Return to flip book view

By Carrun Squires Everyone has the right to good health

YOUR MIND, BODY, LIFE, AND SOULSpring has most definitely sprung! The sun is out, the birds are singing, and we are stepping out om the cold and dark into the warmth and light. You may have noticed Spring blossoms, baby birds, esh new grass and buds on trees. It’s when nature reveals all that’s esh, new and full of vitality. And don’t we want to feel like that too!Naturopathic medicine has long known the benefits of gut healing and the importance of reducing toxic load and enhancing the body’s detoxification capacity. Spring is traditionally the time to do this aer a long, cold winter.What is detoxification?Detoxification is a natural metabolic process your body undertakes every day to help eliminate the environmental, dietary and internally created toxins we are all exposed to. This complex process changes toxins into less harmful substances, so that they can be safely excreted om the body. Signs that your body may be struggling under an increased toxic load (or reduced cellular capacity to resist toxins) are tiredness, inflammation, allergies, gut issues, foggy brain, or difficulty losing weight. Detoxification may not be accepted or even understood by many mainstream medical practitioners, however the scientific literature provides increasing evidence that implicate toxins behind many chronic diseases. Supporting healthy detoxification in the body is a cornerstone of traditional natural medicine practice, and doing a detox By Carrun Squires Era Magazine Spring 2021 77

greater toxic burden than ever before. No matter how careful we are or where we live, we all have some level of toxic exposure.Scientific research confirms that the majority of the human population has detectable levels of environmental chemicals in their body, for example, heavy metals, bisphenol A, phthalates, pesticides and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), many of which are found in the everyday products we use or consume. Moreover, these chemicals present in our bodies are no longer considered benign, as growing evidence suggests that these ‘endocrine disrupting chemicals’ (EDCs) play a causal role in conditions such as obesity and program may just be the turning point to getting your health back on track.We live in a chemical worldWe detoxify all the time – if we didn’t we’d die. Fact. The problem is, the detoxification capacity of our body is not able to keep up with the increasing onslaught of chemicals we’re exposed to every day. Some of these chemicals are not always detoxified efficiently and may be stored in fat tissue or re-circulated causing a myriad of health problems.Our environment has become increasingly polluted with tens of thousands of toxic chemicals resulting in a Diagram courtesy Metagenics InstituteHow toxins disrupt health and drive disease 78 Era Magazine Spring 2021

as no surprise that a key goal of a detoxification program is not only to support all organs of elimination but to also strengthen gut health. An imbalanced, or dysbiotic, microbiome may be linked to intestinal diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, and non-intestinal conditions, such as depression, autism, autoimmunity, Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, and diabetes. The seat of all health, and detoxification, starts with a healthy gut.Where do toxins come from?We are literally bathing in toxins. Think of your day and what you’re exposed to om the second you open your eyes in the morning aer sleeping on a mattress and pillow containing foams and fire retardants. You head to the shower where you’re literally breathing in the chemicals contained in our treated water as gases, e.g. fluoride and chlorine. You use deodorants, make up and perfumes containing a myriad of chemicals and heavy metals like acetone, lead and aluminium. Moisturisers containing phthalates are smoothed over the face and throat, directly over the delicate thyroid gland. You dress in clothes that may have been dry cleaned and therefore contain formaldehyde and other chemicals. You may have amalgams in your teeth leaking mercury. Do you love that new car smell as you drive to work? That could be the styrene, toluene and more formaldehyde that you’re enjoying. And that new house smell with its lovely new carpets? That could be diabetes, male and female reproductive disorders, hormone-sensitive cancers in females, prostate cancer, thyroid dysfunction and neurodevelopmental disorders. Even babies are not immune – a study by the Environmental Working Group in 2005 identified 287 environmental contaminants in umbilical cord blood.EDCs can also cause gut dysbiosis (imbalance) and shi the composition and function of our microbiome. Once inside the body, EDCs can interfere with hormonal signalling, cause inflammation, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction leading to ill health. These toxins cause intestinal permeability (also known as ‘leaky gut’) which compromises our gastrointestinal mucosal barrier allowing toxins to pass into the lymphatic and blood circulation. Similarly, agments om dysbiotic bacteria, known as lipopolysaccharides or endotoxins, can also pass through this ‘leaky gut’ and trigger systemic inflammation.Toxins from withinIn addition to environmental chemicals, we are also exposed to other toxins made by our own bodies, adding to our toxic load and burden of poor health. The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates said that ‘all disease begins in the gut’, and this is a strong principle of naturopathic medicine. The gastrointestinal tract forms a defensive barrier om what we ingest, preventing harmful substances om reaching the bloodstream. So, it comes Era Magazine Spring 2021 79

