de·tox·i·fy
verb
to remove toxic substances or qualities from

If you've been down the rabbit hole of holistic, natural or alternative medicine for more than ten minutes, chances are you've come across detoxing. But what exactly IS a detox? What do you need to know before you start one? How do you know which type is best for you, or just best in general?

Unfortunately, I think that the term "detox" has become sort of a bastardized term. Even healthcare professionals such as naturopaths and chiropractors can be guilty of this. Most of the time, when people refer to "detoxing" they either prescribe the same exact detox to every single person (MLM companies are super-guilty of this- see part 1 and part 2) or they just have no idea what detoxification actually means. I was once told that a product (an MLM supplement someone was trying to sell me on) would "detox the mitochondria". Come again?

What Detoxification Actually Is:

• Detoxification primarily happens in the liver and intestinal tract.
  
• There are numerous different enzymes and pathways that are in charge of detoxifying different drugs, hormones, toxins, and chemical compounds.
  
• After a compound is detoxified (made less toxic and often water-soluble) it needs to be excreted from the body. This happens in the kidney, intestinal tract and skin via sweat.
  
• Liver detoxification processes happen in two steps: Phase I and Phase II. Phase I actually makes compounds more reactive and harmful, so it's important that all of the phase II pathways are up-to-snuff to clear those intermediates as soon as they are formed.
  
• Some drugs or foods may speed up or slow down phase I detoxification, but not phase II. For example, grapefruit slows down phase I detoxification. This is why it is recommended that you stay away from grapefruit when you take certain medications- the grapefruit will slow down your body's ability to get rid of the drug, increasing it's half-life and the amount of the drug in your bloodstream.
  
• Much of the detoxification that happens in the intestinal tract is done by our gut microbes. This is why a stool test is a necessary part of a good, targeted detox in my opinion.
• Contrary to what my colleagues MLM company tried to sell me, to my knowledge it is not possibly to detoxify individual cells or organelles. The closest thing to a cellular garbage disposal or detoxifier is called the lysosome. Also, the closest thing to being able to "detoxify the mitochondria" is low level laser therapy, but that's a topic for another day.
  

• Some compounds can NOT be detoxified by the human body. Substances like those, as well as leftover detoxifiable compounds that the body couldn't get rid of right away, are stored primarily in bone and fat tissue.
  

Learning about nutrition is such a massive undertaking; as is the case with anything having to do with the human body. It's a delicate subject because it ties directly into people's every day lives in so many way. Our culture, upbringing, personal preferences, social lives and traditions all influence what we eat. The field of nutrition is humongous, yet has many fine details that must be taken into consideration. With such complexities, how is one to ever weed through all the information out there and apply it to everyday life?

Some people like the motivation and "push" of doing a drastic life overhaul. Embarking on a mission to get healthy once and for all makes them feel like they can conquer the world. While this method of change can work, I think that most people do better if they focus on one or two baby steps at a time.

If you're thinking of changing your diet or embarking on a health goal here are my top three baby steps (in order) for you to implement!

1. Eat real, whole foods. Eat things that come out of the ground or from the earth- not from a factory or a box or can. Don't be fooled by "motified food-like products" that claim to be healthy. I don't care how much cholesterol that box of Cheerios claims to not have- Cheerios are NOT healthy.

Please notice that this first step does not wed you to one diet. I'm not asking you to cut things out here, but telling you what to eat. No need to go paleo or vegan here- whole grains* and meat are still whole foods and are healthier than anything you could get out of a box or can.

*By "whole grains" I mean the actual grains- NOT a processed food that is labeled "whole grain". Whole grain bread and whole wheat pasta does not fit into this category. Rice or oats, however, would.

2. Consider cutting out potential gut irritants and allergenic foods, especially if you have any chronic health problems. This is highly individual, but here are a few examples. Remember, with food sensitivities I think it's best to do appropriate testing rather than rely solely on symptoms.

Neurological problems? Consider cutting out gluten, aspartame and MSG.
Gut problems? Consider gluten, dairy, legumes, grains and possibly FODMAPS.
Autoimmune disease? Consider cutting out gluten, soy, corn and possibly dairy.
Diabetes? Cut out all sources of sugar (even if they are low glycemic) and grains.

