Support Your Organs Of Detoxification!

It’s no secret that there are toxins in our environment – both the external ones from the environment and the internal ones, from inside the body. If we don’t work to remove both kinds, they can build up and create health problems.

Detoxification is the process by which the body removes these toxins. In fact, your body has a built-in system for doing just that. The various organs of this detox system work together to get rid of built-up toxins through the urine, the bowels, and even the breath.

Why Detox?

When these organs get backed up with toxins, the detoxification process can slow down. The backlog of toxic substances creates inflammation, leading to symptoms like pain, swelling, and loss of function in various parts of the body, including the thyroid.

It’s essential to your health to maintain a good detoxification system.

Periodic “detox” regimens of diet changes, nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, and botanical medicines can be extremely useful for doing so. However, your daily routine, which includes, diet, exercise, and stress management practices, will help prevent a problem before it can get out of hand.

What exactly is the detoxification system, you ask?

Let’s have a look at the organs in the body that carry out detoxification, how to know if they’re not doing their job, and what to do about it.

Organs of Detoxification

Your body’s detoxification system consists of several organs and tissues that specialize in various aspects of the detoxification process. If any one of them malfunctions or gets overloaded with toxins, the whole system may be affected, leading to inflammation.

The main components of the detoxification system include:

• Liver
• Kidneys
• Lymphatic System/Glymphatic System
• Colon
• Secondary Organs – Lungs, Skin, Mucous Membranes

Let’s look at each one of these to understand what they do and how to keep them working in top form.

1. The Liver

The liver is a very large organ located in the top right section of your abdomen just under the ribs. In fact, at 1.5 kg, it’s the largest internal organ in the body (we’ll cover the largest organ overall a bit later).

We often think of the liver mainly as a detoxifier, but it it’s involved in several important bodily functions, including digestion, protein synthesis, blood sugar balance, cholesterol and fat metabolism, blood clotting, and nutrient storage.The main role of the liver in detoxification is to process chemical toxins so that they can be easily excreted from the body. There are three stages of the liver’s detox – Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III.

Phase I Liver Detoxification

This first step of the liver’s detox pathway primarily involves a family of enzymes known as Cytochrome P450 (CypP450). These enzymes use oxygen and NADH (derived from Vitamin B3) to add a reactive biochemical group to the toxin so it can be further processed.

Sometimes, this results in a reactive compound that is potentially more toxic that what you started with¹. That’s why, if you’re trying to boost Phase I detoxification, it’s crucial to boost Phase II as well, so you don’t end up with a back-up of toxins.

Phase II Liver Detoxification

Once the toxic chemical has been “primed” in Phase I, it can be further processed in Phase II of the pathway. This involves a process called “conjugation”, whereby one of various molecules are added to the chemical to aid its removal.

The most common molecules used in conjugation include glucuronic acid, sulphate, glutathione, methyl groups, and amino acids like glycine, glutamine, and taurine¹.

These molecules make the toxic substance water-soluble, so it can be more easily expelled through the bile, which is made by the liver, and urine. They also help prevent the toxins in the bile from getting re-absorbed in the gut, defeating the whole purpose of detoxification: moving the toxins out!

Phase III Liver Detoxification

Relatively recently, a third phase in the liver’s detox pathway has been discovered. This one appears to involve special proteins called “antiporters”, which transport toxins out of cells. One example of these is P-glycoprotein, which moves toxic chemicals out of cells and into the gut where they can be excreted².

Antiporters have been found to exist in many tissues throughout the body, not just in the liver.

If these three phases of liver detox are so important, how do we ensure that they’re working optimally? As usual, it comes down to proper nutrition.

Vitamins B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cobalamin), and folic acid act as co-factors for the enzymes involved in Phase I detox¹. Nutrients such as glutathione; flavonoids; Vitamins A, C, and E; Coenzyme Q10; selenium; and zinc act as antioxidants to prevent the toxic metabolites of the Phase I process from causing damage to surrounding cells.

Phase II liver detox requires several nutrients to use directly or indirectly in the conjugation process.

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), glycine, and glutamic acid are needed to make glutathione. Glycine is also used directly in Phase II conjugation. You can get these nutrients as single amino acid supplements or in combination.

Trimethylglycine (aka betaine) is a source of methyl groups, which aid one type of Phase II conjugation known as methylation. It’s easily found in supplement form. Folic acid can also provide methyl groups for this process.

Milk Thistle is an excellent botanical for protecting the liver during the detoxification process while herbs such as dandelion root, globe artichoke, and burdock root promote the detox.

