Do We Really “Need To” Detox

- Dr. Zachary Moran, ND

“Detox” is a very common but polarizing term recently. For some it is viewed as a necessity to maintain optimal health. For others, it's a complete turn off, knowing some will use it as a gimmick to sell a product or a program. As a naturopathic doctor, who has studied extensively in environmental toxicology and human physiology, I can tell you that both are true. Detoxification is essential, now more than ever. But because of that, many people are exploiting it for profit and publicity. So, navigating and understanding proper detoxification starts here.

We are designed to detox independent of expensive and intense therapies or procedures. Our liver, lymphatic system, immune system, cell membranes and many other organ systems are designed to work synergistically to rid our bodies of toxins that we get daily exposure to. However, our resources to aid this detox system have reduced dramatically. General weight gain, increased medication use, sedentary lifestyles, inflammation and poor health quality with less sleep, nutrition, hydration, sunlight… etc. have led to an impaired detox system while toxins accumulate more rapidly than ever before.

Our exposure to toxins has grown dramatically over the past few decades in both volume and new exposures, making our detox system work overtime. Approximately 2,000 new chemicals are introduced into the U.S. commercial market each year, while global figures are much higher. The average American is exposed to thousands of chemicals and toxins in food, air, water, and environment every day.

The main controversy of detoxification comes from understanding acute toxicity like carbon monoxide poisoning vs chronic accumulated toxicity like heavy metal or mold toxicity. Almost all research and testing is focused on acute toxicity that would cause immediate and life threatening concern. Most daily toxic exposures are below thresholds of immediate concern, resulting in data showing “no harm” since they are only studied short term. But with chronic daily low-grade exposure, accumulation can eventually lead to severe chronic disease patterns. A slow, undetected toxic exposure can cause significant harm. These toxicities will slowly build up in the tissues impairing our normal cellular function. Which will bring patients to our clinic with symptoms of fatigue, lower mood status, chronic inflammation, weight gain, musculoskeletal pain, routine infections and more. Toxicity also creates chronic inflammation, the root of all illness. Chronic inflammation is going to create significant stress, affecting energy, mood, hormones, fertility, immune function, weight gain, pain, and even predispose to cancer.

Our exposures come from a variety of locations and unfortunately avoiding them all is impossible. But the more we can lighten the toxic burden, the more effective our function and quality of life will be. Identifying sources in our food, water, air and environment can be relatively simple and very effective. I often refer to the Environmental Working Group as a starting place for patients to help understand where to reduce toxic exposures.

Our detox system is designed to excrete toxins through urine, stool and sweat. We can enhance our detoxification tools using sauna for increased sweating capacity, massage and exercise for increased lymphatic drainage, colonics with bowel regularity, and nutrient IV therapies to support with hydration and mitochondrial energy. Supplementation of herbs and vitamins can also aid with these detox strategies, including cellular detoxification. Here at Roots, we use diagnostics that help us accurately identify what type and volume of toxins have over accumulated. Then we utilize a variety of therapies and procedures to help patients detox and reduce their toxic burden. It is a scientific based approach to personalizing the need of detoxification. 

Most of our patients here at Roots are seeking care for chronic infections, chronic inflammatory diseases, chronic autoimmune diseases, cancer and other conditions that don’t come from obvious causes. When we comprehensive investigate each patient’s health conditions, we often see a strong connection to high levels of toxicity. Because of this, we highly advocate for routine proactive detox if the form of clean water, food, and air, routine sweating and bowel movements, while adding nutrition and hydration so that we can live the cleanest and healthiest lifestyles.