Medicinal Herbs and ADHD

LATEST PODCAST EPISODE — LISTEN NOW

What to Expect During a Metabolic Detox

Key Topics: Digestive Health
April 4, 2019 • 3 min read
Summary

Toxin exposure is unavoidable, but humans have a natural metabolic response in place to eliminate toxins. Metabolic detox programs support this process.

What is a Metabolic Detox?

A metabolic detox plan helps the body address and remove toxins. The human body is exposed to both endogenous and environmental toxins every day. In some cases, the body does not efficiently eliminate toxins, and they can accumulate in organs and tissues, disrupting normal cellular function and increasing the risk for disease. Utilizing metabolic detoxification programs to support the body’s detoxification systems and reduce toxic body burden is critical to overall health and longevity.

Common Types of Toxins:

  • Heavy Metals
  • Pesticides
  • Plastics
  • Industrial chemicals
  • Bacterial endotoxins

Detoxification Systems of the Body

An important component of metabolic detoxification protocols is to support each of the body’s elimination pathways, since metabolic toxins must leave the body through stool, urine, or sweat. The three phases of cellular detoxification must also be supported; this support forms the basis of a successful metabolic detoxification plan.

Metabolic Detox: Common Symptoms and Solutions

Some people may experience mild symptoms during a metabolic detoxification program, commonly referred to as “detox reactions,” particularly during their first detox. These symptoms sometimes occur when detoxification processes become unbalanced and metabolic toxins are not eliminated optimally. It is a biological bottleneck problem where released toxins exceed the body’s capacity for transportation and elimination. Symptoms are generally minor and resolve within a day or two.

1. Headaches, Tiredness, and Irritability

Withdrawal symptoms including headache, tiredness, and irritability can develop from suddenly avoiding caffeine, sugar, wheat, and dairy, all of which can be addictive.1 Other causes of these symptoms include dehydration and constipation (preventing toxin elimination), blood sugar fluctuation, and inefficient toxin release from “biological hiding places.”

Solutions:

  • Green tea is hydrating, low-caffeine, promotes cytochrome p450 activity, and supplies the body with L-theanine, which supports the production of calming neurotransmitters2
  • Increase hydration 
  • Promote an alkaline state through Nutritional support  with foods such as vegetables, fruits, and herbs
  • Stabilize blood sugar by including high quality protein, fiber, and fat at each meal
  • Optimize sleep quality and quantity
  • Promote sweating in a sauna, steam room, or warm Epsom salt bath
  • Support bowel regularity

2. Food Cravings

Many people experience food cravings while on any type of elimination diet, including the dietary component of a metabolic detoxification program. Cravings will ultimately subside in a few days. There are many possible reasons for food cravings during detoxification programs:

  • Withdrawal from addictive foods and beverages
  • Breaking habits revolved around sugar
  • Microbial imbalances in the digestive tract in response to diet change

Since sugar, gluten, and dairy all trigger an opioid-like response in the brain, many of these foods can be addictive.3 Sweet flavors trigger the synthesis of serotonin, the “feel good” neurotransmitter, which can create an overreliance on sugar. The state of the microbiome may also affect food cravings; specific strains are associated with cravings. Gut microbes can trigger cravings that favor that particular microbe, even if it is to the detriment of the host. These microbes may also be able to cause the host to feel poorly until the craving is met and a feeling of euphoria sets in.4 Metabolic detoxification programs and their dietary components can help to shift the microbiome and address certain aspect of dysbiosis. Conquering sugar or cravings for other unhealthy foods is one added benefit to reap.5

Solutions:

  • Include more alkaline foods and beverages in the diet, which can help minimize food cravings and promote beneficial shifts in gut microbes
  • Avoid sugar cravings with more protein at meals and choices like fruit and smoothies
  • For fried food or starchy food cravings, try roasting sweet potatoes or parsnip wedges

For cravings in general, there are usually suitable substitutes that fit within the prescribed plan. Working with a nutrition professional on managing and redirecting food cravings can be helpful in creating lasting diet improvements

3. Bowel Irregularity

Constipation is detox’s worst enemy; many toxins are eliminated through stool. While following a meal plan designed to promote detoxification typically includes nutritional support with a fiber-rich diet high in vegetables, some people still experience bowel irregularity and digestive symptoms from the diet change.

Solutions: 

  • Drink plenty of water, herbal teas and other fluids
  • Eat bitter vegetables and herbs that encourage healthy peristalsis, like radicchio, endive, arugula, and ginger
  • Try a magnesium supplement 
  • Non-starchy vegetables, high fiber seeds, and healthy fats and oils that help lubricate the digestive tract
  • Daily physical activity to improve regularity

These solutions can help consumers and health professionals feel confident in metabolic detoxification programs, even if mild “detox symptoms” occur. Understanding why symptoms occur and what to do about them can help people reap the benefits of periodic metabolic detoxification programs. 

More on nutritional support in metabolic detox.

Read the Detox Blog Series.

Did you like this article?

Like
  1. Schulte, E.M., Avena, N.M., Gearhardt, A.N. (2015). Which foods may be addictive? The roles of processing, fat content, and glycemic load. PLOS ONE 10(2): e0117959.
  2. Lee, G., Bae, H. (2017). Therapeutic effects of phytochemicals and medicinal herbs on depression. Biomed Res Int, 2017:6596241.
  3. Arısoy, S., Üstün-Aytekin, Ö. (2018). Hydrolysis of food-derived opioids by dipeptidyl peptidase IV from Lactococcus lactis spp. lactis. Food Res Int, 111:574-581.
  4. Alcock, J., Maley, C.C., Aktipis, C.A. (2014). Is eating behavior manipulated by the gastrointestinal microbiota? Evolutionary pressures and potential mechanisms. Bioessays, 36(10):940-9.
  5. Krajmalnik-Brown, R., Ilhan, Z.E., Kang, D.W., DiBaise, J.K. (2012). Effects of gut microbes on nutrient absorption and energy regulation. Nutr Clin Pract, 27(2):201-14.

Scientifically driven. Education focused. Healing Inspired.

Subscribe to Insights

Receive clinically driven nutrition insights you can trust.

Animated Newsletter WM

Join Our Community to Read Further

This is a premium article created for our Healthcare Practitioner readers. Create a free account to continue reading and gain full access.

Dismiss

signup-logo

WholisticMatters offers health care practitioners and nutrition enthusiasts alike the opportunity to create a free profile for access to site features like bookmarking. Enjoying an article you are reading or a video you are watching? Save it to come back to later! Sign up in seconds for continuous access to all that WholisticMatters has to offer.

WholisticMatters also offers health care practitioners who create a free user profile access to exclusive content and tools to utilize in clinical practice. Articles, tools, and downloads created specifically for practitioners to use in their office for better patient education in clinical nutrition and health. Sign up today with your email and credentials so we can confirm you as a health care practitioner, and you are free to peruse the resources unique to you and your colleagues in health.

close
mobile-signup

Create Your Account:

show-pass Please use 8 or more characters with a mix of letters, numbers & symbols
signup-logo
close

Create a free account to use our great bookmarking tool

Once your account is created, you'll be able to save and organize what matters to you!

Already have an Account? Login Here


Click 'Sign Up' above to accept Wholistic Matters's Terms of Service & Privacy Policy.
close

Are you a Healthcare Professional? Sign Up For Free Access!

We'll verify your credentials and get you access to our great interactive tools.

Already have an Account? Login Here


Click 'Sign Up' above to accept Wholistic Matters's Terms of Service & Privacy Policy.

For more information on how to support the body’s natural detoxification process, get in touch with one of our nutrition support specialists.

No Thanks