Broccoli, kale, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts are excellent sources of sulfur-containing compounds which may potentially help all three phases of liver detox.

2. The Kidneys

The kidneys are a pair of large, bean-shaped organs (there is a bean named for them, after all) that sit in your upper abdomen toward the back.

Like the liver, they perform several functions for your body. This includes regulating blood pressure and blood sugar, processing Vitamin D, promoting red blood cell formation, maintaining the acid-base balance in the body, and filtering the blood to remove wastes produced by the body and those from the outside³.

It’s this last function that we’ll look at more closely here.

The kidneys are comprised of millions of filtration units known as nephrons (why the medical term for the study of the kidneys is called nephrology). Each nephron is composed of two main components that perform the filtering – a glomerulus and a tubule⁴.

As the blood moves through the glomerulus, it removes metabolic waste products, like urea, uric acid, ammonia, and creatinine, as well as water-soluble toxins that have been processed by the liver. Larger molecules, like proteins, and red blood cells are kept in the blood while water and the smaller molecules listed above flow into the tubule.

The tubule acts like a recycler: it takes most of the water, minerals and other nutrients that have made it through the glomerulus and returns them to the blood, thus preventing dehydration and nutrient deficiencies. This also helps maintain the acid-base balance in the body. The fluid that is left over after moving through the tubule is called urine, which is flushed out through the rest of the urinary system.

Because a lot of blood flows through them, the state of the cardiovascular system has a huge impact on the health of the kidneys. High blood pressure and diabetes can harm the kidneys if left untreated.

Kidney stones and cysts can develop for various reasons, including toxin overload.

So, keeping the kidneys healthy is a key part of maintaining the body’s ability to detoxify itself. Again, nutrition plays a huge role here.

The kidneys require healthy protein, especially from plant foods, and healthy fats, like those from avocado, walnuts, pecans, and cold-water fish.

They also benefit from antioxidant nutrients such as Vitamins C, A, and E; NAC; and selenium. These nutrients prevent the kidneys from damage by oxidative stress.

Maintaining healthy blood vessels and managing blood sugar will help prevent oxidative damage to the kidneys, which could reduce their ability to detox.

Botanicals, like nettle leaf and dandelion leaf, promote kidney function and contain minerals that help replenish those lost in the filtration process. Turmeric and hydrangea may help protect kidney cells from oxidative damage, thus supporting their ability to efficiently remove toxins⁵.

Perhaps the main way to keep the kidneys healthy and performing their detox function is to stay well hydrated. The exact quantity of water you should be taking will depend on your age, size, gender, and other health factors. For most adults, that’s going to be between 8-12 glasses of clean, filtered water per day.

3. The Lymphatic and Glymphatic Systems

The lymphatic system is a system of vessels throughout your body that transports fluid, called lymph. Think of it as a parallel circulatory system⁶.

It also consists of structures known as lymph nodes, and other collections of lymphatic tissue, that contain white blood cells and filter the lymph fluid.

The glymphatic system is simply the lymphatic system of the brain. It consists of lymphatic vessels, feeding into those of the head and neck, However, there are no lymph nodes in the brain.

The main functions of the lymphatic system are to:

• Return excess fluid from the body’s tissues back to the circulatory system
• Transport fat taken up by the digestive system
• Detoxify and repair (what some call the immune system)

Unlike the circulatory system, the lymphatic system doesn’t have a central organ (the heart) to move the fluid around. Instead, it relies on the contraction of muscles and the act of breathing to get the lymph flowing.

With the help of this muscular activity, the lymph makes it way up from the legs, torso, and arms and down from the head and neck into the blood vessels near the heart. Thus, the extra fluid from the tissues is returned to the main circulation.

This lymph fluid often contains toxins which, once returned to the circulatory system, can be eliminated through the kidneys and liver.

If the lymphatic system stops working, fluid builds up in the tissues which creates swelling (known as lymphedema in medical terms). Besides making it harder to lose weight, this extra fluid can accumulate toxins, triggering inflammation in the surrounding tissues.

Redness, pain, and swelling, on the skin, in the joints, in the lymph nodes, and in the digestive tract may be partially caused by a failure of the toxins to get cleared through the lymphatic system.

When the lymphatic system isn’t clearing the toxins, the body may try to push them out through the respiratory system, leading to the symptoms of cold and flu.

Certain health conditions, like heart failure and kidney disease, may make it even harder for your lymphatic system to keep up with the increased demand for fluid drainage.

