Detoxification

Detoxification Strategies

Learn how to successfully detoxify heavy metals, pesticides, and other environmental toxins from your body. Knowing how and when to detox properly is VERY important when addressing any chronic disease, especially a chronic infectious disease.

Whether you are doing a general detox and/or a specialized detox addressing known toxins, it is important to work with your health care provider who can make you an individualized detoxification plan to make sure you don’t cause more damage to your system. There are times when testing is indicated beforehand for heavy metal load, mold mycotoxin levels, environmental toxins, and so forth.

Do you have one or more of these symptoms?

  • Body odor

  • Exhaustion

  • Stubborn weight

  • Constipation

  • Genital odor

  • Twitching limbs

  • Burning feet

  • General feeling of discomfort

  • Brain fog

  • Headaches / Migraines

  • Insomnia

  • Irritability

  • Sinus / dripping nose

  • Bad breath

  • Skin problems

  • Muscle aches

Are you dealing with toxic overload?

General Detox Protocol

Overview of the Protocol

  • Weeks 1 - 2 Jumpstart Diet and Preparation for Detox 

  • Weeks 3 - 4 Gastrointestinal Detox 

  • Weeks 5 - 6 Liver Detox

  • Weeks 7 - 8 Kidney Detox 

  • Week 9 Optional Continuation 

  • Diet Do’s: 

    • Eat organic, real, unprocessed food.
      - Eat 1/2 pound (3-4 servings) of brassica family foods daily - kale, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, bok choy, arugula, radish, cabbage, kale, watercress, mustard greens, turnips, capers.

    • Eat lots of veggies from “Clean 15” - organic avocado, pineapple, cabbage, sweet peas, onion, asparagus, mango, papaya, kiwi, eggplant, cauliflower, sweet potato.

    • Spice w/ turmeric instead of black pepper (black pepper can worsen leaky gut)

    • Use oils carefully (less heat the better, never fry). Avocado, coconut, and EVOO are best.  

    • Focus on fish and eggs as main protein sources

    • Eggs = pastured is best, organic cage free is ok

    • Fish = small wild-caught seafood (salmon, oysters, shrimp, catfish, scallops, crab, halibut)

    Diet Don’ts - Avoid: 

    • Processed/refined foods, gluten (wheat, rye, barley), dairy

    • Non-organic, conventional beef and chicken.

    • Conventional produce, especially “Dirty Dozen” produce - kale, strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, pears, cherries, grapes, celery, tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes, and hot peppers. 

    • Farmed fish and large wild-caught seafood (tuna, swordfish, mackerel, shark, red snapper)  

    • Soy products

    • Sugar and sweeteners (splenda, saccharin, aspartame, high fructose)

    • Salt (unless needed for adrenal health, use sparingly) and black pepper 

    • Coffee (if possible) 

    Water - drink at least 4 quarts of water daily. Only drink highly filtered water, so no tap water and Brita filters are garbage. Either get bulk filtered water at the grocery store or a high quality at-home filter (Berkey is the best). 

    Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and recreational substances (tobacco, cannabis, etc.) 

    Supplements/Medications:

    • Biotherapeutic Drainage Kit

    • Multi-strain probiotic that has Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium

    • Multi-vitamin and mineral supplement

    • Magnesium

    • Vitamin C Stop all non-essential medications and supplements as guided by your doctor. 

    Also important:

    • Install a shower head filter - metals & toxins in our tap water easily absorb through your skin and lungs. I recommend adding a Berkey, New Wave, or Aquasana filter to your shower head. 

    • Avoid health and beauty products w/ toxic chemicals 

    • Read the labels of face creams, after shave, soap, shampoo, antiperspirants, cosmetics, lipstick (lead), etc.

    • Avoid products with any of these ingredients: Acrylates, Aluminum, Phthalates (DBP), Diethanolamine (DEA), DMDM hydantoin, Parabens, Imidazolidinyl urea, Petroleum by-products, Phenylenediamine (CL+number), Quaternium-15, Sulfates, Triclosan 

    • If you must-use products containing any of these ingredients, replace them with healthier ones. Reading labels and buying organic products is your safest bet. 

