DETOX Food

Body’s Toxic Burden:

A person’s toxic body burden is a result of three main factors.

First, there is the toxicant exposure we each may have received from both internal and external sources, as previously discussed.

Second, each person’s genetic predisposition to effectively produce detoxification enzymes for processing these compounds or substrates is unique and depends on familial influence.

Lastly, the integration of proper nutrition and ongoing dietary ingestion of helpful detoxification nutrients or phytonutrients can impact the body’s capacity to appropriately reduce the presence of toxicants and lower the body burden.

Scientists estimate that the average adult carries within her or his body at least 700 toxins and that a newborn’s body can contain over 200 toxins.

Effect of Toxins on Body:

Toxic symptoms may occur when we get to our personal limit of accumulated toxins and are not able to clear them quickly or efficiently enough. Medical researchers are recognizing more symptoms related to the buildup of toxins, including

Obesity

Type 2 diabetes

Metabolic syndrome

Cancer

Fatigue

Infertility

Allergies

Behavior and mood disordersand neurological conditions such as tremors, headaches, and cognitive difficulties

Along with several other diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

All proteins are essential for detoxification; however some contain specific compounds that play an important role in the detoxification process.

Spotlight on Soy Foods for Detox

Soy Foods

High methionine-containing food, making it important for methylation
Isoflavones from soy influence phase I and phase II liver detoxification
Isoflavones help to modify estrogen metabolites toward the more protective estrogen metabolites (2-hydroxyestrogens) and away from the reactive, carcinogenic forms of estrogen (16-alpha-hydroxyestrogens)
Choose non-GMO, organically-grown varieties of soy food products to prevent intake of contaminants

Detox Food Plan:

The Detox Food Plan focuses on incorporating natural and whole foods to support, modulate, induce, or inhibit various processes related to optimal detoxification and elimination. When making dietary choices to support detoxification, it is best to choose the Therapeutic Foods within each food group to maximize the medicinal effects.

General Nutrients to Support Metabolic Detoxification

Various nutrients are required to fuel the process of detoxification. A shortage or deficiency of any one of them could mean an increased body burden of toxins.

Phase I and Phase II Detoxification in the Liver

For individuals with genetic variability in cytochrome P450 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), or the first line of defense against toxins in the liver, referred to as phase I detoxification, foods that improve phase I

metabolism and phase II conjugation are recommended. Such foods are referred to as “bifunctional modulators of detoxification,” meaning they have the ability to address both phases of detoxification.

Plant foods, such as most vegetables and fruits, have this important characteristic, especially cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and watercress), garlic, onions, soy, pomegranate, artichoke hearts, citrus fruits, berries, green tea, and herbs and spices (e.g., turmeric). High-quality, lean protein is a must for facilitating phase II conjugation.