For these reasons, keeping your lymph flowing is one of the keys to maintaining your health.

One of the best ways to get the lymph going is through regular exercise.

Some of the most helpful exercises for boosting lymphatic flow include walking and using a rebounder (jumping on a mini-trampoline). These should be done every day, if possible. For each session, walk for 30-45 minutes at a moderate to brisk pace or use the rebounder for 20 minutes.

Muscle building exercises, using light weights, also assist pumping the lymph. Ideally, strength exercises should be done for 30-40 minutes, 3x/week.

Like the muscles of the limbs, the diaphragm is a powerful muscle that helps move the lymph during the breathing process. Taking deep diaphragmatic breaths (belly breaths) is a great way to encourage lymphatic flow.

Dry brushing involves using a natural, dry brush to exfoliate dead skin and stimulate lymphatic flow.

Always dry brush before showering, when the skin is still dry, for optimal exfoliation.

Start at your feet and move up toward the heart, using light pressure and circular strokes. When working on your head and neck, move downward.

Dry brushing can be done 2-5 times per week, depending on how well your lymphatic system is working. Don’t dry brush over wounds or on inflamed skin and avoid over-brushing as too much exfoliation can damage the skin.

Just like with the kidneys, proper hydration is critical for lymphatic function. Getting 8-12 glasses of water per day helps to clear out water retention and toxins. Dehydration can cause lymphatic congestion and blockages in the first place.

Eating refined oils, processed meats, added sugar, caffeine, and foods that you may be sensitive to (like gluten, dairy, and corn) can lead to inflammation build-up in the body, slowing lymphatic drainage.

Foods that hydrate, like cucumbers, zucchini, and melons, and anti-inflammatory foods, like fish, olive oil, and turmeric, help to promote lymphatic flow.

Botanicals, like cleavers, mullein, and echinacea encourage lymphatic flow and assist the kidneys and lungs in their detox functions.

4. The Colon

The colon is the main component of the large intestine, which comprises the final part of the digestive tract⁷.

The main functions of the colon are to:

• Absorb nutrients from food and vitamins made by gut bacteria
• Reabsorb water passing through the digestive tract
• Pass on indigestible and toxic substances to be eliminated

The colon is the place where the toxins processed by the liver end up. If the bowels are not moving regularly (less than one bowel movement per day), gut bacteria get to work on the toxins that have been processed by the liver, causing their conjugated molecules to be kicked off⁸.

This allows the toxins to get re-absorbed into the circulation where they can cause more damage. It’s crucial to get the toxins out with the stool before this happens!

The large intestine is one of the first places that many toxins, including medications, encounter the body, even before the liver does¹. The colon acts as a physical barrier to some toxins and it possesses both the Phase I and Phase III detoxification activities which are present in the liver¹.

As such, the colon plays an important role in preventing toxic substances from even getting into the body in the first place, thus saving the liver and the other detox organs from unnecessary work.

Just as drinking plenty of water supports healthy kidney and lymphatic function, it’s crucial for detoxification and elimination in the colon. Again, 8-12 glasses of water per day is a good rule of thumb.

An excellent way to remove toxins from the colon before they can get reabsorbed is by ensuring sufficient fibre intake. The fibre binds up the toxins, helping to prevent them from reabsorbing. It also promotes regular bowel movements, which move the toxins right out of the body. For most adults, daily fibre intake should be between 25 and 30 grams.

Fruits and vegetables provide much of the dietary fibre. However, many of us can benefit from fibre supplementation in the form of ground chia, ground flax seed, or psyllium husks. These can help keep the bowels moving to get the toxins out.

Gut healing herbs, like slippery elm, marshmallow, licorice (its DGL form), and aloe vera can help keep the gut cells healthy to perform their detox and elimination functions.

Nutrients, such as L-glutamine, short chain fatty acids (from butter, cheese, and fermented foods), and zinc L-carnosine are also important factors in maintaining colon health.

Since potentially harmful bacteria in the gut may increase the burden of toxins on the colon, probiotics may help the colon by keeping the spectrum of gut bacteria (called the microbiome) in a balanced state.

Although many species of microbes inhabit the colon, consuming probiotic foods, like sauerkraut, kimchi, and kefir may promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, like Lactobacilli and Bifidobacateria. You can also find probiotics containing multiple bacterial strains in supplement form.

5. Secondary Organs of Detoxification

When our primary organs of detoxification get a little overwhelmed with toxins, the secondary detox organs will pitch in to help deal with the overflow.

