Body Detoxification

Properly done body detoxification can help restore energy and vitality by unburdening your body of various toxins that have built up over time through exposures to all manner of chemicals and heavy metals.

We are all exposed daily to toxins. As children, our systems work well filtering out and disposing of toxins, but as we age those systems get overcrowded with toxins and we can’t remove them as well which leads to higher and higher levels in our bodies. If the burden of toxic load is not removed, eventually the system may shut down completely.

When we are exposed to heavy metals, they blockade many of our enzyme processes and shut down the production of life sustaining chemicals. Toxins can come from a variety of sources including many foods and beverages which contain chemicals, heavy metals, and carcinogens.

For example, arsenic is put in chicken feed to kill parasites. Years ago, Americans ate around 33 pounds of chicken per year. That number has skyrocketed to 88 pounds per person, per year, almost tripling the amount of chicken and therefore the arsenic that our bodies have to deal with.

We are also exposed to toxins through the environment, indoor pollutants, cleaning solutions, and even health and beauty products.

Toxic Burden

The Body Detoxification protocols at Renewed Vitality enables patients to rid themselves of the toxic burden they have been carrying and return to health. Finding the source of toxic exposure is important to prevent a recurrence.

An important method of internal detoxification which is rarely utilized by the medical community is the use of Thyroid Hormone which is the detoxification hormone. Its job is to pull toxins out of tissues and dump them into the blood stream where the liver, kidneys, and skin may eliminate them from the body. Without adequate thyroid levels, the body is unable to remove these toxic chemicals from our tissues.

One of the first steps to determine if you have heavy metal poisoning is to do blood screening that can uncover elevated levels. Treatments can be done orally or intravenously, depending on the toxicity amounts and degree of sickness that the patient is experiencing.

We offer other methods of detoxification which can help to eliminate toxins from the liver, gall bladder, and lymphatic systems.

Our providers utilize laboratory testing based on your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle to determine what treatment protocols are needed, and can also provide you with  information about cleansing your body of toxins via programs that you can do on your own.

The Renewed Vitality Unique Services Include:

• Thyroid diagnosis and management
• Weight loss management
• Age management
• Sleep Therapy
• Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Chronic Viral Syndromes
• Body Detoxification

We offer Body Detoxification services, not as your sole “treatment protocol,” but as an additional option since toxins can wreak havoc on the endocrine and immune systems and affect your liver and kidney function. The treatment protocols for detoxing are to be done once a year (not all at the same time) and can greatly improve your hormone function, weight loss success, and general health and well-being. 

Symptoms of Toxic Overload can include:

There are a multitude of symptoms that can occur when your body is over burdened by too many toxins:

• Digestion and elimination problems (constipation, bloating, diarrhea, nausea, heartburn)
• Elevated cholesterol levels
• Overweight/underweight
• Allergies/Asthma
• Inflammation
• Skin disorders
• Fatigue
• Anger/Depression/Irritability
• Leaky gut syndrome
• Dark circles under the eyes

Patients often develop symptoms in different areas of the body from where the “underlying cause” problem is occurring because toxins can build up in various tissues which can create symptoms elsewhere. 

Toxins Are Stored in Fat Cells

As a means of protecting itself, the body stores excess toxins in fat cells. When all systems aren’t functioning optimally, excess “toxic burden” is placed on our natural filtering organs such as the gut, liver, and kidneys.  Rather than letting these toxins run rampant through the blood stream and brain, the toxins are sent to the fat cells where they can remain for years.

When the body stores toxins in fat cells, it is acting as self-protecting mechanism to keep them from circulating through the blood stream and away from the brain. If you are experiencing toxic overload and are trying to lose weight, it can be almost impossible to shed excess fat as the body stays in “protective” mode.

Why is Body Detoxification Necessary?

