HealthBeat News

Author: Wellness Club

  • The Heidelberg Test – Is It Worth It?

    Heidelberg test or Gastric Acid Function Test – which is better?

    Heartburn, GERD, Acid Reflux, weak digestion… we get questions about these conditions daily. We have written extensively about them and this is probably a good time to touch this subject once more.

    Usually conventional allopathic doctors reach for the prescription pad and whip out a script for the “acid-blocker du jour” since that is quick and easy for them. Occasionally one will decide to go on a fishing expedition if the patient or the patient’s insurance looks good for it. I wish that they would read our article explaining gastric acid and GERD first!

    In fact, for those who are thinking of seeing their doctor about GERD or heartburn, you might want to print out that article and give it to him or her – if his eyes glaze over and he says he is too busy you might want to find another doc. If he or she says she won’t have anything to do with “that naturo stuff” tell her that the article is fully referenced and cites articles and research straight from her own conventional medical journals!

    In today’s Gastric Function Question Elizabeth wrote:

    I have been told to get a Heidleberg pH test but it seems expensive. Is there a significant difference between your test and the Heidleberg, besides the cost?
    Thank you so much!
    Elizabeth

     

    Here’s my answer to Elizabeth:

    Hi Elizabeth,

    The Heidelberg test is “high tech”, highly accurate, and quite unpleasant for most people as it involves swallowing a capsule on a string which is then retrieved by pulling it back up by the string. And yes, it is quite expensive. It will, however, give you precise pH numbers if having precise numbers is important to you.

    In practice those precise numbers will not make any significant difference to the treatment of your condition…

    Dr. Myatt’s Gastric Acid Function Self Test has been well-proven to be highly effective over some 20 years of use and hundreds of satisfied patients in Dr. Myatt’s practice. It is a “low tech” practical test (Dr. Myatt likes to say “There’s no tech like low tech!”) that will give you a very solid indication of just exactly how deficient in stomach acid you may be and how much hydrochloric acid you need to supplement with a particular meal or food intake to correct that deficiency and obtain correct digestion. It will NOT provide you with precise (or any) pH numbers.

    Here is my suggestion:

    Try Dr. Myatt’s Gastric Acid Function Self Test first – I believe it will give you a very good indication of the state of your gastric acid production and a clear indication of your individual need to supplement.

    If you still feel the need for precise pH numbers for some reason after that you always have the option of having the Heildelberg testing performed.

    Please read our article on Gastric Acid Function and GERD here: http://healthbeatnews.com/whats-burning-you/

    And find more information about the Gastric Acid Function Self Test here: https://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/GastricAcidFunction.htm

    Hope this helps!
    Cheers,
    Nurse Mark

  • Gender Differences In Rates Of Depression Explained

    Modern medical science seems determined to spend fortunes on studies and research aimed at determining the cause for well-known differences in rates of clinical depression between men and women.

    Perhaps they should give it a rest and direct their attentions toward “proving” something more useful like, say, why a Ketogenic Diet is better for so many reasons that a high carbohydrate diet or why daily supplementation with an optimal dose multiple vitamin like Maxi Multi is still the surest way to provide a solid foundation for good health.

    It seems that the answers to the depression question have been succinctly provided to us in this following email that we recently received:

    WHY MEN ARE SELDOM DEPRESSED:

    More women than men suffer from depression. Science has identified multiple reasons for this disparity.

    Men may suffer less depression than women because when you are male:

    • Your last name stays put.
    • The garage is all yours.
    • Wedding plans take care of themselves.
    • Chocolate is just another snack.
    • You can be President.
    • You can never be pregnant.
    • You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
    • You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
    • Car mechanics tell you the truth.
    • The world is your urinal.
    • You don’t have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
    • Same work, more pay.
    • Wrinkles add character.
    • People never stare at your chest when you’re talking to them.
    • New shoes don’t cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
    • One mood lasts all month long.
    • Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
    • You know stuff about tanks.
    • A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
    • You can open all your own jars.
    • You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
    • If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
    • Your underwear is $4.95 for a three-pack.
    • Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
    • You almost never have strap problems in public.
    • You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
    • Everything on your face stays its original color.
    • The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
    • You only have to shave your face and neck.
    • You can play with toys all your life.
    • One wallet and one pair of shoes in ­one color for all seasons.
    • You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
    • You can ‘do’ your nails with a pocket knife.
    • You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
    • You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

     

    Additional differences that may account for less depression seen in men:

     

    NICKNAMES

    • If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah.
    • If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Bubba and Wildman.

