Posted on 10 October 2011 - 02:01pm
IT IS estimated that from birth till age 50, we would have ‘consumed’ up to two tons of toxic wastes from our food, water, beverages and external environment.
Not surprisingly, a widely-promoted area of do-it-yourself healthcare is detoxification.
The liver is the main organ that handles our toxic load besides kidneys, skin, and lungs.
Toxins impair the functions of our internal organs leading to higher risk of heart disease, kidney dysfunction, skin disorders and allergies.
They also generate lots of free radical activities, thus lowering overall immunity and increasing the risk of autoimmune diseases, tumour growth and cancer.
Phase I (P450) detox
Liver detoxification starts with enzymes in the cytochrome P450 system using oxygen to alter toxic substances, medications and steroid hormones.
P450 enzyme reactions involve physiological processes such as oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis, hydration, and dehalogenation.
If there’s more rapid clearance of toxins in Phase I compared to Phase II, then the build-up of toxic load can worsen conditions in the liver.
Death arising from adverse drug reactions could be due to poor clearance of both phases (Lazarou et al, 1998). The intermediate compounds generated from Phase I might be more toxic than those originally stored in the body.
Phase 1 detoxification requires nutrients such as magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin Bs, niacin, zinc, and folate. Foods rich in magnesium include cocoa, almond, coconut and dark green vegetables.
All our major organs such as the heart, kidneys, pancreas, and muscular system require magnesium for their optimum function. Our bones and teeth depend on it.
Even our hormone insulin and production of some digestive enzymes depend on the presence of magnesium. In addition, several hundred of our enzymes depend on magnesium as co-factor. It’s probably the most important mineral needed by humans today.
Diarrhoea and vomiting can cause temporary magnesium deficiencies. Some gastrointestinal diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, diabetes, pancreatitis, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, and even consuming diuretics can also lead to magnesium deficiency.
Excessive intake of coffee, black tea, soft drinks, salt or alcohol and elevated stress can lower magnesium levels as well.
The Human Genome Project has identified 57 human genes coding for the various P450 enzymes. Ten different cytochrome P450 enzymes are involved at this initial phase.
However, these enzyme activities decline as we age. Functions of these enzymes can be inhibited by toxins such as carbon tetrachloride, carbon monoxide and nutrients such as quercetin (apple skin), capsaicin (chili pepper), eugenol (clove oil), and naringenin (grapefruit).
Consequently, having grapefruit for breakfast slows down the detoxification of drug metabolites. Curcumin (turmeric) also inhibits Phase I but stimulates Phase II.
Phase II (Conjugation)
This process uses water-soluble nutrients (conjugates) to bind to the toxins generated in Phase 1 so that our body can eliminate the transformed toxins through urine and/or stools.
Phase II conjugates include amino acids, glutathione, methionine, sulfur (found in garlic, onions and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage) and acetyl co-A. Sulphoraphane from cruciferous vegetables is a potent Phase 2 enzyme regulator.
Oxidised toxins, medications and steroid hormones are turned into intermediate compounds for Phase II actions. It’s a complex phase in liver detox involving some six sub-phases:
• Glutathione (GSH) conjugation: GSH is the strongest antioxidant that our body produces from nutrients such as vitamin B6 and the amino acids cysteine, glutamic acid and glycine. The herb silybin is a stronger inducer of GSH production.
• Amino acid conjugation: This requires L-glycine, taurine and L-glutamine.
• Methylation: This involves conjugating methyl groups to toxins using S-adenosyl-methionine and magnesium.
• Sulfation utilising L-cysteine, L-methionine, and molybdenum: Eggs, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and raw garlic, onions, and leeks are rich sources of natural sulphur compounds for this purpose.
• Acetylation utilising acetyl co-A: This is the main way by which the body eliminates sulfa drugs. This process is dependent on nutrients such as thiamine (vitamin B1), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) and vitamin C.
• Glucoronidation using glucoronic acid: This is conjugated to many poisons and drugs forming the less toxic glucoronides for enhanced excretion by the liver, intestine and kidney.
Phase I and Phase II enzymes are the engines that run the detoxification process fuelled by key nutrients. Therefore, being undernourished or having a lack of these vitamins or nutrients can jeopardise your liver’s ability to adequately detoxify your body.
Several research studies have shown links between induced Phase I and/or decreased Phase II detoxification activities and an increased risk of diseases such as cancer, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Parkinson’s disease.
As such, all forms of liver detoxification should be performed by a licensed nutritional therapist.
Views expressed are those of the author, who’s president of the Federation of Complementary & Natural Medical Associations, and not necessarily those of the professional bodies and government committees of which he’s a member.