There is no question that everyone has toxins in their bodies. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) published a report in 2006 that stated that the average American has 116 out of 148 synthetic chemical compounds in the body. The compounds that they tested for included dioxin, polycyclic hydrocarbons and organochlorine pesticides. Further studies showed that these same substances were also found in human milk, placenta, umbilical cord blood, and body fat of newborns. This is evidence of how burdened our detoxification capabilities have become. 

 It is impossible to completely eliminate exposure to toxins because they are so prevalent. However, it is possible to take measures to limit exposures to toxins and to periodically take action to help your body be better able to eliminate them.

The organs that are responsible for body detoxification are:

• Liver
• Kidneys
• Skin
• Gallbladder
• Lymphatic system

Where do Toxins Come From?

A toxin is anything that is considered to be harmful to the human body. Unfortunately, they are everywhere from pesticide and herbicide residue in many of the foods that we eat to pollution in the air we breathe. Cleaning products, cosmetics, sunscreen, skin and hair care products, perfumes and air fresheners and more may contain toxic ingredients. There are multiple pathways that provide entrance to the body. The lungs, skin, and digestive tract all provide portals for toxins to enter. In fact, it only takes only 26 seconds for a toxin to enter the body when exposure occurs through the skin. If it’s a substance that you can smell (such as fragrance, cleaning products, etc.) then chances are that you are being unknowingly exposed through inhalation and any direct skin exposure.

The amount of toxins that we are exposed to on a daily basis is staggering. We inhale up to 500 environmental chemicals daily in our homes alone, not to mention mold or radon exposure. Many of these poisons are outgases (fumes) from plastics, carpeting, furnishings, and other building materials. New carpet is one of the worst culprits. Short term exposure impairs the liver. Long term exposure to toxic substances adversely affects the immune system, central nervous system, and endocrine function. It can also affect reproductive health.

It’s no wonder that thyroid disorders and autoimmune diseases (among others) are reaching epidemic proportions in this country. Toxins come in many forms and are ingested in multiple ways. 

Environmental Toxins 

• Outdoor and indoor air pollution. According to the EPA, studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may be 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor pollutant levels.
• Radiation from cell phones, microwaves, etc. If you live next to power lines, you are substantially increasing your every-day exposure to radiation.
• Motor vehicle exhaust.
• Job related toxins. Depending on the amount of chemicals you are exposed to, your toxic load may be considerable based on the job that you do. The media has helped to increase public awareness and focus of repeated exposure to things such as Glyphosate, one of the main chemicals found in RoundUp®, and how it is a carcinogenic. Careers in manufacturing, construction, and many others can increase exposure to toxic chemicals.

Lifestyle Toxins

• Cosmetics and Skincare products. The skin is the largest organ. According to several studies, parabens and synthetic preservatives found in most skincare products, may exert serious adverse health effects, including hormone disruption, organ system toxicity, reproductive function and infertility, and developmental or birth defects.
• Many underarm deodorants contain aluminum.
• Titanium may be in hair dyes, toothpaste, and in the coating of some prescription medications and supplements.
• Nicotine. Even the paper in used in cigarettes contains arsenic. 
• Alcohol.
• Caffeine.
• Prescription drugs.
• Over-the-counter drugs.

Water Toxins

• Leading pollutants include bacteria, mercury, phosphorus, and nitrogen.
• Metals and solvents from industrial factories can pollute rivers, lakes, and aquifers.
• Pesticide run-off.
• BPA and other toxins from plastic water bottles.
• Lead can be found in some tap water in the kitchen and bathroom.

Food and Soil Toxins

• Meats and dairy products that contain hormones and antibiotics.
• Pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides.
• Artificial food additives, coloring, and preservatives.
• Refined foods and sugars.
• Processed vegetable oils that have been refined with petroleum products.
• Dietary choices including fast food.
• GMO foods.
• Styrene outgases from everyday plastic containers that hold juice, water, sodas, milk, baby formula, etc.
• Mercury is commonly found in seafood and the bigger the fish, the greater the amount of mercury. Many people eat salmon and tuna on a regular basis, not realizing that they may be loading themselves down with mercury.
• Aluminum gets into the body through aluminum foil use in cooking and aluminum cans.
• Alcohol.

