Liver detoxification occurs all the time. Constantly processing and converting chemicals and compounds, one of the liver's main jobs involves the ongoing removal of substances that would otherwise do you harm. This process can appear complicated, but understanding how it occurs allows you to make better dietary choices to help, rather than hinder, this vital organ.
Toxic Elimination
The liver sits in the center of the body and stands out as the organ responsible for removing toxic compounds that may otherwise accumulate in the body. Dr Michael Lam, certified by the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine and a specialist in nutritional medicine, acknowledges how the organ achieves this through a two-stage process that packages up toxins into forms that can be eliminated through the biliary tract into the intestines, through the kidney into the urinary tract and, additionally, through the skin in the form of sweat and through the lungs as expelled air.
Phase One Detoxification
Xandria Williams, author of “The Liver Detox Plan,” explains how the liver handles toxins in two stages. The first stage typically involves oxidation of a compound by P450 cytochrome enzymes, an action that actually makes the toxin more reactive. Although this temporarily increases the toxicity of the compound in question, the phase two enzymes require this reaction to occur first before they can do their job.
Phase Two Detoxification
Because of the increased reactivity seen in many toxins that have undergone phase one detoxification, it remains crucial that phase two pathways function correctly or increased toxicity may result. Phase two enzymes exist to conjugate toxins, attaching them to other molecules that the body can remove with ease. The six phases of detoxification involve methylation, acetylation, sulfation, glucuronidation, glutathione conjugation and amino acid conjugation.
Helpful Nutrients
Researchers from Thames Valley University list a number of ways to facilitate both phases of detoxification. They report that phase one enzymes respond well to intake of B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, copper and bioflavonoids. You can enhance phase two detoxification through the use of phytonutrients, such as the polyphenols found in green tea and grapefruit seeds, sulfur compounds found in onion and garlic, and glucuronides present in broccoli and cabbage. Magnesium, zinc, copper, selenium and B vitamins also help induce phase two detoxification.
Harmful Foods
Any food that interferes with digestion or places an additional load on the liver may reduce your detoxification abilities. For example, alcohol aggravates the intestinal wall, while also requiring increased liver enzymes to process it. Patrick Holford, a nutritional therapist and the founder of the Institute of Optimum Nutrition, makes recommendations to avoid a range of foods during his nine-day detox. These foods include caffeine, alcohol, wheat, dairy and trans fats.
References
- "DrLam.com"; Detoxification
- “The Liver Detox Plan"; Xandria Williams; 1998.
- Patrick Holford: 9 Day Liver Detox
- "Thames Valley University"; Detoxification Pathways.
