Best Nutrients for Detoxification Support

You’ve probably heard about cleanses or short-term detoxes. The truth is your body detoxifies nonstop—flushing out toxins from daily exposures and natural metabolic processes. But in today’s world, where toxins are prevalent, giving your body the right support is more important than ever.

Feeling Overloaded with Toxins?

Toxins can affect any part of your body, i.e. heart, lungs, nose, eyes, ears, digestive tract, skin, energy, and even affect your body weight. Toxins can make you feel fatigued and lethargic or have poor-quality sleep. They can contribute to brain fog, poor memory or learning, joint aches, skin rash, itchy ears, stuffy nose, hot flashes, headaches, diarrhea or constipation, affect thyroid and other hormones, cause you to become more sensitive to fragrances and chemicals, and more. 

Toxin Sources

Exposure to microplastics, plasticizers, pesticides/herbicides/insecticides, exhaust and off-gassing fumes, heavy metals, and other toxins in drinking water and food supplies, and air occur daily. Furthermore, use of medications, alcohol, tobacco products, cleaning products, and exposure to molds, and even certain foods like ultra-processed and food preparation types (fried, char-broiled, etc.) add to your toxic burden. We are exposed to at least 500 chemicals each day and there are over 80,000 chemicals used in modern life. We live in a world of chemical soup!

Your body generates metabolic waste products that need to be cleaned up as well. Stress hormones, cellular metabolism, microorganisms, and toxins released by bacteria, and much more need detoxification.

A build-up of toxins is like not doing housework for a while. Dirty dishes, laundry, papers and other things pile up. Dust, dirt, and odors accumulate and it becomes more difficult to manage things. Thankfully, the human body has an ongoing housekeeping process as the intestinal tract, liver, and kidneys are the primary sites of detoxification that work 24/7 to clear out toxins and waste products. Toxins are also removed through the lungs and skin.

The Detoxification Process

In a healthy individual, most toxins are excreted with your feces. Any remaining small amounts of toxins are absorbed into blood vessels and transported to the liver to go through the detoxification process.

If, however, you have increased intestinal permeability or “leaky gut”, then higher amounts of toxins are absorbed into circulation for cleansing by the liver. This effect places a higher toxin load and demand on the liver.

Once toxins enter the liver they go through phases of detoxification or processing to ultimately make the toxins neutral or to excrete them. These stages include Phase I, Intermediate Stage, Phase II, followed by Phase III which involves the gastrointestinal system.

Phase I: Activation and Oxidation

Phase I is the first stage where fat-soluble toxins come into the liver and are metabolized by a group ofenzymes known as cytochrome P450. The toxins are dismantled and modified to make them smaller and more manageable before entering the Intermediate Stage and further processing in Phase II.

In a healthy individual, harmful free radicals that are produced are neutralized or transformed into harmless water by antioxidants.

If there are insufficient antioxidants to manage the free radicals and toxins are not fully transformed, it causes increased oxidative and metabolic stress.

Phase I detoxification processes go through several reactions that require specific nutrients for proper function and support. Key nutrients include vitamins B2, B3, B6, B12, folate, glutathione, glycine, glutamine, cysteine, branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine found in meat, dairy, legumes, whey protein), bioflavonoids, and phospholipids. Additionally, antioxidants from turmeric, green tea, vitamins A, C, and E, selenium, zinc, and milk thistle are highly beneficial.

Intermediate Phase

The Intermediate Phase occurs after Phase I and before entering Phase II. This phase can lead to increased production of free radicals and more cellular stress when there are insufficient antioxidants. If you have a high toxic load, there is a higher need for antioxidant support during this Intermediate Phase.

Vitamins A, C, and E, coenzyme Q10, glutathione, lipoic acid, zinc and selenium are needed to quench the increased production of free radicals.

Phase II: Conjugation and Elimination

Phase II is the stage that further conjugates or binds the toxin metabolites and makes them water-soluble for elimination from your body. Six major pathways work to prepare harmful byproducts from Phase I for safe removal. These pathways are glucuronidation, acetylation, methylation, amino acid conjugation, sulfation, and glutathione conjugation.

