“Detox” has become a commonplace buzzword used to promote all kinds of products and regimens. While many of these products and programs are potentially helpful, there are dangers, too. A number of detox herbs and supplements can trigger the rapid release of toxins and heavy metals from the cells where they are stored throughout the body. These storage sites are often fat cells. You have to ask:
Why is the body sequestering these toxins inside of cells? It’s because the body is trying to protect vital organs by taking toxins out of circulation as fast as possible, placing them into fat cells and other areas as a temporary quick fix.
Study On Air Pollution And Brain Health
The brain is particularly vulnerable area to toxin buildup. Many studies link toxin exposure to neurological and cognitive problems. A 2012 study showed that living in areas of high air pollution can cause accelerated cognitive decline in older people.
Although the blood-brain barrier provides some protection against harmful invading substances, many dangerous compounds and heavy metals can breach this barrier and enter the brain. That’s why, during a cleanse, when you release toxins into the circulation, you need a specialized solution to bind and trap those toxins so they can be eliminated safely. Otherwise, they can be redistributed to new locations in the body, including the brain.
This redistribution is not detoxing. In fact, it’s one of the primary reasons people experience problems during intensive cleanses. The body simply can’t keep up with the sudden load of toxins that are being rapidly released from “storage areas” where they’ve been hiding for years — or even decades.
Healthy Detox: Avoiding A Crisis
Modified citrus pectin (MCP), derived from the pith of citrus peels, has been extensively studied for its ability to remove heavy metals and toxins from the circulatory system, ensuring elimination through the urinary tract. But not all MCP is equally effective. The molecular size of the MCP must be small enough to allow it to enter into the circulation; otherwise, it stays in the gut and clears toxins only from the digestive tract. MCP of the correct size and structure, on the other hand, enters the bloodstream and traps circulating heavy metals and toxins with a stacked “egg-carton” structure. This specific structure attracts and binds heavy metals and toxins, allowing them to be safely eliminated.
With regular use of MCP, or a combination formula of MCP with sodium alginates, you can then add stronger herbs and supplements that detoxify deeper areas of the body like vital organs and tissues. By incorporating MCP or MCP/alginates into your detox program, you can be confident that you won’t be redistributing toxins to other parts of your body, including your brain.
Solutions For Brain Health
We are all aware of the rising incidence of neurological disorders, especially those such as Alzheimer’s that affect the brain. What else can we do to protect this delicate and vital organ? In addition to safely detoxing, another important area of caution is your diet. Remove trans fats, partially hydrogenated oils and fried foods from your diet. These unhealthy oils trigger inflammation and wreak havoc throughout the body, including the brain, and can lead to long-term neurological problems.
When looking at the right diet for brain and neuro-protection, it’s important to include sources of healthy oils such as raw nuts, seeds, wild salmon and coconut. Organic coconut, olive, walnut or macadamia nut oils are excellent choices. These health-promoting oils protect delicate nerve tissue against harmful free radicals, toxins, inflammation and other assaults.
Exciting Research On A Natural Ingredient
In my search for protective herbs, I’ve noted a rising star that is being extensively researched for its remarkable healing abilities, including powerful brain protection: honokiol extract from the bark of magnolia trees. Magnolia bark has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. Today, hundreds of published studies demonstrate honokiol’s remarkable array of benefits: anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, brain protection and more. Honokiol is currently used in a growing number of integrative clinics against numerous diseases, particularly cancer and neurological conditions.
Honokiol is such a small molecule that it is able to cross the blood brain barrier and provide neurological benefits. This gives it the unique ability to offer powerful protection against some of our most serious health conditions today, including Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, honokiol is quickly absorbed through the digestive tract and rapidly supports excellent blood-concentration levels. No toxicity has been observed.
A number of studies have shown that honokiol exhibits powerful anti-inflammatory effects in the brain. In a 2007 study published in the journal Basic Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, honokiol reduced stroke damage by reducing inflammation and oxidation. A 2005 study in Neuroscience Letters showed that honokiol’s ability to modulate GABA receptors helps protect the brain from amyloid beta protein, the plaque found in Alzheimer’s. Another study in Phytotherapy Research in 2010 also showed honokiol’s ability to fight Alzheimer’s disease.
This is a sampling of a large body of research showing honokiol’s protective effects, through diverse mechanisms of action. For more information about this remarkable extract, download a free copy of my comprehensive guide to the benefits of honokiol.
Detoxification can be a simple, life-changing process. Even just reducing processed foods and increasing fresh vegetables in your diet can have powerful cleansing benefits. Anytime that you undertake a more intensive program, however, be sure to bolster your body’s defenses against harmful toxin redistribution and the dreaded detox crisis. For more information about healthy detoxification, I recommend an in-depth health report on the safe and effective removal of harmful heavy metals and toxins.
Above all, proceed with a detox slowly and gently. Make sure to drink plenty of pure water, and emphasize antioxidant-rich foods and supplements that can offer comprehensive protective benefits.
Lastly, incorporate gentle, natural ingredients such as MCP to support the safe removal of toxins from the circulatory system. Cleansing and detox, when done correctly, are excellent pathways to increased health and vitality on all levels.
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