     

    EATING OUT

    • When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it’s only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
    • When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.

     

    MONEY

    • A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
    • A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn’t need but it’s on sale.

     

    BATHROOMS

    • A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel.
    • The average number of items in the typical woman’s bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 16 of these items.

     

    ARGUMENTS

    • A woman has the last word in any argument.
    • Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

     

    FUTURE

    • A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
    • A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

     

    MARRIAGE

    • A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t.
    • A man marries a woman expecting that she won’t change, but she does.

     

    DRESSING UP

    • A woman will dress up to go shopping, pick up the kids from school, take the dog to the groomer, visit a friend in the hospital.
    • A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.

     

    NATURAL

    • Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
    • Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

     

    OFFSPRING

    • Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
    • A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

     

    THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

     

    A married man should forget his mistakes. There’s no use in two people remembering the same thing.

  • Beat The Bacteria That Cause Tooth Decay

    You are infected with Streptococcus Mutans! – How you can beat this tooth-destroying bug.

     

    By Nurse Mark

     

    James wrote recently to ask us if we could prescribe him an antibiotic or some treatment to deal with strep (streptococcus) mutans – an all-too-common bacteria that is found in the mouth and that contributes to dental decay and other problems.

    James texted us to ask:

    Can u prescribe me anti biotics for STREP MUTANS
    I’ve tried every wholistic treatment i can find
    and they have all failed
    I’m hoping to knock it out then keep it at bay with continued remedies
    thanx
    James

     

    What is Streptococcus Mutans?

    S mutans is a bacteria that is common in the human oral cavity (the mouth) and it has been detected in children even before they have teeth for it to attack. It is widely recognized as being the main cause of dental caries (cavities). Since the conditions in the human mouth vary widely and tend to be generally quite harsh and toxic to most organisms (though not to us fortunately!) S mutans is a very tough and resilient bacteria – not much bothers it.

    Antibiotics tend to not be useful against it, in part because oral S mutans is not a “systemic” infection and in part because any antibiotic powerful enough to deal a blow to this tough bug would also cause widespread  and serious side effects and problems in other areas of our bodies – and as we know all too well, the overuse, misuse, and inappropriate use of powerful antibiotics is producing deadly and untreatable “superbugs” at an alarming rate.

    S mutans has also been proven to cause bacterial endocarditis – a potentially fatal infection. In this circumstance, powerful antibiotics such as erythromycin, lincomycin, penicillin, methicillin, vancomycin, and tetracycline were found to be the most active, depending upon the exact serotype and strain of S mutans – there are some 82 strains in 7 serotypes that were identified in one research work on antibiotic sensitivity!

    Attempts have been made to develop a “vaccine” against it, but these have been unsuccessful – perhaps fortunately, for some research has suggested that S mutans itself may paradoxically produce certain antibodies that inhibit the formation of dental cavities! Also, as we will see, S mutans is but one of many bacteria living in a delicate balance in our mouths – and we know what happens when we upset the balance of nature…

    It simply laughs at mouthwashes and “antibacterial rinses”. While brushing and flossing are effective at removing food particles following a meal and at scraping away some of the plaque, Streptococcus mutans is a bacteria – it will come back out of hiding after such oral hygiene and it will continue to thrive, producing it’s tooth-damaging effects 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year.

    Even so, this bacterial tough-guy is not without chinks in it’s armor – weaknesses that we can exploit as we seek to minimize it’s destruction.

