There are basically 4 major organs of elimination and detoxification: the liver, kidneys, intestines, and skin. Although each of these organs is important in its own special way, it could be argued that the liver is the most important of all. This is mostly due to the fact that the vast majority of toxins must first be processed by the liver before any further elimination can take place. The liver is a rather large organ weighing in at 2 kg or almost 5 lbs in the average adult, it is the second largest single organ behind the skin. The liver has two major functions. One is to produce and excrete bile into which cholesterol and fat-soluble toxins can be excreted into the intestines (fiber then captures these toxins and carries them far away, which is one of the reasons why it is so important to consume high amounts of fiber.) The second function of the liver is to filter the blood and transform chemicals and toxins into more soluble products that can then be easily excreted by the liver or other organ of elimination. This process of elimination takes place in two distinct phases, aptly called phase I and phase II detox.
In phase I the liver attempts to ready toxins for the kidney by making them water soluble, which allows the toxins to be removed via the urine. This phase primarily utilizes the CYP450 rout of elimination. Toxins that are not made immediately ready for the kidneys are then transformed into reactive forms (which are more hazardous to the body) for phase II. Phase II of liver detoxification is composed of 6 known reactions that contribute to binding up and eliminating toxins. These processes have fun names that you can try to work into every day conversation such as “Hand me some more Vitamin C, I can feel my Acetylation slowing down” or “I’ll have that on rye please, my Glucoronidation seems to be lagging today” also “Please add the Guacamole for $2.95, my Glutathione Conjugation needs a boost.” They either act by directly binding to the toxin and neutralizing it, or by making the toxin more easily eliminate through the bile or urine.
Each phase has its’ own byproducts and nutrients, which can support the highest level of functioning. For example the main byproduct of phase I are free radicals (further explained in the radiation blog) which damage cells. In order to support the first phase of detoxification, ingesting a diet rich in antioxidants would be beneficial. Other beneficial nutrients to support phase I include:
- Vitamin C
- Copper
- Magnesium
- Polyphenols
- Selenium
- Zinc
Products that support phase II detox:
- Vitamin C
- B3, B5, B6
- Protein
- Caraway Seeds
- Glutathione in fruits (such as Avocado), veggies, fish, meat
- SAMe
- Sulfates
- Taurine
- Magnesium
Approximately 100 enzymes have been identified in the liver, each specific for a particular toxin. Every person has their own unique set of enzymes, which makes them more or less sensitive to particular chemicals and toxins. As you might have noticed, the byproducts of Phase I can be more hazardous than the original toxin. This is not a problem if Phase II is working properly; however, if Phase II is not working properly then you get a build up of these highly toxic substances. Thus, some individuals are more susceptible to the damage caused by toxins and might highly benefit from Detoxification.