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/171744
Third-grade students at Roswell's Pecos Elementary School pick green beans in the garden they are taking care of on school grounds. Chaves County extension agents are helping the students grow a variety of vegetables and flowers, and also are teaching them about eating healthy foods as part of the ongoing project. (photo by Audry Olmsted)Not surprisingly, a widely-promoted area of do-it-yourself healthcare is detoxification.
The liver is the main organ that handles our toxic load besides kidneys, skin, and lungs.
Toxins impair the functions of our internal organs leading to higher risk of heart disease, kidney dysfunction, skin disorders and allergies.
They also generate lots of free radical activities, thus lowering overall immunity and increasing the risk of autoimmune diseases, tumour growth and cancer.
Phase I (P450) detox
Liver detoxification starts with enzymes in the cytochrome P450 system using oxygen to alter toxic substances, medications and steroid hormones.
P450 enzyme reactions involve physiological processes such as oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis, hydration, and dehalogenation.
If there’s more rapid clearance of toxins in Phase I compared to Phase II, then the build-up of toxic load can worsen conditions in the liver.
Death arising from adverse drug reactions could be due to poor clearance of both phases (Lazarou et al, 1998). The intermediate compounds generated from Phase I might be more toxic than those originally stored in the body.
Phase 1 detoxification requires nutrients such as magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin Bs, niacin, zinc, and folate. Foods rich in magnesium include cocoa, almond, coconut and dark green vegetables.
All our major organs such as the heart, kidneys, pancreas, and muscular system require magnesium for their optimum function. Our bones and teeth depend on it.
Even our hormone insulin and production of some digestive enzymes depend on the presence of magnesium. In addition, several hundred of our enzymes depend on magnesium as co-factor. It’s probably the most important mineral needed by humans today.
Diarrhoea and vomiting can cause temporary magnesium deficiencies. Some gastrointestinal diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, diabetes, pancreatitis, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, and even consuming diuretics can also lead to magnesium deficiency.
Excessive intake of coffee, black tea, soft drinks, salt or alcohol and elevated stress can lower magnesium levels as well.
The Human Genome Project has identified 57 human genes coding for the various P450 enzymes. Ten different cytochrome P450 enzymes are involved at this initial phase.
However, these enzyme activities decline as we age. Functions of these enzymes can be inhibited by toxins such as carbon tetrachloride, carbon monoxide and nutrients such as quercetin (apple skin), capsaicin (chili pepper), eugenol (clove oil), and naringenin (grapefruit).
Consequently, having grapefruit for breakfast slows down the detoxification of drug metabolites. Curcumin (turmeric) also inhibits Phase I but stimulates Phase II.
Phase II (Conjugation)
This process uses water-soluble nutrients (conjugates) to bind to the toxins generated in Phase 1 so that our body can eliminate the transformed toxins through urine and/or stools.
Phase II conjugates include amino acids, glutathione, methionine, sulfur (found in garlic, onions and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage) and acetyl co-A. Sulphoraphane from cruciferous vegetables is a potent Phase 2 enzyme regulator.
Oxidised toxins, medications and steroid hormones are turned into intermediate compounds for Phase II actions. It’s a complex phase in liver detox involving some six sub-phases:
• Glutathione (GSH) conjugation: GSH is the strongest antioxidant that our body produces from nutrients such as vitamin B6 and the amino acids cysteine, glutamic acid and glycine. The herb silybin is a stronger inducer of GSH production.
• Amino acid conjugation: This requires L-glycine, taurine and L-glutamine.
• Methylation: This involves conjugating methyl groups to toxins using S-adenosyl-methionine and magnesium.
• Sulfation utilising L-cysteine, L-methionine, and molybdenum: Eggs, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and raw garlic, onions, and leeks are rich sources of natural sulphur compounds for this purpose.
• Acetylation utilising acetyl co-A: This is the main way by which the body eliminates sulfa drugs. This process is dependent on nutrients such as thiamine (vitamin B1), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) and vitamin C.
• Glucoronidation using glucoronic acid: This is conjugated to many poisons and drugs forming the less toxic glucoronides for enhanced excretion by the liver, intestine and kidney.
Phase I and Phase II enzymes are the engines that run the detoxification process fuelled by key nutrients. Therefore, being undernourished or having a lack of these vitamins or nutrients can jeopardise your liver’s ability to adequately detoxify your body.
Several research studies have shown links between induced Phase I and/or decreased Phase II detoxification activities and an increased risk of diseases such as cancer, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Parkinson’s disease.
As such, all forms of liver detoxification should be performed by a licensed nutritional therapist.
Views expressed are those of the author, who’s president of the Federation of Complementary & Natural Medical Associations, and not necessarily those of the professional bodies and government committees of which he’s a member.
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/171744