    There are some 25 species of Streptococci that are known to inhabit the mouths of healthy people – these bacteria normally live in a delicate balance, each different species (or “tribe” to put it into a different context) living in different areas of the mouth and serving to keep other, competing species at bay and resisting external attacks. If this balance is upset then one species may gain the upper hand and begin to dominate – to the detriment of our oral health.

    When Streptococcus mutans gains the upper hand and becomes more prevalent that it should be, dental caries (cavities) are the result. It may also cause other problems, and has even been linked to Sjorgens Syndrome – an auto-immune condition characterized by extreme dry mouth and lack of saliva production.

    The main health-damaging effect of S mutans that we are concerned with right now is it’s ability to create both a sticky plaque that coats teeth and to produce an acid that combines with that plaque to demineralize tooth enamel and cause teeth to decay.

    How does Streptococcus mutans do it’s “Dirty Work”?

    Streptococcus mutans is a very specialized organism that is actually equipped with receptors that allow it to adhere (stick) to the slick surface of our teeth – no small feat!

    Once stuck to the teeth S mutans then digests the sugar Sucrose and creates a sticky polysacchride coating that we call plaque. Sucrose is the only sugar that S mutans can use to produce plaque, and even if that was all it did that would be bad enough. “But wait – There’s More!”

    S mutans likes other sugars too. Glucose, fructose, and lactose (and others – these are just the main ones that we think of as being “healthy sugars”) are all digested by this hard-working bacteria which then excretes the end product lactic acid.

    The combination of this sticky plaque and the lactic acid is what causes tooth decay.

    What can be done?

    As was mentioned earlier, Streptococcus mutans is a tough bug. Antibiotics are largely ineffective, vaccines useless, and it laughs at our feeble attempts with mouthwashes, toothbrushes, and flossing. Is there no hope at all for our poor, beleaguered teeth?

    Perhaps our best way of dealing with Streptococcus Mutans is to not deal with it at all! As we saw, it is not the bacteria that causes the problem, it is the plaque and the lactic acid that it produces that results in tooth decay. Why not just stop it from making plaque and acid?

    To make plaque, S Mutans needs the sugar Sucrose.

    To make lactic acid, it needs other sugars such as glucose, fructose, and lactose.

    Why not simply starve S mutans into submission? Just take away it’s sugar! (That means starches too – for these are quickly converted into sugars by the saliva in your mouth.)

    No sugars means no plaque and no acids. No Plaque and no acids means no tooth decay. The math is simple.

    Your mom was right when she warned you that all those sugary treats that you loved as a kid would “rot your teeth!” 50 years later I can still hear my mom’s words ringing in my ears, and mom, you were right!

    What else can be done?

    Xylitol, a “tooth-friendly” non-fermentable sugar alcohol is widely known to inhibit S mutans and to alkalinize saliva in the mouth. It also has properties that actually promote the remineralization of tooth enamel. And it is sweet! What’s not to love?

    Xylitol’s beneficial effects are well-known even in conventional medicine and dentistry – there are hundreds of articles in the archives of the conventional medical resource Medscape alone that discuss the benefits of Xylitol and Xylitol gum in preventing dental cavities. Here is an excerpt from just one of those articles – a 39-month study involving 8-year-old children who were given Xylitol gum to chew at school:

    CONCLUSIONS: Long-term use of xylitol-containing chewing-gum can reduce the growth of streptococci mutans in saliva and dental plaque, and lactobacilli-type bacteria in saliva, even if xylitol is used only on school days. The results also suggest that xylitol gum use can have a long-term, delayed growth-retarding effect on these micro-organisms, since reduced bacterial growth was still observed 15 months following the termination of xylitol use. http://www.medscape.com/medline/abstract/18350853

    Wow – kids love to chew gum, and Xylitol gum can protect their developing teeth! (And it can protect us older folk too…) This is far better than the toxic flouride treatments that are now being shown to be worse than useless!

    What about knocking out the S mutans bug itself?

