Enzymes and Detoxification

Is Your Liver in Need of Detox?

During the course of our lifetime, the human body is exposed to a vast amount of foreign chemicals and substances, also known as toxins or poisons. These may come from the food we eat, pharmaceuticals we may take, products we put on our skin, the environment, while others are released by dying cells or invading bacteria.

How Do We Survive This?

Our bodies are able to avoid damage from these substances by detoxifying themselves, using a huge battery of detoxification enzymes that exist inside us. Your skin, respiratory system, immune system, intestines and kidneys all help the body detox, but a large part of the responsibility falls to the liver.

All of the blood that leaves the stomach and the intestine passes through the liver, where the blood is processed, broken down, balanced and made into nutrients for the body to use. Toxins in the blood are broken down and removed before they can do any damage. The liver is constantly working to detoxify blood and produce bile to store essential vitamins, minerals and iron.

Evidence suggests that this complex body detoxification system may protect us from diseases such as Parkinson's, cancer, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue/immune dysfunction syndrome.

The Body's Detoxification Process

About 100 years after it was proven that toxins are transformed by liver enzymes, scientists found that this detoxification happens in two phases:

• Phase 1 detoxification (Activation) – The cytochrome P450 enzymes in the liver use oxygen to turn the toxin into a reactive molecule. This molecule may be more toxic than the parent molecule.
• Phase 2 detoxification (Conjugation) – The reactive molecule is transformed by enzymes into a water-soluble molecule which can be excreted through the urine or bile. [1] [2]

How to Detoxify Your Liver Naturally

1) Eat Sensibly

Eating sensibly and not over-indulging on harmful things is the place to start. Avoid:

• Fatty and fried foods
• Processed foods, such as ham, sausage, bacon
• Excessive caffeine
• Excessive alcohol
• Excessive sugar

2) Foods to Detoxify the Liver

• Garlic – Contains selenium, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B6 which are anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory.
• Grapefruit – High in Vitamin C and glutathione, which helps the liver produce detoxifying enzymes.
• Leafy Green Vegetables – Neutralize toxins and increase bile flow.
• Beets – Naturally cleanse and purify the blood and boost liver function.
• Broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts – Help the liver produce enzymes which break down toxins.
• Avocados – Best food for liver detox. Contain glutathione and anti-inflammatory Vitamins E and K.
• Walnuts – Contain arginine, glutathione and Omega-3 fatty acids.
• Turmeric – Rich in curcumin, a powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory. [3]
• Green Tea extract – Contains antioxidants and supports the body's natural ability to detoxify.
• Warm Lemon Water – Some experts believe the liver produces more enzymes in response to lemon water than any other food. [5] [6]
• Coriander – Can help remove heavy metals from the body.
• Dandelion – Dandelion root tea assists the liver in breaking down fats and ridding it of toxins. [7]

3) Live Well!

Lifestyle factors that put strain on the liver include:

• Drug use
• Smoking tobacco
• Obesity
• Unprotected sex
• Tattoos and body piercings [3]

The best time to detoxify is in the warmer months of Spring and Summer.

References

[1] altmedrev.com/publications/3/3/187.pdf | [2] Cytochromes P450: Metabolic And Toxicological Aspects. CRC Press, Inc; 1996:29-53 | [3] davidwolfe.com/6-foods-cleanse-liver | [4] livestrong.com/article/495126-does-green-tea-detox-your-body | [5] naturalsociety.com/how-to-clean-your-liver-5-natural-cleansing-tips-foods | [6] globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/liver-cleanse-foods | [7] collective-evolution.com/2014/07/06/19-super-foods-that-naturally-cleanse-your-liver/