The classification of primary and secondary organs of detoxification is fluid. By some definitions, the secondary organs include:

• Lungs
• Skin
• Mucous Membranes

The lungs, and the entire respiratory system, promote detoxification in two ways:

1. Filtering out debris and toxins that enter through the air
2. Expelling wastes such as carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds from the blood⁹

With the help of mucous secretion and coughing, tiny hair-like structures in the lungs called cilia perform a rhythmic motion to remove inhaled particles. This prevents toxic substances from getting further into the body where the other detox organs would have to deal with them.

Toxins present in the blood, like alcohol and environmental pollutants, are exhaled by the lungs, reducing the body’s toxic burden.

As the body’s largest organ by weight at 3.6 kg (8 lbs), the skin is another important secondary detox organ. The skin removes toxins primarily through the sweat glands.

Metabolic wastes, like urea and ammonia, and other toxins are removed through the sweat in small amounts. However, the skin’s main function is not detoxification – it only engages heavily in detox when the primary organs are overloaded.

That’s why the skin is one of the first places to see problems when the detoxification system is not working.

It’s the same with other mucous membranes, including the eyes, ears, nose, and throat. They can expel toxins through their secretions, but they’re not the best suited to it. Their tolerance level is much lower than that of a primary organ such as the liver.

If the secondary organs become over-burdened with toxins, symptoms of inflammation can arise. This may result in allergic rhinitis/sinusitis and asthma in the respiratory tract, skin eruptions like eczema and psoriasis, and inflammatory conditions in other mucous membranes.

Of course, it’s helpful to keep the secondary detox organs is good shape in case they’re needed.

Deep breathing will help keep the lungs healthy and aid the removal of carbon dioxide and volatile toxins. Antioxidant vitamins (A, C, and E), NAC, zinc, selenium, and Vitamin D can protect lung cells from exposure to toxins, preventing damage to the lungs and preserving their detox function. Herbal medicines, like mullein, marshmallow root, and liquorice root are excellent for the lungs, helping to clear mucous.

Dry brushing is not just good for the lymphatic system, it can also gently exfoliate the skin, removing dead cells. Collagen protein, omega-3 fats (from cold water fish, flax seed oil, hemp seed oil, and walnuts), antioxidant vitamins, zinc, and Vitamin D are required nutrients for the skin, keeping it intact and functioning well. Periodic infrared sauna may also be useful for promoting detoxification through sweating.

The remaining mucous membranes benefit from the same nutrients as the skin. If they are needed for detoxification, you want to always keep them healthy and ready.

As with the primary detox organs, the secondaries also benefit from being well-hydrated. Again, don’t forget to drink water!

Final Words

Detoxification is a big job. But it’s one that’s more than doable by the organs of detoxification if they’re kept in good shape.

The first way to keep these organs healthy is by minimizing your exposure to toxins – eat organic, drink filtered water, minimize exposure to EMFs, and manage your stress.

Providing your detox organs with nutritional support will ensure that they perform their job optimally. A nutrient deficiency may be enough to derail an organ’s detox functions.

Making sure to keep the primary detox organs healthy will reduce the need for the secondaries to activate, helping to prevent unwanted symptoms from occurring in these areas.

When considering a detox, always check with your primary health practitioner if you have a chronic health condition, especially if it involves any of the organs we covered.

Also, take special caution if you are on medication: always consult with your health practitioner before embarking on a detox program since detoxification may alter the effects of the medication on your body.

If you keep your organs of detoxification healthy, they’ll do the same for you!

 

1. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Deann_Liska/publication/13653312
2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02977789
3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21824-kidney
4. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidneys-how-they-work
5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5735979/
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513247/
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470577/
8. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1187676/
9. https://news.vt.edu/articles/2011/12/121411-engineering-dietrichandagahresearchbreath.html

Book An Appointment With Nardini Naturopathic

Are you interested in finding out if your organs of detoxification need some help?

Or perhaps you’d like a review of your overall diet to see where you could be doing better.

Maybe you have food allergies or intolerances and worry you aren’t getting enough nutrients because of your restricted diet.

I’m Dr. Pat Nardini, a naturopathic doctor who offers nutritional counseling services to help ensure all of those gaps in your diet are filled, and that you’re getting enough of all the important nutrients which your body needs to function at its best.

Contact me today for more information, or book a free 15-minute consultation where I will help you understand how naturopathic medicine can help you.