Phase 1Specific enzymes produced in the liver called cytochrome P enzymes, help detoxify a number of substances, including medications, caffeine, alcohol and environmental pollutants.The primary nutrients required during phase  detoxification include B vitamins, vitamin C, folate, copper, magnesium, and zinc; antioxidants including glutathione (an important cellular antioxidant), N-acetylcysteine and lipoic acid; and the branched-chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine. The nutrient choline is needed for the production of the P detoxification enzymes. Phase  detoxification is further enhanced by indole--carbinol found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower; and flavonoids, including silymarin om milk thistle, which is known to increase glutathione concentration in the liver. Vitamin B is essential to restore glutathione but is depleted by chlorinated pesticides and formaldehyde. Vitamin B helps block ee-radical damage by recycling glutathione. Vitamin B is depleted by many toxic substances, making it difficult for the liver to detoxify.Phase 2The substances om phase , which are partially detoxified, react with other substances in the liver that convert them into water-soluble compounds to be eliminated om the body. A lot of co-factors such as antioxidants (selenium, the vinyl acetate, butylated hydroxytoluene, phencyclohexane and more formaldehyde. Then there’s air quality (do you live in the city?), cleaning chemicals, moulds, prescription medicines and other pharmaceuticals, plastics and water quality, stress, lifestyle and ultra-processed foods. And on top of that … you’re producing your own toxins om your food, thoughts, lifestyle and hormones.The typical Australian diet is high in fats and sugars and relies heavily on nutrient-depleted vegetables, grains, uits and antibiotic and hormone-laden meats. It’s easy to grab this type of food when we’re tired and time poor. This unhealthy diet provides inadequate levels of the nutrients required to support our day-to-day detox processes. Unless all your food is organic, you’re ingesting pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, and other fumigants. Nutrition for detoxification really is important – let’s take a look at the liver for example.A deep dive into the liver’s role in detoxificationThe liver plays a major role in the detoxification of many substances in the body, whether they come om the environment, food, or om within the body. To metabolise and eliminate these potentially harmful toxins, the liver has developed an intricate, two-step detoxification system. Together these two phases convert toxins into water-soluble molecules that can be excreted safely om the body in the stool and urine.80 Era Magazine Spring 2021

and allergens such as gluten, alcohol, and coffee. Reducing your exposure to environmental toxins such as cigarette smoke, cleaning products, cosmetics, and other personal care items will also reduce the burden.2 Support healthy detoxification pathwaysHistorically, many detox programs have focused exclusively on liver support but all organs of elimination (kidney, gut, skin, lungs, and liver) are supported to ensure optimal detoxification.3 Neutralise free radicals Specific antioxidants are included to protect against potentially harmful ee radicals (unstable atoms that can damage cells) produced during the detox process.4 Eliminate waste productsSupport healthy liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal elimination.Many ‘detox in a box’ products that you can purchase off the shelf are a one-size-fits-all approach and oen don’t contain what you need. The real key to achieving a lasting result om a clinical detoxification program is to see a qualified naturopathic practitioner who can individualise a program that is targeted to the health goal you wish to achieve. It takes into consideration zinc, molybdenum, glutathione), vitamins (B, B, B, C, folate) and amino acids (glycine, cysteine, methionine, taurine, glutamine) are all needed at ample levels for phase  to occur.Supporting the body’s toxin processing plantIt might sound complex but a detoxification program is really all about supporting your body’s natural toxin processing plant by: • supporting all the organs of elimination (not just the liver);• reducing exposure to chemicals; and• providing your body with the right ingredients it needs. Unfortunately, we no longer live on the top of a mountain, foraging for organic foods, drinking crystal clear spring water, and breathing pristine air. Our caveman bodies and detoxification capacities are overloaded by the demands of our toxic-laden modern life. No wonder we’re feeling unwell, unproductive, and unmotivated. This is where a targeted, individualised detox program can help.What is involved in a detoxification program?A naturopathic, clinician-supported detox program is usually anywhere om two weeks to six weeks but can extend up to three months in more complex situations. Basically, there are four key therapeutic aims.1 Reduce toxin burdenA specialised detoxification diet that includes avoiding common dietary toxins

