What Doctors Don't Tell YouThere is no one specific way for everyone to detoxify his or her body, whether by fasting, drinking lots of vegetable juices, sweating or taking vitamins. The method for detoxification may depend entirely on some particular factor that is quite peculiar to the individual and will depend on the assessment of food sensitivities, whether or not the body has an excess burden of particular toxins from exogenous poisons or endogenous microbes, or whether or not the digestive tract is functioning properly. Here are some general pointers:
Avoid allergenic foods. These foods may be determined by blood tests or by trying an experimental two week trial of what Dr William Crook calls the Caveman Diet in which most allergenic foods are avoided such as eggs, grains, dairy and citrus to see if it makes a difference tin symptoms.
Fast, using a hypoallergenic, nutrient dense food product, such as UltraClear, designed by Dr Jeffrey Bland. The intent of the UltraClear products is to support the chemistry of both phases of detoxification as well as to help heal the bowel by providing nutrients, fibre and normal flora to the gut. UltraClear’s efficacy has been documented experimentally, and Dr Baker has seen dramatic changes in patients’ systems as well as their laboratory tests with its use. It shares with fasting the advantage of removing the load of allergens from the gut, but it has the advantage of not depriving the body of essential nutrients when it is trying to accomplish a nutritionally demanding task.
Ultraclear is available at the NutriCentre, 7 Park Crescent, London W1N 3HE (Tel: 0171 436 5122).
Eat foods rich in antioxidants (vegetables, nuts and seeds), beans, whole grains), carotenoids, bioflavonoids, cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli), all of which help to improve your detoxification systems.
Avoid acid lowering drugs (antacids), and other drugs, such as aspirin, steroids and NSAIDS as much as possible.
Consume a nutrient rich, wholefood diet high in fibre.
Chew your food well, which releases enzymes which help in digestion.
Take a multi probiotic supplement (see PROOF! vol 3 no 3 for the most effective).
Cut down on alcohol consumption.
Take supplements of antioxidants, zinc, glutathione, cysteine and coenzyme Q 10 to help with enzymes involved in the liver’s detoxification process.
According to Leo Galland, the herb milk thistle (Silybum marianum) helps to strengthen liver function, at a standard dose of 70-210 mg per day.
Save antibiotic use for life threatening events.
Get parasite or yeast infections treated promptly.
Take precautions against parasite infection by using properly filtered water, wash your food thoroughly, avoid raw foods, and eat recently cooked food.
Daniel Redwood DC
Tom Ferguson MD
