Rationale, Evidence, and Benefits of Dietary and Nutritional Detoxification
According to the FDA there are more than 3000 unique substances added to various foods in the United States. However the FDA only has toxicological data on 2000 of these substances (1). Our patients, families, friends, and ourselves are being exposed to thousands of substances through their food supply, many of which have little or no toxicological data to determine their safety.
In 2010 The EPA estimated 3.52 billion pounds of toxic chemicals from 20,904 facilities was disposed of on-site through the air, water, and land (2). The World Health Organization estimates that around 2 million premature deaths occur due to indoor air pollution and 1.3 million people die due to outdoor urban pollution (3). Although much of the pollution is released in urban areas looking at the EPA’s distribution map it is clear that all Americans are exposed one way or another to these toxic chemicals released into the environment. The 3.52 billion pounds of chemicals disposed of each year does not include the toxic chemicals we expose ourselves to such as household cleaning products, perfumes, make-up, deodorants, paints, glues, etc.
There is alarming evidence of up to 232 chemicals in the cord blood of new-born babies in the United States, Canada, and Europe including BPA, toxic flame retardants, synthetic fragrances, and chemicals from the Teflon family of products, and even rocket fuel components that are known to disrupt production of thyroid hormones (4).
Our bodies possess powerful detoxification systems such as the liver, intestines, kidneys, lungs, lymphatics, and skin; however the food supply and environment we are exposed to is creating a toxic overload that our bodies cannot keep up with. Lung disorders are the first health condition that comes to mind when discussing environmental pollution and digestive problems are the obvious health issues that come to mind when discussing food. However exposure to environmental pollutants and poor diet can have more far reaching global effects on your health such as depression, autistic spectrum disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, immune reactions, chronic fatigue, diabetes, memory loss, increase cancer risk, a decrease in neurologic function and an increased inflammatory status (5-9).
With information like this every doctor should be knowledgeable about effective ways to reduce the effects of the toxic environment and diet Americans are exposed to. Now that you are thoroughly depressed, there is very positive information about how to combat the toxic environment with dietary and nutritional detoxification programs that are easy to follow, safe, effective, and relatively inexpensive for your patients and yourselves.
Dietary detoxification is a method of diet modification, typically combined with a nutritional supplement regimen, that allow for efficient physiologic elimination and recovery from potentially harmful eating habits and environmental exposures. Many positive studies have shown the potential benefits of dietary and nutritional detoxification. One retrospective case analysis has shown a substantial reduction in various toxins, cholesterol, total lipids, triglycerides, and reduction of reported symptoms pre and post purification program (9). Another study exhibited significant weight loss and improvement of serum lipid numbers (10). Clinically, some of the pre and post detoxification program improvements have been; perceived pain, blood pressure, allergies, sleeplessness, fatigue and overall sense of well-being have also been observed.
When deciding upon which dietary and nutritional detoxification program to implement, it is recommended to stay away from “fad” programs that seem to be too good to be true. For example do not use a program that does not require dietary and lifestyle modifications and only requires you to take a “magic pill”. Instead use programs that requires and teaches overall healthy eating habits and ingestion of quality whole food supplements. Keep in mind that a good detoxification program will not be an “easy fix” and will require disciplined eating habits and other lifestyle modifications, but can produce dramatic long-lasting results and set your patients and you up for a sustainable and healthy lifestyle that can combat many of the harmful health effects of a toxic environment and un-healthy food supply.
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http://www.fda.gov/food/foodingredientspackaging/ucm115326.htm
United States Environmental Protection Agency, Toxic Release Inventory National Analysis, 2010. http://www.epa.gov/tri/tridata/tri10/nationalanalysis/index.htm
World Health Organization Air Quality and Health Fact Sheet: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en/index.html
“First BPA Detection In U.S. Infant Cord Blood”. EWG Public Affairs Press Release.. December 2nd, 2009. (202) 667-6982
Depressive symptoms, omega-6:omega-3 fatty acids, and inflammation in older adults. Psychosom Med. 2007; 69(3):217-24 (ISSN: 1534-7796)Kiecolt-Glaser JK; Belury MA; Porter K; Beversdorf DQ; Lemeshow S; Glaser R. Department of Psychiatry, Ohio State University College of Medicine
“Establishment of a mouse model to assess brain neurotransmitter level and learning performance simultaneously following toxic chemical exposure: using in vivo microdialysis and schedule-controlled operant behavior.” Research Center for Environmental Risk, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
“Chemical pneumonitis and subsequent reactive airways dysfunction syndrome after a single exposure to a household product: a case report”. Consultant, Department of Critical Care, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“A Decade of Children’s Environmental Health Research: Highlights from EPA’s Science to Achieve Results Program”. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development (8101R) http://www.epa.gov December 2007
“EFFECTS ON SERUM LEVELS OF TOXIC CHEMICALS, XENOBIOTICS AND RELATED SYMPTOMATIC SCORES THROUGH THE USE OF A 21-DAY WHOLE FOOD PURIFICATION PROGRAM”. METAMETRIX INSTITUTE. Richard Lord PhD, Judith DeCava PhD, Jerry Morrison ND, Robert Powell ND, Johana Tchanz NP
“Retrospective study: 26 subjects Reported reduction in weight, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein”. J Chiropr Med. 2008. Sep;7(3):94-100. James Powell and Joseph Leonard.