Before we get into this topic there is one thing we need to clear up first; and that’s the topic of inflammation.

People in some wellness circles use this as a buzzword ad nauseam; to the point it can be basically meaningless. The actual definition of inflammation is the complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells or irritants. Overall, inflammation is a protective response that involves many key processes in the body.

So despite the negative connotations of the word itself, this process is a positive one over all for the body. However, what happens if the body is bombarded by inflammatory substances all the time? Well it would be fair to say that our body would feel under constant attack. In turn, we’re asking a lot of our internal system, in particular our major organs. At this point, we can move on to our unsung, hardworking hero, the liver.

The Unsung Hero of Detoxification

It’s hardly the coolest kid on the organ block, but behind the bodily scenes, the liver does an incredible job of keeping us functioning day to day. But for all its hard work, we barely lift a hand to help it. Instead we suffocate it with artificial flavourings, colourings, foreign chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and a huge helping of the stress hormone cortisol. The liver can only take so much before this burden finally takes its toll on our major detoxifier. If you’re looking supplement for stress and boosting your immune system, check out quercetin australia.

Our liver is the body’s second largest organ; only the skin is larger and heavier; which as luck would have it, is our other major detoxifier. It’s no coincidence that the two largest organs share the same major role of ‘detoxing’. Now the liver has many other purposes within the body, but today we’re zoning in on its detoxing benefits. In a nutshell, it’s the livers job to monitor the contents of the blood, and remove any potentially toxic substances. Enzymes will metabolise these toxic substances such as those from alcohol and drugs (including pharmaceutical).

The Guts of Detoxification

So now down to this process of detoxifying; it’s complex to say the least, but let’s give it a try and break it down into simple terms. The whole idea is to break down toxins from fat soluble to water soluble, so they can be easily excreted from the body.

There are two major phases involved in the elimination of toxins. The first phase is known as ‘Phase 1’, and it involves the neutralisation of these pathogens. This is dependent on major co-factors like magnesium, riboflavin, niacin, iron and properties from green vegetables. What they do is help to kick start the process off.

‘Phase 2’, commonly known as the ‘Conjugation Pathway’ helps the excretion aspect, by targeting particular types of toxins and pathogens. This phase is heavily dependent on amino acids. This fact alone already leaves clues to the limitations of cleanses, like juice cleanses and lemon detoxes.

So where do we get these major amino acids from?

The answer is protein! Now I don’t want to turn this into a major debate on red meat, animal protein and so forth; the point is that protein is the big player in detoxification. I will use the example of glycine. Where is this most commonly derived? It’s in animal protein sources. Glycine is one of the most important amino acids for the neutralisation of many toxins. It’s also a precursor for other compounds like glutathione, which is also a vital master antioxidant for the clearance of heavy metals.

However, this is not a discussion on each amino acid individually. It’s simply to highlight that detoxification is a two phase process, and without theses pivotal amino acids, we’re only just starting the initial phase. This could be a risky step without having the key components to help with the clearance of stubborn toxins and substances.

Your Blood Markers Don’t Lie

Your body leaves clues to when you don’t have these vital aminos to detoxify properly. Your blood markers can be a key indicator to what properties you may be missing. A large majority of your blood markers represent the protein you are either getting, or in most peoples’ instances, not getting. This can be very complicated to explain for individual circumstances; that’s why at 5EW, we’ll help to identify where these deficiencies may lie, specifically for you.

So we know that protein is a key player to detoxifying more efficiently, so the first thing you could look at doing is as simple as increasing your protein intake! This is one focus; however there are other steps that can facilitate our body’s ability to detoxify better.

Some of the stats on chemicals and pesticides are alarming. It’s estimated that some 85,000 new synthetic chemicals are released into the environment, 350 different types of pesticides used on the food we eat and that 400 synthetic chemicals found in humans. Now of course many will dispute these statistics and once again we can continue to go around in circles trying to improve our health. However, no-one can dispute that our livers are being exposed to many more things than 200 years ago.

Cleansing can be another great tool for helping in the detoxification process. Doing a proper, structured cleanse allows us to rest the adrenals, rest the pancreas, increase mental clarity, rest the G.I. tract and ultimately expel toxins. However, it must be structured properly and include all the components that play a role in the proper clearance of toxins.

Get the Basics Sorted First

Demystifying Detoxification

We only allow people to embark on a proper cleanse when their body is ready for it. Always start with:

  • Switching to eating good clean foods
  • Sufficient hydration
  • Increasing training capacity for clearance of xenoestrogens
  • Use less aggressive forms of detoxification like infrared saunas

The infrared sauna is our little jewel in our facility. You can go back as far as the Ancient Greeks to see the benefits of heat in the battle of clearing toxins and improving health. Our infrared sauna can eliminate almost every type of toxic contamination. Most notable are mercury, lead, calcium, as well as drugs and environmental chemicals. It also facilitates better blood flow, which we recognise as a key driver in more efficient clearance of toxins and mobilisation of fat.

Starting the detoxification process doesn’t have to be complicated. Protein, infrared saunas, training, movement, and an increase in water intake will all help. At 5EW we take a very measured approach, which allows your skin and liver to just concentrate on what they do best- detoxification. Just think of it as ringing out a dirty sponge filled with dirt and grime, ready to soak up all the goodness needed to help it function optimally.

If you’d like to find out more about the detoxification process and how it can help you, just have a chat with us, we’d be glad to help.