    As we discussed earlier, S mutans is a tough little bug(ger), requiring some risky “Big Guns” antibiotics to kill it. Still, recent research is showing that while there may not currently be any Big Pharma solutions that are both safe and effective, some natural substances are looking very promising:

    Curcuminoids, the active part of the spice Turmeric, are being shown to have numerous pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, anti-mutagenic, anticancer and antimicrobial activities. These studies are promising enough that even Big Pharma has taken notice of this age-old spice! Will we see your turmeric disappear from your grocers spice rack, only to reappear as a prescription-only item at your local pharmacy? Let’s hope not…

    It is important to remember though that because S mutans lives in the mouth and on the teeth – not “systemically” – turmeric taken internally in capsule form may not be as effective as turmeric spice in foods or a tea made from the purified and potent turmeric found in supplement capsules and allowed to remain in the mouth, in contact with the S mutans bacteria, before being swallowed.

    Licorice root is coming under scientific scrutiny as well. One study found that a compound found in licorice roots, Glycyrrhizol A, had strong antimicrobial activity against cariogenic bacteria like S mutans. Researchers then produced herbal extracts that could kill bacteria such as S. mutans. Subsequent studies on humans showed a reduction of cariogenic (cavity-causing) bacteria in the oral cavity after eating sugar-free lollipops made with these herbal extracts that contain Glycyrrhizol A.

    At this time these experimental “lollipops” are not available – but a product derived from licorice root called Rhizinate 3X is available and has a great soothing effect on the digestive system and “heartburn” or GERD as well as having antimicrobial effects. Since it is chewable (and has a great German Chocolate flavor) we can assume that it will deliver it’s important polyphenol compounds directly to the oral cavity (the mouth) allowing them to work directly on the S mutans bacteria.

    Licorice teas are widely available, but be aware that excessive consumption of licorice can cause elevated blood pressure in some individuals.

    So, here is a summary of this rather long-winded answer to James’ question:

    • Streptococcus mutans is the primary causal agent and the pathogenic species responsible for dental caries (tooth decay or cavities)
    • Streptococcus mutans is hardy and resistant to antibiotics, vaccines, mouthwashes, toothbrushes, and flossing.
    • Streptococcus mutans metabolizes sucrose to create plaque and glucose, fructose, and lactose to produce lactic acid. These two by-products of sugar metabolism combine to cause dental caries (cavities).
    • A diet low in sugars can result in less production of both plaque and lactic acid by the bacteria.
    • Xylitol, and specifically Xylitol chewing gum has been proven to reduce the growth of S mutans in plaque and saliva, and can have other benefits as well.
    • Curcumins, found in turmeric have been shown to have many beneficial effects, including being antimicrobial in action against S mutans bacteria.
    • Licorice root, containing a polyphenol compound called Glycyrrhizol A is being investigated as a potential antimicrobial (like an antibiotic) against the S mutans bacteria.

     

    Resources:

     

    To make turmeric tea:

    • Bring 4 cups of water in a small pot to a boil.
    • Add 1 tsp. of turmeric spice or the contents of several turmeric capsules and 1 tsp. of ginger powder or the contents of several ginger capsules to the boiling water and allow to simmer for 8 to 10 minutes. This will extract the beneficial polyphenolic compounds from the turmeric and ginger. Ginger also has many health benefits.
    • Remove the pot from the stove and strain the tea into a cup. The particles of turmeric and ginger will be filtered out.
    • To make this tea more palatable you might sweeten with xylitol and add a slice of lemon.

     

    Further Reading:

     

    Growth inhibition of Streptococcus mutans with low xylitol concentrations. Curr Microbiol.  2008; 56(4):382-5 

    Thirty-nine-month xylitol chewing-gum programme in initially 8-year-old school children: a feasibility study focusing on mutans streptococci and lactobacilli. Int Dent J.  2008; 58(1):41-50

    Oral Manifestations of Sjogren’s Syndrome http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/584927

    Antibacterial compounds from Glycyrrhiza uralensis. J Nat Prod.  2006; 69(1):121-4

    Antibiotic Susceptibility of S mutans: Comparison of serotype profiles. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC352679/?page=1

  • Your Antioxidant Questions Answered

    Your Antioxidant Questions Answered

     

    By Dr. Myatt

     

    Ever watched in frustration as something “rusted away?” Well, your body could be undergoing a very similar process due to the effects of free radicals. Antioxidants are “rust proofing” for your body, and are an important part of any longevity and health program.