The detox dietThe most overwhelming concern I hear om people is that a detox is overly restrictive or bland and that they’re going to feel hungry and miserable all the time. Nothing could be further om the truth! There is such an abundance of delicious, healthy food to enjoy whilst you detox – remember your body needs all those nutrients and amino acids to do the job. The major principles of a detox diet are:• Plant based – liberal amounts of esh and raw greens, esh vegetables, uits and spices, legumes, nuts and seeds, and moderate amounts of wholegrains.• Low saturated fat – high fat diets encourage the circulation of components of harmful bacteria om the digestive system into the blood stream.• Whole food – no refined, processed or packaged foods, just healthy wholefoods as nature intended.• Gluten and dairy ee – two of the most common allergens that increase inflammation.• Organic – reduces your exposure to insecticide, herbicide and pesticide residues have higher levels of phytonutrients.• Alkalising – reducing refined grains and animal protein and increasing alkaline plant foods reduces acid load within the body.• Hydrating – detoxification requires water – consuming two to three litres of pure water daily assists the kidneys to remove wastes and improves cell function.your symptoms, health history, medications you may be taking and any other influencing factors, such as environmental or occupational exposure. Your health goal might be: • to resolve some gut issues you’re experiencing; • learn how to make healthier choices • clear that foggy brain; • kick-start that weight loss journey you’ve been thinking of;• as part of your pre-conception care;• just because you want to feel clearer, healthier, lighter and brighter.What are some of the medicines that help and heal?Besides nutrients, antioxidants and amino acids, you may also be prescribed specific strains of probiotics such as Bifidobacterium animalis spp (BB-) and Sacchromyces cerevisiae (boulardii) (SB) to assist with gut healing and elimination to replenish healthy gut bacteria.Herbal medicines are oen prescribed such as sulforaphane (om broccoli sprouts), extract om Camellia seninsis (green tea), Silybum marianum (milk thistle), Curcuma longa (turmeric) and Taraxacum officinale rad (dandelion root) as they are highly antioxidant and protect liver cells om toxic stress and ee radical damage during detoxification.82 Era Magazine Spring 2021

• Check your cleaning products and avoid those that are agranced or made with chemical ingredients.• Review your personal care products and choose more natural options.• Get a good night’s sleep as your body uses sleep as an opportunity to heal and rejuvenate.• Avoid toxic emotions and stress if you can! Find positive affirmations or quotes that inspire you to fight off negative thoughts.Spring into SpringEvery year I step into Spring looking forward to my yearly ‘spring clean’ … my detox. Sometimes I detox for two weeks, sometimes it’s for six weeks. It really depends on the year I’ve had and how well I’ve been able to look aer myself given the demands of a busy, and sometimes toxic, lifestyle. But I do it every single year. It’s such a beautiful gi to myself.Everyone has the right to good health. YOU have the right to good health. Allowing yourself the opportunity to carry out your detox program is one of the best gis you can give yourself. You’re paving the way to many more years of optimal living and your body, mind, and spirit cannot thank you enough. Think of it as an investment into your health bank every year. The more effort you put in, the greater health returns you will receive.www.carrunsquires.comWhat can I do to reduce my toxic load?If you’re still unsure about diving head-first into a clinician-supported detox program, there are some things you can start to do now to reduce your exposure to the chemical soup we live in.• Eat organic whenever possible to reduce your exposure to chemicals like POPs.• Invest in a high-quality water filter.• Exercise increases oxygen delivery to all your tissues making your body more efficient at metabolising and eliminating toxins. It also increases the flow of important lymphatic fluid which is integral to toxin elimination.• Try a sauna. The skin is the largest organ of elimination and every time you perspire you’re eliminating toxins through the skin.• Treat yourself to a massage to keep lymphatic fluid moving.• Eliminate/reduce alcohol, tobacco, second-hand smoke, drugs and over the counter medicines where possible.• Start skin brushing.• Meditate or practice mindfulness to reduce exposure to chronic levels of stress hormones which all need to be detoxified.• Eat an abundance of vegetables and uits to keep your body flush with those important antioxidants to protect against the damage toxins can do. • Indulge in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and bok choy as they assist with hormonal clearance.Era Magazine Spring 2021 83