    • Helpful Apps: “Think Dirty”

    Finally! Daily meditation for 15 minutes and/or walking outside for at least 30 minutes a day

    • You’ve been diligent in following the plan.

    • Having 1-2 well-formed regular bowel movements daily.- Exercising 3-5 days a week for at least 30 minutes daily.

  • Continue jumpstart regimen from weeks 1-2 

    Add in treatments to:

    1.) Break biofilms => Vascuzyme

    2.) Kill bad bacteria => garlic (Allimax) and goldenseal (Biocidin)

    3.) Bind the toxins released from the bad bacteria as they die => Fiber and/or binders

    Fiber options: ground flaxseed, ground chia, acacia powder, or alginate

    I like the Garden of Life Flax/Chia Seed Meal. Add to juice or a smoothie. 

    Aim for:

    1 tbsp 3x/day the 1st day

    2 tbsp 3x/day the 2nd day 

    3 tbsp 3x/day the 3rd day 

    If fiber is difficult with your schedule, you can do 2 caps of activated charcoal before bedtime instead. 

    4.) Recolonize the intestines with good bacteria => Probiotics 

    5.) Heal the gut add in GI Response by Innate Response.

    You could make your own mix instead: 

    L-Glutamine, DGL, Quercetin

  • Continue jumpstart regimen from weeks 1-2 (except smaller fish is now ok)

    Foods to focus on:

    • Eggs

    • Greens daily! Swiss chard, spinach, kale, bok choy, dandelion greens - lightly steamed is best. Also red and green-leaf lettuces for salads. 

    • Daily cooked cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, asparagus, or other green leafies (high in B vitamins required for liver detox).

    • Whole grains such as oats, oat bran, millet, quinoa (high in fiber, trace minerals, B vitamins) 

    • Cooked beans or lentils (high in fiber, bind toxins, supports liver detox)

    • Sardines, anchovies, or small mackerel 

    • Sunflower or sesame seeds (high in cysteine, helpful for detox)

    • Artichokes - season w/ lemon and olive oil or take as supplement

    • Turmeric in soups, stews, and curries. 

    • Apples (pectin binds toxins) 

    • Avocado or walnuts (high in glutathione for liver detox)

    • Swiss cheese, feta, or yogurt (high in cysteine) 

    Add in these liver supplements:

    • Liposomal glutathione

    • Hepatatone Plus - Designs for Health

    • R-Lipoic Acid

    • Bitters

  • Continue jumpstart regimen from weeks 1-2 (except smaller fish is still ok)

    Add in:

    • No animal proteins or dairy (b/c they are processed by kidneys and trying to rest/detox the kidneys)

    • Nuts and seeds - almonds, walnuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds (rich in magnesium)

    • Green leafy vegetables daily 

    • Whole grains - millet, quinoa, and rice (organic white basmati by Lundberg is best b/c lowest in arsenic)

    • Citrus fruits (except for grapefruit)

    • Beet juice

    • Ginger juice (pairs well with beet juice)

    • Blueberries or blackberries (1 cup daily)

    • Decrease salt consumption to ⅛ tsp daily

    • Continue drinking at least 4 quarts of clean water daily - VERY IMPORTANT 

    • Do breathing exercises or pranayama Add in supplemental support:

    Add in these kidney supplements:

    • Kidney Korrect - Designs for Health

    • Calorie restriction

    • Continue alkaline diet by limiting animal protein and consuming lots of fruits and veggies

    • Sweat out toxins through sauna (always rinse w/ cool or cold water after)

    • Drinking green drinks (Enriching Blueberry Greens by Natural Factors or Synergy Superfood by Synergy Company)

    • Release toxins through lymphatics through the following ways:Massage

    Release toxins through stimulating lymphatics via:

    • Massage

    • Lymphatic massage

    • Rebounding

    • Dry skin brushing

    • Hydrotherapy (sauna then cold plunge or in shower 3 min hot/30 sec cold, 3x in a row)

There are many ways to detox effectively. Here is a protocol we devised based on Dr. Pizzorno’s The Toxin Solution book for general detoxification that involves mostly dietary changes, supplemental support, and some lifestyle changes.