    Antioxidants can be confusing – especially for someone without a background in biochemistry! They are very important to our good health though – so please read on, and I’ll try to make it easier to understand…

    Antioxidants are molecules which “quench” and render free radicals harmless. (Usually by donating an electron).

    Free radicals are unstable molecules with an unpaired electron. As they “steal” electrons from other molecules, they damage normal cells.

    What do free radicals do?

    The damage caused by free radicals is called oxidation. Rust on metal is an example of oxidative damage caused by free radicals. This “rusting” or oxidative damage to human cells has been linked to many diseases including heart disease, atherosclerosis, arthritis, cancer, cataracts, macular degeneration, immune suppression, Alzheimer’s and aging in general.

    Where do free radicals come from?

    Free radicals are generated in the body during normal cellular processes. Additional free radicals are generated in the body by stress (physical or emotional), environmental toxins (in air, water, food), smoking, alcohol, anesthetics and radiation.

    Where do antioxidants come from?

    The major antioxidants are made by the body itself. These include superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase. Certain vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other nutritional substances also perform as antioxidants. These are found in the foods we eat.

    The body makes enough antioxidants to neutralize free radicals generated by normal metabolism. When additional free radicals are created by stress, poor nutrition, environmental toxins, smoking, etc., the body cannot “keep up” with the free radicals. These excess free radicals are then “free” to damage normal cells.

    How do I protect myself from free radical damage?

    1) Avoid or minimize exposure to things that create free radicals: smoking, environmental toxins, alcohol excess, stress.
    2) Eat a nutritious diet so that the body can make it’s own “native” enzymes.
    3) Take additional antioxidants by way of diet, nutritional supplements, and herbs to ensure protection from free radical damage.

    Sources of Antioxidants:

    Many herbs contain antioxidant substances. Fruits and vegetables are the primary dietary sources of antioxidants.

    Super Foods are those rich in antioxidants:

    Apricot, artichoke, blueberry, all other berries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cherries, citrus, “greens” (beet, collard, kale, mustard, turnip, etc.), lemons, soybeans, tangerines, tomatoes. Since many vegetables and fruits no longer provide the amounts of important antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that they once did, we recommend supplementation with the delicious fruit and vegetable drinks Greens First and Greens First Berry drink mixes- these provide the equivalent of 10 servings of organic fruits and vegetables in each tasty drink.

    Antioxidant Nutrients:

    Vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, mixed carotenes, selenium, zinc, bioflavonoids, cysteine & methionine (sulphur-containing amino acids), CoQ10, glutathione.

    Antioxidant Herbs:

    Artichoke, bilberry, ginger, ginkgo, grape seed extract (pycnogenols), green tea, hawthorne, milk thistle, olive leaf, rosemary, St. John’s Wort, turmeric.

    Other Antioxidants:

    Melatonin, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Acetyl-L-Carnitine

  • Dr. Myatt’s Spring Cleaning – Detoxification

    Detoxification: A “Systems” Approach To Rid Your Body Of Toxins

     

    By Dr. Myatt

     

    Conventional medicine claims there is no evidence for physical toxicity and therefore detoxification is unnecessary and unscientific. In other words, detoxification is “quackery.” But conventional medicine is DEAD WRONG on this issue, and that’s a fact provable from the conventional medical literature.

    Physical toxicity is not only real, it starts in the womb. That’s not alternative medicine mumbo-jumbo, it is hard-core science, supported by hundreds of conventional medical studies. Get ready for some real medical science if you can handle the alarming truth.

    Where Do Toxins Come From?

