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Detoxification 2005
Dr. Ralph Ofcarcik, Ph.D.
Director of Nutrition Services

Edward Abbey, a now-deceased writer and outspoken (frequently testy) environmentalist, spent most of his life nestled among the vermilion cliffs and small towns of southern Utah. Once, on a road trip with friends, he witnessed air pollution for the first time. On the road and 60 miles from a major western metropolis (a city he had never visited), Abbey described the encroaching gray-yellow cloud as a “blanket of mustard gas”. With characteristic environmental indignation, he asked the driver to pull over, got out, and hitchhiked back to Utah.

Most of us, unlike Ed Abbey, will not live our entire lives in pristine surroundings, near-free of pollution. Consider the following EPA statistics for the year 2000:

• More then 4 billion pounds of chemicals were released into U.S. croplands, forests, lawns, and fields (60% from the 400+ pesticides currently sanctioned by the EPA and FDA).
• Nearly 2 billion pounds of air emissions were pumped into the atmosphere.

Completing the scenario is the possible negative health impact of the estimated 6 lbs of xenobiotic (foreign to biologic systems) food additives consumed by the average American every year. To suggest an absence of risk from our polluted (albeit, regulated) environment is living with one’s head in the sand. To the contrary, infiltration of exogenous toxins in the human body is strongly tied to the following conditions:

• Headaches
• Cancer
• Mineral imbalances (zinc and calcium)
• Panic attacks
• Kidney dysfunction
• Memory loss
• Fertility problems
• Parkinson’s disease
• Abnormal pregnancy outcome
• Broad mood swings
• Immune system depression
• Fatigue
• Multiple chemical sensitivities
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Muscle weakness
• Recurrent yeast infections
• Unusual response to medications or supplements
• Tinnitus Increasing sensitivity to exogenous exposures: odors, medications, etc
• Learning disorders
• Contact dermatitis
• Worsening of symptoms after anesthesia or pregnancy
• Learning disorders

Likely, most of us would benefit by periodic detoxification.

Said to be symptomatic of less-than-scientific alternative thinking (“flushing out the toxins”), detoxification has transgressed beyond trendy water/juice fasting and milk thistle supplements to precise nutrition therapies for optimizing the 2-phase hepatic process. With few exceptions, most of the recent advances in nutrition-tuned toxin removal can be credited to the Institute for Functional Medicine. As a gauge of scientific interest, a recent Medline search for “detoxification” at the National Library of Medicine’s website resulted in 11,680 hits, 41% from the last five years.

Since most toxins are fat-soluble, removal from the body requires a molecular conversion of the unwanted invader to a water-soluble form – a polar configuration that is readily excreted in urine or transported in bile to the intestinal tract (for subsequent removal). Within the cells of the chemical plant (liver), are enzyme systems designed to accommodate the necessary 2-step detoxification process. Biotransformations in phase 1 (sometimes called the oxidation phase) occur, compliments of a family of mixed oxidase enzymes known as the cytochromes P450. Once oxidized, the chemically-primed toxins are easily bonded to water-soluble constituents from amino acids, glutathione, and other available donors. These reconfiguration reactions constitute phase 2 and are known collectively as conjugation.

The three principles to effective detoxification make intuitive good sense:

1. Provide the right nutrients to maximize both the phase 1 and phase 2 reactions. Feed those hepatocytes . . . well!. Since both the oxidation and conjugation reactions of liver detoxification require vitamin and mineral co-factors, it is imperative that consumption of low-nutrient foods (like canned vegetables) be minimized. . And, since the nutritional quality of today’s foods (including produce) has declined significantly over the past half century, supplementation with detox nutrient blends (shakes, bars) is 100% essential.

2. Avoid consuming foods that will compete with endogenous toxins for hepatic reconfiguration. Since food antigens require the same 2-phase reconfiguration as dieldrin, PCB’s, and other toxins, avoidance of high allergenic foods and known pro-inflammatants will increase detox effectiveness.

3. Consume foods supportive of optimal intestinal health. Yeasts and other unwanted intestinal micro flora contribute to a condition endured by many and known as “leaky gut syndrome”. Leaky guts are infamous for absorbing more toxins and pro-inflammatory substances. Encouraging intestinal repopulation (in favor of health-supportive Lactobacillus microbes) by avoidance of sugar, white flour, etc., promotes the healing of “leaks”. A good detoxification program is both active (causes toxin removal) and proactive (encourages GI health).

In a few cases, some individuals may detoxify very quickly in phase 1 and/or very slowly in phase 2. This causes a build-up of oxidized intermediates which frequently contribute to the discomfort of a “healing crisis”. (Note: Those who have participated in juice or water fasts usually complain of ill-feeling, i.e healing crisis, in the beginning stages. It is now believed that this is caused by the absence of nutritional support for phase 2 detoxification.) Even with vitamin and mineral support, however, some will be slow phase 2 “pathological detoxifiers”. This condition is determined easily by urine testing (low sulfate/creatinine ratio) and minimized by incorporation of conjugating donors (glycine, taurine, methionine, and other aminos) into supplement program support.

Last week, four guests completed the first (ever) Red Mountain Detoxification Program. Under the direction of Dr. Brad Crump, Red Mountain’s Health Services Manager, the highly-structured week-long program included detox-friendly meals, nutritional support, a personal nutrition consultation, acupuncture therapy, Metabeat testing (for optimal aerobic exertion), detoxification lectures, and plenty of exercise, sunshine, and fresh air. Red Mountain’s Executive Chef (Chad Luethje), Executive Sous Chef (Ken Migneault), and I collaborated on developing a detoxification menu that conformed to the following guidelines:

• Fresh, frozen, juiced, and freshly prepared produce was included.
• Corn was excluded since zein (the major corn protein) is a renowned food allergen.
• Canned fruits and vegetables were generally excluded (with a few exceptions).

-- Oranges and orange juice are excluded (high glycemic effect).
-- Dried fruit such as raisins, dates, and figs were excluded (notorious for raising triglycerides) unless rehydrated (by soaking or cooking in a liquid).

• Meats contributing to high uric acid levels (beef, pork) were excluded. Chicken, turkey, wild game, fish, and lamb were allowed.

• Foods with ingredients denatured in the 2-step pathway (which inherently compete with and slow detoxification) were excluded. Examples: caffeinated foods, alcoholic beverages.

• Carbohydrates which encourage the growth of yeast and other unwanted micro flora were excluded. Examples: table sugar, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, milled flours. However, natural sweeteners (stevia, fructose), brown rice syrup, and blackstrap molasses were utilized.

• Processed fats (hydrogenated oils, margarines, etc.) were excluded.

Nutritional support was provided by flavored “Ultraclear” (Metagenics) powders prepared with rice milk as shakes.* Although food choices were highly restricted, participants enjoyed tasty dishes such as quinoa pancakes with agave syrup, Red Mountain chicken chorizo, red pepper hummus wraps, molasses-seared North American elk, etc.

Many current studies attest to the effectiveness of clinical detox programs. Ultimately, however, the best gauge is how you feel. Everyone who has ever been on a program of internal spring cleaning will nearly always feel more alert, more energetic; and it is likely that major disease risk will be kept at arm’s length.

* Note: Ultraclear contains vitamins and minerals supportive of both phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification. It also includes N-acetylcysteine (a phase 2 enhancer and the current gold standard for removal of acetaminophen, i.e. Tylenol), glycine and cysteine (effective with drugs and environmental toxins), and both lysine and threonine (limiting amino acids which when combined with Ultraclear’s rice protein creates a complete protein).