Each of these pathways requires specific nutrients with glutathione being the most critical. Other nutrients necessary for this stage include carotenes, magnesium, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, probiotics, bioflavonoids/quercetin as well as glycine, taurine, glutamine, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), cysteine, and methionine. Selenium, zinc, molybdenum, and vitamin B12 are also used in Phase II pathways.

When these detoxification pathways lack proper support, unchanged toxins can re-circulate in the blood creating oxidative stress or become stored in tissues/organs like your brain, nervous system, and fat.

Phase III Transportation and Elimination

Phase III is the final phase of detoxification and is vital. Conjugated or bound up toxins are transported from the liver through bile acids into the intestinal tract to be eliminated via the feces. Phase III toxins also enter the circulatory system and are then eliminated through urine and sweat.

Phase III is a stage that requires elimination with regular, and preferably daily, healthy bowel movements. A sluggish, irregular gastrointestinal system impairs Phase III and further stresses overall detoxification functions.

Phase III support requires optimal hydration of at least eight 8-oz glasses of water per day. It also requires optimal dietary fiber each day to bind and eliminate toxins. Daily bowel movements with healthy poop are essential for healthy detoxification.

Nutritional Detoxification Guide

General Support: Reduce and avoid toxins in the environment, personal care items, food, water, and air. Choose natural and organic alternatives as much as possible. The less toxins put in your body, the more efficiently your body does its own housecleaning.

It is difficult to obtain all the nutrients from your diet required for this highly demanding, ongoing detoxification process. Use nutritional supplements to augment your diet and protect against these daily exposures.

Phase I Liver Support

Diet: Focus on antioxidant-rich foods such as citrus fruits (oranges, lemon, grapefruit, etc.) berries, bell peppers, cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, radish, arugula, etc.) and other fruits and vegetables.

Fundamental Supplement Support: Daily Protector Eye & Immune, Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin, Activator Plus, and Daily Protein.

Advanced Supplement Support: Glutathione Ultra, Green Tea Extract, I3C+DIM, Repair Plus, Turmeric Gold.

Intermediate Phase: Daily Protector Eye & Immune, Glutathione Ultra.

Phase II Liver Support

Diet: Foods that support phase II include dark green leafy vegetables and sulfur-rich foods like meat, egg yolks, onions, garlic, and cruciferous vegetables.

Fundamental Supplemental Support: Daily Detoxify, Daily Protector Eye & Immune, RelaxaMag.

Advanced Supplemental Support: Leptinal, Sulfur Plus, Strengthener Plus, Super Dophilus, GI & Muscle Helper.

Phase III Gut Support

Diet: Strive for organic, whole foods at least 80-90 percent of the time. Adults need at least 25-40 grams of fiber per day. Aim for 30 percent protein, 30 percent quality fats, and 40 percent complex carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, whole grains). I recommend gluten-free carbohydrates as gluten consumption4 causes increased intestinal permeability changes in all individuals.

Support intestinal lining integrity with butyrate and glutamine and bile acid flow with d-limonene, taurine, and oregano oil. 

Fundamental Supplemental Support: Fiber Helper, Super Dophilus.

Advanced Supplemental Support: Tributyrin Plus, GI & Muscle Helper, d-Limonene, Berberine Ultra, Oregano Oil, Super Immune Booster.

Detoxification is a highly complex process. To accomplish your body’s daily detoxification duties, feed yourself well and support the elimination pathways. Take as much burden off your body with healthy choices each day. Are you keeping up with your body’s housekeeping needs?

Additional Resources

Healthy Poop: What is Your Digestive Tract Telling You?

Butyrate Aids Digestive Tract Health: Discover New Tributyrin Plus

Glutathione Antioxidant for Cell Life and Vitality

Fiber and Your Gut Mucosal Lining

Self-Care Detoxification & Your Immune System

Environmental Toxins Affect Your Thyroid and Health

I3C+DIM Provide Powerful Cell Protection and Xenobiotic Detoxification

Common Household Disinfectants Lead to Obesity in Preschoolers

Feminine Hygiene Products: Protect Yourself From Hidden Toxins

Men’s Breast Health Impacted by Toxins and Medications

Hidden Obesogens in Foods, Beverages, and Environment Disrupt Metabolism

Asthma, Methylation, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Roundup

Arabinogalactan Boosts Lymph Flow and Immunity