    Humans are exposed to toxins on a daily basis, both from inside (natural wastes, a product of normal metabolism) and from outside (through food, air, water, cosmetics, etc). Exposure to toxicity begins in the womb. One study identified more than two hundred toxic chemicals in the blood of newborns. (Read this frightening study here)

    After birth, babies are exposed to toxins in mother’s milk and formula. And that’s just the beginning. As children, adolescents, and adults we are all exposed to toxins on a daily basis. Many toxins, many times per day. Some sources of toxicity, like mercury amalgam fillings, are present 24/7. Here are just a few of the common toxins that we are exposed to on a daily basis, their sources, and their effects:

    • Parabens: A preservative used in cosmetics – linked to endocrine disruption and possibly carcinogenic.
    • Pesticides – organochlorines, organophosphates, and carbamates: From agricultural operations – endocrine disruption / hormonal disturbances, cancer including lymphoma and leukemia, fetal death and birth defects, neurological toxicity and more.
    • PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls): now banned in the U.S., were used in lubricants, coolants, adhesives, flame retardants, paints, etc. – hormone/endocrine disruption, immune suppression, neurotoxicity, mutagenic, carcinogenic.
    • Phthalates: used to soften plastic and lengthen the life of scents. Especially harmful to the endocrine systems of children.
    • VOC’s: found in paint, furniture, carpet and other household items – immune suppression is common.
    • Dioxins: result from trash incineration and from burning fuel like wood, gas and coal and from industrial processes like paper mills and cement kilns. Much of our exposure comes from breathing polluted air and from diet – especially animal fats which concentrate these compounds. Toxic effects may include liver damage, alterations in heme metabolism, serum lipid levels, and thyroid functions, and diabetes and immune suppression.
    • Heavy Metals: Including mercury, lead, aluminum, cadmium, nickel (nickel salts are toxic), arsenic, antimony, thallium, and others. Sources include water, pesticides, antiperspirants, smog and many more – most common toxic effects include neurotoxicity but there are a large and varied number of ill effects that result from heavy metal toxicity.
    • Chloroform: Found in air, water and food. Commonly formed when chlorine is added to water. Toxic effects include liver and kidney damage, birth defects, cancer.
    • Perchlorate: may be found in drinking water and can interfering with iodine uptake into the thyroid gland.
    • Atrazine: (a pesticide) may cause cardiovascular and reproductive problems, cancer – found in drinking water.
    • Perchloroethylene (perc): A VOC commonly used in dry cleaning. Accumulates in fatty tissues. Carcinogenic and may increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
    • Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE): Flame retardants – formerly added to furniture, car upholstery and mattresses, but voluntarily taken off the market by manufacturers because of concerns about toxicity. PBDE now commonly found in TVs and computer monitors in the plastic. Effects include hormone disruption, reduced fertility, hepatic damage and disruption of neurologic development.
    • Bisphenol-A (BPA): polycarbonate plastic, resin lining in cans, linked to certain cancers, fertility, and behavioral problems in children.
    • Furans: Used in plastics – toxic, carcinogenic, endocrine disrupter.

     

    Although the human body is well-equipped to eliminate it’s own metabolic waste products, we are NOT designed to deal with the numerous and increasing amounts of external toxins that we are exposed to on a daily basis. Toxic overload can overwhelm the body and cause widespread health problems. These “problems” are not diagnosed as “toxicity.” Instead they are labeled with a name like “cancer” or “heart disease.” But the real question is “why are these diseases on the rise?” A large body of evidence points to our increasingly toxic environment as the cause. The immune system, cardiovascular system and nervous system are targets of excess toxicity.

    How To “Detox”

    Detoxification means, literally, “to remove the poison (toxin), or effect of poison, from.” The human body has multiple organs and organ systems for such toxin removal. In order to “detoxify” the body, all systems of detoxification must be fully functional and supported in their efforts. It is not enough to take fiber and “bowel cleansing formulas” as you will learn, although this is a good start on a detox program.