3. Next, choose organic and locally grown produce whenever you are able. Start with the "dirty dozen" and go from there. If you choose to eat meat or animal products consider finding a farm in your area that sells grass-fed meats and pastured eggs. If you are local to Tempe, AZ I highly recommend the Meat Shop in Phoenix.

If you or somebody you know is interested in working with a functional medicine doctor please call my office at (919) 238-4094 and see if we are the right fit for you. Infinity Holistic Healthcare is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, part of the Raleigh-Durham "triangle" area.

In health,

I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times.

Dr. Atkins wasn't a quack- he knew his physiology. He clearly understood the importance of insulin resistance and it's connection to obesity and obesity related conditions. For that matter, he was able to put two and two together and started using a low carbohydrate diet to lower insulin levels and reverse insulin resistance. The Atkins diet isn't just a low carb diet- it's a low insulin diet.

While the rest of the world and medical community is ready to dismiss as obesity as a simple thermodynamic problem, Atkins realized that there must be something else going on. The "calories in, calories out" viewpoint is not only fundamentally flawed- I think it's hurt people in more ways than we can even imagine. The obese are looked down on and ridiculed. People are often quick to make snide comments about how the obese need to just eat less and move more, and often go further to say they "don't understand why they don't". The thing that non-overweight people don't understand and can't fully understand is that there are reasons why they don't "just" do it, and they are called neurology and hormones. Obesity is NOT an issue of gluttony and sloth- it is a symptom of something much more complex.

The neurology of overeating and unhealthy eating is complex, but I will try to give you an idea of some of what seems to be at play. Leptin and insulin resistance in the brain, as well as changes in other hormones like ghrelin, causes the patient to feel hungry more often and crave different (often sugary) foods. High levels of leptin and insulin also cause a tremendous amount of inflammation which is felt at the brain-level as well as the rest of the body. Food additives like MSG and aspartame cause excitotoxicity in neurons that alters brain firing and chemistry. Soda is not only loaded with sugar or sweeteners, but a ton of salt, which makes you more thirsty instead of less thirsty. Gluten and Casein (the proteins in wheat, barley, rye, and milk) both have forms that are similar to morphine and can cause a similar addictive response in the brain. These are among the reasons why "clean eating" is such an important part of any weight loss plan- cut out the junk that is messing with your brain and causing these food addictions and inflammation.

Hormones affect every single cell in your body- and many do so in numerous ways. So it should be no surprise that dietary choices affect hormones and hormones affect the rest of the body in innumerable ways. One of the biggest things that sets the low-carbohydrate diets apart from the rest is their affect on insulin levels.

Insulin is secreted by the pancreas in response to sugar and carbohydrate ingestion, and to a much lesser degree, protein ingestion. The more carbs and sugar you eat, the more insulin you will need to bring your blood glucose back to normal levels. This is how we usually see insulin- a simple process by which we regulate our blood sugar. However, insulin does a LOT more than that. Among the many things that insulin does, one of the most noteworthy in regards to weight loss is it's affects on hormone sensitive lipase (HSL). HSL is the enzyme that frees fat from the fat cells so that it can be used for energy. Insulin strongly inhibits this enzyme, thus ensuring that fat stays in the fat cells. Insulin effectively puts the brakes on any weight loss efforts- this is why a low-insulin diet is crucial if you want to lose weight!

Atkins wasn't a quack- he simply saw the value in lowering insulin levels so that the body can finally start burning fat.

Granted, there are many other things that can put the damper on an otherwise good weight loss plan. Anemia, hypothyroidism, inflammation, and detoxification problems are some of the most common things I see holding people back from their weight loss goals. This is why a functional medicine practitioner such as myself makes a great addition to your support team through this process.

If you or somebody you know is interested in working with a functional medicine doctor please call my office at (919) 238-4094 and see if we are the right fit for you. Infinity Holistic Healthcare is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, part of the Raleigh-Durham "triangle" area.

​In health,