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Detoxification explained
In recent history, mankind has managed to drastically change the chemistry
of our environment.
A report in 1989 stated, that a grand total of 5,705,670,380 pounds
of chemical pollutants were released into the environment we eat, breath
and live in, all in just One year.
To compound the problem of our toxic environment, we have refined away
much of the nutritional value of our food supply and replaced it with
artificial colourings, preservatives, flavourings, conditioners, etc..
Unfortunately, our Diet, combined with extensive use of Antibiotics,
Hormones in medicine and agriculture, may have predisposed many of us
to experience a kind of "Internal Pollution".
Internal pollution occurs when the healthful bacteria in the
intestinal tract are overcome by unhealthy bacteria. But toxins not
only come from external sources (referred to as exotoxins); they are
also produced from within the body (endotoxins). For example; intestinal
bacteria may release specific metabolic by-products, that when absorbed,
have toxic effects, negatively impacting overall health... Consequences
of Toxicity...
When the body experiences an overload of toxic substances, the consequences
can manifest in a number of ways: headaches; muscle and joint pain;
fatigue; irritability; depression; mental confusion; gastro-intestinal
tract irregularities; cardiovascular abnormalities; flu-like symptoms
or allergic reactions, including hives, stuffy or runny nose, sneezing
and coughing and even more serious; autoimmune disease, including inflammatory
and rheumatoid arthritis and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's
and Parkinson's disease.
The Role Of Intestinal Permeability...
From the body's point of view, the digestive tract, starting at the
mouth and ending at the anus, is one long pipe and even more important,
it is to be recognised as an "outside" surface. In other words, we may
compare ourself to a doughnut, lots of body and a hole in the middle.
Before material (food, toxins, bacteria, anything) enters the body,
it must cross the gut-mucosa by either active or passive means. The
gut, acting as a selective barrier, absorbs needed nutrients, water,
electrolytes and vitamins and should exclude anything else. If the bowel
is unable to exclude non-nutritive material, then toxic, antigenic material
can cross the mucosa and enter circulation. All material that crosses
the mucosa is inspected by the immune system. Individuals with an abnormal
or "Leaky Gut", may develop an abnormal inflammatory response to these
Antigens, be they dietary (insufficient digested food particles, macromolecules),
bacterial, viral, chemical or endotoxins in origin, could produce either
local or systemic diseases, such as Allergies or even Autoimmune Diseases.
What causes the Intestinal Mucosa to become more permaeable (leaky)?
Permeability changes occur as a result of irritation of the gut lining
(alcohol, smoking), overgrowth or imbalance of intestinal flora, chronic
nutritional insufficiency, and/or exposure to bacterial, viral and chemical
toxins. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as Ibuprofen
and Aspirin have also reported to cause gastrointestinal damages. Ironically,
many people who have an inflammatory joint disesae are prescribed NSAID'S
for inflammation and painrelief, which may exacerbate the problem of
both gut permeability and the inflammatory disease itself.
Further complication, > low gastric acidity and malabsorbtion...
Gastric acid secretion is a fundamental step in digestion and assimilation.
Many clinical conditions originate with decreased gastric acidity, such
as: bloating, belching, burning, and flatulence immediately after meals;
a sense of fullness after eating; indigestion, diarrhea or constipation,
allergies, nausea after taking supplements; rectal itching; weak, peeling
or cracked fingernails; dilated capillaries in the cheeks and nose (in
non-alcoholics); post-adolescent acne; iron deficiency; chronic intestinal
infections - parasites, yeast, bacteria; undigested food in stool; malabsorbtion
in general and of fat, characterised by steatorrhea (floating stool).
Acid secretion decreases with age...
Gastric Acid secretion prevents excessive growth of bacteria in the
small intestine and is the main barrier for any organism to travel up
or down the digestive tract. Bacterial overgrowth interferes with digestion
and irritates the intestinal mucosa, a strong factor in bowel permeability.
A number of important clinical diseases are strongly associated with
low gastric secretion and malabsorption, such as: Addison's disease,
Allergies, Asthma, Coeliac, Chronic autoimmune disorders, Dermatitis,
Diabetes mellitus, Eczema, Gallbladder, Gastric carcinoma, Gastritis,
Glossitis, Graves disease, Hepatitis, "Leaky Gut" syndrome, Lupus erythematous,
osteoporosis, Pernicious anaemia, Psoriasis, Rosacea, Urticaria, Vitiliga,
Weightloss or gain.
Food Intolerance: Allergy or Intestinal Disorder?
Recently, it has been suggested that specific food intolerances are
not true allergies, but rather are related to metabolic toxicity and
leaking bowel syndrome, as discussed above. This has been shown in patients
who, after going through detoxification and re-establishment of an intact
mucosa and a healthy intestinal flora, have had far less allergy reaction
or even non, depending on the length of the program. (Ask about allergy
and phenolic's info)
Understanding Detoxification, in the Past and Now...
In the past, detoxification included the water and juice fast. Today
however, we know methods such as these may do more harm than good. These
fasts work under the principle that the body will heal itself when the "stress" of digestion and the insulting agents are eliminated.. However,
the different processes of detoxification are not only energy intensive,
but are dependent upon adequate levels of supporting nutrients. A water
fast, being totally devoid of energy sources, may infect suppress detoxification
rather than enhance it. (Fasts work well for healthy people who have
enough energy reserves) Detoxification programs that use a broad-based
nutritional approach are advantageous for a number of reasons. These
programs, while detoxifying, supply the Liver with the right nutrients
to enhance the de-toxification processes and at the same time prevent
muscle tissue catabolism; build up a healthy intestinal flora and regenerate
mucous linings. Additionally, fructo-oligosacchaides may enhance detoxification
by stimulating the growth of Bifidobacteria, a friendly bacteria.
Summery
To put it all into a nutshell; our environment has become toxic,
so have our bodies. Combime this with; a leaky bowl, bacteria or yeast
overgrowth and top that up with low gastric acid production and you
have created a perfect condition to set yourself up with about any disease
you could think of. Although that may sound rather negative, we have
at least now the understanding and the means to correct this condition;
a personal tailored detoxification program, monitored with toxic bowel
test's and symptom charts.
Detoxification can be adminestrate in various degrees.
For the chronic ill person, who has suffered from a cocktail
of diseases, symptoms and illnesses, there is only one way to go, a
step by step detoxification program, eliminating all possible disturbances
to the system. Such a full fledged program can easily take one year
of work, which should come not as a surprise, considering the length
of time a patient had a chronic illness.
For the fit and healthy person, detoxification is just a matter
of prevention and may involve a simple program lasting for a week. I
personally recommend for everyone at least 1 week each year, to go through
a mild Detoxification Program, including prevention techniques and re-establishing
intestinal flora , which I call the Wellness Program.
It's much more fun to work on your "wellness" than on your sickness...
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