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Toxicity is of much greater concern in this century than ever before. There are many, many chemicals that we are exposed to which did not exist until recently. The air, soil and water are becoming increasingly polluted with them. This exposure, along with the common use of drugs, eating devitalized/refined foods, failing to exercise or drink enough water has resulted in a toxic storehouse within us creating a wide range of symptoms and disease.
Causes & Development
Toxicity is encountered from internal sources as well. Our bodies produce toxins in the process of carrying out normal everyday functions. These substances need to be neutralized and/or eliminated. When they are not, irritation and inflammation of cells and tissues results, blocking normal functioning. Also, bacteria of all kinds produce metabolic waste products that we must process. While a normally-functioning body was created to handle some toxicity, we have overwhelmed this capacity by both excessive exposure and poor habits.
Treatment & Prevention
Many of the antioxidant nutrients found in a healthful diet neutralize free radical molecules. The liver helps transform many toxic substances into harmless agents, dumping them via bile into the intestines for passage out of the body. The blood stream carries wastes to the kidneys for removal. We also clear toxins through sweating, from exercise or heat. Our sinuses, skin and lungs are also accessory elimination organs whereby toxins can be released. All of these processes can be enhanced to help reduce this toxic burden.
More than ever, inexpensive, readily available means are at our disposal to reduce the increasing level of exposure we face and to safely eliminate existing toxins. Why not do something about it now before health problems become worse?
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Signs, symptoms & indicators of General Detoxification Requirement:
Conditions that suggest General Detoxification Requirement:
Risk factors for General Detoxification Requirement:
General Detoxification Requirement can lead to:
Recommendations and treatments for General Detoxification Requirement: | | | | | Detoxification |  Sauna Detoxification Program |
Diet |
Therapeutic Fasting
 Raw Food Diet
Juicing | The benefits of consuming freshly-made vegetable juice make it an important part of most cleansing and detoxification programs. |
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Habits |
Aerobic Exercise |
Physical Medicine |
Colon Cleansing| | Colonics or enemas, especially coffee enemas, are a routine part of many detoxification programs because they reduce the amount of toxic material found in the large intestine. Many of these compounds find their way into the general circulation, contributing to fatigue, foggy thinking and further burdening the liver. |
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KEY | | Weak or unproven link |  | | Strong or generally accepted link |  | | Proven definite or direct link | | | Likely to help | | | Highly recommended |
GLOSSARY
Antioxidant (Antioxidants)
A chemical compound that slows or prevents oxygen from reacting with other compounds. Some antioxidants have been shown to have cancer-protecting potential because they neutralize free radicals. Examples include vitamins C and E, beta carotene, the minerals selenium and germanium, superoxide dismutase (SOD), coenzyme Q10, catalase, and some amino acids.
Aspartame
A low-calorie sweetener used in a variety of foods and drinks and as a tabletop sweetener. It is about 200 times sweeter than sugar and is commonly known by names such as NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful or Equal-Measure.
Bacteria (Bacterial, Bacterium)
Microscopic germs. Some bacteria are "harmful" and can cause disease, while other "friendly" bacteria protect the body from harmful invading organisms.
Bile
A bitter, yellow-green secretion of the liver. Bile is stored in the gallbladder and is released when fat enters the first part of the small intestine (duodenum) in order to aid digestion.
Free Radical (Free Radicals)
A free radical is an atom or group of atoms that has at least one unpaired electron. Because another element can easily pick up this free electron and cause a chemical reaction, these free radicals can effect dramatic and destructive changes in the body. Free radicals are activated in heated and rancid oils and by radiation in the atmosphere, among other things.
Immune System (Immune Response, Immunity)
A complex that protects the body from disease organisms and other foreign bodies. The system includes the humoral immune response and the cell-mediated response. The immune system also protects the body from invasion by making local barriers and inflammation. The process may involve acquired immunity (the ability to learn and remember a specific infectious agent), or innate immunity (the genetically programmed system of responses that attack, digest, remove, and initiate inflammation and tissue healing).
Intestinal Flora
The "friendly" bacteria present in the intestines that are essential for the digestion and metabolism of certain nutrients.
Kidneys (Kidney, Renal)
Bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located near the middle of the back, just below the rib cage. The kidneys are sophisticated reprocessing machines, each day handling about 50 gallons of blood to sift out about half a gallon of waste products and extra water. The waste and extra water become urine, which flows to the bladder through tubes called ureters. The actual filtering occurs in tiny units inside the kidneys called nephrons. Every kidney has about a million nephrons. In a nephron, a glomerulus -- which is a tiny blood vessel, or capillary -- intertwines with a tiny urine-collecting tube called a tubule. A complicated chemical exchange takes place, as waste materials and water leave your blood and enter your urinary system. The kidneys recycle chemicals such as sodium, phosphorus, and potassium and thus regulate their levels. Renal: Pertaining to the kidneys.
Liver (Hepatic)
The largest and one of the most complex organs of the body, the liver is responsible for much of the metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. It is the site of much of the body's detoxification. It is connected very closely with digestion and the regulation of blood sugar, among many other functions. Found behind the ribs on the right side of the abdomen, it has many important functions such as removing harmful material from the blood, making enzymes and bile that help digest food, and converting food into substances needed for life and growth. Hepatic: Pertaining to the liver.
Lung (Lungs, Pulmonary)
Organ of the body, located in the chest cavity which is designed to bring oxygen from the air into the blood stream, while also expelling carbon dioxide and other waste gases out of the body. Pulmonary: Related to the lungs.
Metabolism (Metabolic, Metabolize, Metabolizes, Metabolizing)
The chemical processes of living cells in which energy is produced in order to replace and repair tissues and maintain a healthy body. Responsible for the production of energy, biosynthesis of important substances, and degradation of various compounds. Also defined as the sum total of changes in an organism in order to achieve a balance (homeostasis): Catabolic burns up, anabolic stores and builds up; the sum of their work is metabolism.
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
Used as a flavor enhancer and preservative in many foods, especially Asian (Chinese). Once banned, it is now permitted in small amounts because no health risks have been found in older children and adults.
Sinuses (Sinus)
Four pairs of air pockets lined with membranes in the bones around the nose. The ethmoid sinuses are located on each side of the nose between the eyes; the maxillary sinuses are located in the cheek above the teeth and below the eyes; the sphenoid sinuses are located deeply behind the eyes; the frontal sinuses are located in the forehead.
Yeast
A single-cell organism that may cause infection in the mouth, vagina, gastrointestinal tract, and any or all bodily parts. Common yeast infections include candidiasis and thrush.
Last updated: Apr 13, 2008
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