Cleaning Product Toxins

There is currently no regulation by the federal government or any of its agencies that requires corporations to identify or label ingredients or hazardous chemicals contained in household cleaning products. Legislation has been proposed in some states to change this practice, but nothing to date has been passed. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), is a non-profit group that specializes in research and advocacy in the area of toxic chemicals, among others.

They have composed a list  of different corporations, the products they make and their chemical ingredients so that the general public has access to this information.

• Chlorine bleach
• Petroleum distillates
• Ammonia
• Phenol and cresol, found in disinfectants
• Nitrobenzene, found in furniture and floor polishes
• Formaldehyde, used as a preservative in many household products
• Hydrochloric acid or sodium acid sulfate, found in toilet bowl cleaners
• Other toxic chemicals found in air fresheners and deodorizes

Internal Toxins

• Bacterial and fungal overgrowth.
• By-products from metabolic reactions such as carbon dioxide, ammonia, hormones.
• Undigested food (GI tract not functioning optimally). Most patients who have GI issues also have increased levels of incoming toxins, and may not allow them to properly absorb nutrients, which are used in part for liver detoxification pathways.
• Unresolved trauma or abuse.
• Unhappy relationships.
• Stress creates a chemical “cocktail” that can harm the body.

Methods of Body Detoxification 

It can be easy to become overwhelmed when learning about all of the different ways that toxins can affect us, or to think that we have no control over what we are exposed to. The first step is education so you can make informed choices about food that you eat, cleaning products that you use, etc.

Dr. Spurlock at Renewed Vitality has extensively researched effective ways of eliminating the toxic burden so that the filtration and elimination processes can be restored. He recommends that you follow the following protocols annually:

• Liver Detox – Core Restore™ program
• Lymphatic System Detox – Cranberry Juice and water
• Heavy Metals – Chlorella
• Gallbladder Flush/Detox – Apple juice, olive oil, and lemon juice

Liver 

The role of the liver includes:

• Filters blood
• Stores glucose for energy
• Breaks down steroid hormones
• Produces/secretes bile
• Primary organ of detoxification in the body

The Core Restore Program

• A 7-day program designed to help you restore healthy detoxification and elimination functions.
• Provides the body with the essentials to support detoxification, micronutrients, phytonutrients, and clean protein.
• Helps to unmask other GI health issues.
• Helps you to feel better.
• Changes your “filter.”
• Releases stored toxins in fat
• Helps you to lose weight

Lymphatic System

 The lymphatic vessels are responsible for moving fat and toxins from the tissues to the liver for removal. Cranberry dissolves “sludge” in the lymphatic vessels.

The Cranberry Flush Protocol includes:

• Pure unsweetened cranberry juice (NOT cranberry juice cocktail).
• Mix 8 oz. of cranberry juice with 56 oz. of water for 64 oz. total.
• Drink this mixture every day for 2 weeks.
• Becomes your major beverage.
• Clears your lymphatic vessels so you can eliminate fat and toxins more efficiently.

Heavy Metal Detox

Common heavy metals exposures include arsenic which is found in factory processed chicken and rice from china. Mercury is found in almost all seafood, and lead is found in red lipstick, and in sportsmen who shoot rifles frequently.

Chlorella is used to treat heavy metal toxins by chelating them from our fat stores. It moves them through the lymphatic vessels to the liver for removal. To detox using Chlorella, take 1 capsule 3-times daily. Renewed Vitality provides testing for heavy metals. We also offer treatments that can be done orally or intravenously, depending on the toxicity amounts and degree of sickness that the patient is experiencing.

