COMPOUND WITH CONFIDENCE: PCCA Membership, $795/month.
Stay current on PCCA news and events, market trends, and all things compounding!
by Stephanie Allen, ASIN, DCN, DSS, CPES, Wellness Works Manager
Everything from clothing and furniture to the air and soil has some level of chemical contaminants that can be harmful to health. Many of these are deemed “safe” individually and in very small volumes, but they build up over time. Multiple exposures to combinations of many different chemical toxins can lead to health problems such as metabolic syndrome.
Toxins are often stored in the adipose tissues and released back into circulation during weight loss, increasing autoimmune responses and leading to feelings of fatigue, increased allergies and illness. Therefore, a quality detoxification protocol is also an important part of any weight loss program.
To lessen the exposure and subsequent toxic load in the body, adopting a healthful diet that is low in processed foods, preservatives and pesticides is a good first step. Choose organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible. Decreasing any unnecessary over-the-counter medications, limiting alcohol intake and avoiding any nicotine products are very important steps to lessen the burden on the body. We are also unnecessarily exposed to foreign chemicals through our personal-care products. The United States allows more than 1,600 chemicals in personal care products that are banned in most of Europe due to health concerns.1 We should regularly review used hygiene products, cosmetics and fragrances that may increase toxic exposure.
The Environmental Working Group is a great resource and contains lists of fruits and vegetables with the least and most pesticide, as well as information on toxins in personal care and cosmetic products. The regularly updated lists can be viewed on their website at ewg.org.
Lessening exposure to environmental toxins and chemicals is only part of decreasing our toxic load for optimal health. Boosting the body’s natural ability to process and eliminate toxins is another necessary step. Processes and metabolic systems of the kidneys, skin, liver and lungs, for example, rid the body of foreign chemicals. Movement and exercise, especially activities that generate sweat, are a great way to help promote clearing through increased lymph flow and cleansing through the pores in the skin. Steam baths and warm showers are a great way to destress and detox too, and increased water consumption helps eliminate broken-down toxins from the body.
Diet is also crucial. Cruciferous vegetables contain indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a strong antioxidant shown to improve detoxification processes and promote healthy metabolic pathways. Increased consumption of colorful vegetables also provides beneficial antioxidants that counteract free radicals formed when toxins break down. Some great dietary additions include blueberries, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Herbal teas that contain dandelion, milk thistle, ginger, rooibos, green tea and burdock — or any combination of these — will provide chemicals and compounds that assist in detoxification. Beware of detox teas that contain large amounts of senna. Senna is a natural laxative and may lead to dehydration or poor absorption of needed nutrients if used too often or in too large a dose.
Ingesting enough fiber is also paramount for clearing foreign materials. The Wellness Works combination product, Colon Health Support (WW #10370), is a proprietary blend of fibers, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), pectin and detoxifying herbs, as well as ingredients that support the detoxifying and cleansing pathways. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that helps clear free radicals that form during the breakdown of toxins, as well as supports the regeneration of antioxidants in the body. The liposomal form available in Liposomal Glutathione (WW #10325) — provided in a purified phosphatidylcholine delivery system — helps protect glutathione bonds from degradation during digestion. The liposomal delivery system also offers enhanced absorption due to the hydrophilic nature of the phospholipids. Studies have shown that the Setria® glutathione, available in L-Glutathione Reduced (WW #10389), supports enhanced immune cell function and increases levels of glutathione in the blood. Liposomal Glutathione and L-Glutathione Reduced are good options to add into a detoxification routine or for daily use.
Milk thistle provides silymarin, a highly active botanical that works to protect the liver from free radical damage and supports glutathione concentrations. In addition to herbal teas, milk thistle is also available in Milk Thistle Plus (WW #10110). Our supplement provides 175 mg of milk thistle extract and is standardized to contain a minimum of 80% silymarin.
During the holidays, it is also common to overindulge in alcohol. For those looking to specifically provide the body with the depleted nutrients caused by excessive drinking or limit its impact with nutrients prior to alcohol consumption, we offer Alcohol Detox (WW #10395). Our Alcohol Detox formula combines micronutrients and cofactors essential to supporting healthy liver function and proper alcohol metabolism.2
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products referenced in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.