual to increased internal toxin production because biochemical processes rely on nutrients to function and without sufficient amounts, a cascade of dysfunctional biological processes will lead to further internal deterioration and weakened health. Moreover, there are many nutrients required for all of the different detoxification pathways and processes and one or more deficiencies can lead to severe impairment in the body's ability to detoxify.

Increased external toxin exposure and accumulation combined with nutritional deficiencies, lead to an increased production of internal toxins from suboptimally functioning biochemical processes. Not only are detoxification processes disrupted, but so are other biochemical processes in the body that regulate mood, appetite, energy levels, immunity, and more.

If you experience symptoms like the ones listed above, you do have some level of toxicity in the body. There is a need to clean up your lifestyle, reduce inflammation, boost nutrient intake, and support the GI tract, liver, and kidneys in order to reduce toxicity and restore health.

Sources for this article include:

Hyman, M. (2012). Systems biology, toxins, obesity and functional medicine. [pdf]. New York: Integrative Health Care Symposium.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22937713
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23029795

About the author:
Katherine Leonard is a Holistic Nutritionist and naturopathic medical student with a passion for supporting people regain their health by reducing exposure to environmental toxins and transitioning to a nourishing and health-promoting lifestyle. Katherine has particular interest in helping women prepare their bodies for pregnancy. She has a master's degree in Holistic Nutrition and is currently enrolled in a 4-year doctorate degree in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University.

Katherine believes that optimal health is achieved through organic whole foods, a toxin-free environment, stress management, and physical activity. Her passion is to design personalized programs to help others live nourishing lifestyles.

For more information and to sign up for a complimentary 15-minute consultation,
visit www.holistic-nourishment.com.
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