Gallbladder Detox

The Gallbladder detox is a 6-day flush that causes massive evacuation of the gallbladder. During days 1 through 5, drink unsweetened, organic apple juice, 6 to 8 oz., twice daily. On day 6, drink ½ cup of olive oil mixed with the juice of half of a lemon, and do NOT leave the house for at least 8 hours! Since this detox can cause gallstones to be eliminated we offer this DISCLAIMER: Due to a potential gallbladder attack, liver ultrasound is recommended prior to starting the flush. 

A Good Body Detoxification Plan Also Includes these steps:

Be aware of what you eat or drink

• Eat a diet that is as clean as possible including organic, free range meats, and pesticide free fruits and vegetables.
• Drink pure, clean water.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables and less meat and starches.  Meat and starches increase the acidity of the body, which damages its ability to stay healthy. If you do eat meat, eat a   variety and not just one type.  It can help keep you from developing toxic overloads.

Eat specific beneficial foods or supplements

• Certain foods and supplements can specifically aid in detoxification. The cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts and kale) aid the liver in detoxification.
• Lemon juice helps in 3 ways: it increases bile secretion, helps push bowel movements through the body faster and increases kidney excretion.  Milk thistle and Schizandra help the liver function better.  Iodine helps the thyroid gland be more productive.

Avoid unnecessary exposure to heavy metals

• Avoid cigarette smoke, wearing colognes or perfumes.  Be careful about choices of underarm deodorants. Choose to live away from highways and factory pollutants.

Have a good exercise program that causes sweating.

• The skin is our largest organ and any time you can sweat, you are helping to rid the body of toxins. Utilizing dry saunas or steam rooms can help too. 

Avoid plastic bottles, aluminum cans and cooking with aluminum foil as much as possible.

• Chemicals used in plastic bottles can leach into their contents. This process is enhanced when plastic bottles are exposed to heat. 

Make sure that the Thyroid Hormone is at a healthy level.

• Our providers always include a full thyroid blood panel to determine the exact cause of thyroid disfunction. This includes testing TSH, T4, T3, Reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies. We are also trained to prescribe the most up-to-date treatment for thyroid disorders. For more information on our thyroid treatment, click here. 

Get enough to drink.

• Adequate hydration not only dilutes toxins, but also helps the body function properly and aids in detoxification.

Avoid jobs or hobbies that obviously put you at risk.

• Painters of any kind may have two-fold risks from both skin absorption and inhaled fumes.  Always make sure if you are  working around any chemicals that you use adequate skin protection because the skin absorbs chemicals like a sponge.  Always make sure there is adequate ventilation to prevent overexposure to skin and lungs.
• People who work with asbestos are at risk for toxicity as well.
• By taking precautions and being aware of the dangers of heavy metal toxins, you can reduce your risk of exposure and maintain better health.

Be mindful of what you put on your skin.

• Many cosmetics and skin care products contain harmful substances that are absorbed by the skin directly into the body. It takes only 26 seconds for these chemicals to absorb into the body. Here is a list compiled by the EWG that provides information on which cosmetics and skin care products are safe. 

 Body Detoxification with Renewed Vitality

Our providers at Renewed Vitality can explain in more detail to our patients how these programs work. We recommend that you complete each detox protocol annually, just not all at the same time!

The detoxification programs pave the way for better overall health by reducing the toxic load on the major systems involved in eliminating toxins from the body so that they are able to function more efficiently. Body detoxification also greatly aids in the body’s ability to lose weight.

Dr. Spurlock and Nurse Practitioners, Roxana Cocos and Amanda Hoelscher, recently held a seminar designed to educate the public about the different ways that people are exposed to toxins and how these detoxification programs can help. For your convenience, the seminar was filmed so that our patients and the general public can be better informed.

Our staff and doctors can answer any questions you may have about body detoxification and assist you in finding the right treatments to restore you to the healthy, active person you want to be. For more information regarding our services, or to schedule an appointment, call (214) 740-4703 or fill out the form below and we will contact you!