    Patients often ask me about the value of “detoxification” products, as if detoxification of the body could be accomplished by using a single therapy or supplement. But the body has multiple organs that cooperate together in detoxification. The large intestine (colon),  liver, skin, kidneys, lungs, lymphatic system and extra cellular fluids are all part of the “detoxification system” of the body. Each of these organs and systems contribute to the body’s elimination of internal waste and externally-introduced toxins. Therefore, a true detoxification program should address all of these eliminative organs.

    Organs of Detoxification

    • The colon (also called the Large Intestine, or LI), is responsible for removing undigested and unabsorbed food from the body. The colon is also the primary absorptive surface for water and salts. Water soluble waste products are absorbed into hepatic/portal circulation (the liver), then into general circulation, from the colon. Biotransformation of endogenous (internally derived) and exogenous (externally derived) waste products also occurs in the gut mucosa.

      Under normal circumstances, the large intestine contains approximately three pounds of native “good” bacteria and some yeast species. The floral balance of the colonic environment can be altered by dietary imbalances, insufficient digestive function, and antibiotic or other drug use, which allows pathogenic bacteria, yeast, and parasites to overgrow. These non-native gut species often produce toxic substances which are reabsorbed into hepatic and then general circulation. Maintenance of normal diet, digestion, and gut micro flora is essential for the proper elimination of food wastes, prevention of gut-derived endotoxins, and normal biotransformation of toxins.

    • The lungs bring oxygen into the system and eliminate carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 is the end-product (waste) of cellular respiration. Respiratory regulation of the acid-base balance is one to two times as great as that of the body’s chemical buffering systems, making the lungs additionally important in the acid-base balance of the body.
    • The skin contains sweat glands that excrete 5-10% of all metabolic wastes. The substances found in sweatsalts, water, and nitrogenous wasteare similar to the composition of urine only more dilute.
    • The kidneys remove the majority of cellular metabolic waste products including nitrogen-containing amino acids and carbon dioxide.
    • The liver converts endogenous and exogenous toxins into excretable metabolites. The term detoxification is often used to refer exclusively to this intracellular biotransformation process, although as you see, all eliminative organs are crucial to the process of detoxification.

     

    Other Factors Affecting Detoxification

    Acid-base balance (pH of the bloodstream). The pH of the arterial blood is 7.4, and venous blood 7.35. These limits are narrowly maintained within the body. Metabolic waste products of cellular metabolism generate 50 to 100 millimoles of acid per day. Excess acids are removed through blood-buffering systems of the lungs, kidneys, and through pH capacity of the blood itself.

    Sources of Toxicity

    Xenobiotics are substances that are toxic to the human system. Such substances may be either externally derived (chemicals and drugs in the environment) or internally derived (metabolic by-products). Internal sources of xenobiotics include metabolic waste products and gut-derived endotoxins.

    Detoxification by System: Dr. Myatt’s Complete “Spring Housecleaning” Detox Program

    GI Tract

    • Fiber: E-Z- Fiber: 1-2 heaping TBS. daily, taken in water or better yet, in a Myatt Muffin. Additional Fiber: Flax seed and/or psyllium, 20-30+ grams daily taken in muffins or a Super Shake.
    • Probiotics: Gram positive bacteria (Lactobacillus spp., Bifida bacteria spp., etc.). One Supremadophilus at bedtime is recommended.
    • For Candida, parasites or non-native GI bacterial overgrowth: I.) Capri Plus: 2 tabs, 2 times per day on an empty stomach. Don’t know if you have any of these “buggers” or dysbiosis? A comprehensive GI Health Profile can be highly revealing. Learn More Here.
    • Similase and/or betaine HCL: improve digestion (which helps eliminate unwanted organisms and improve absorption of nutrients) with digestive enzymes and additional hydrochloric (stomach) acid.

     

    Kidneys

    • Water — yup, plain ol’ clean water. Do NOT use tap water (which contains chlorine and flouride, two toxic chemicals). If you don’t already have one, a good water purification system is a smart and inexpensive investment in your good health. Aquasana Water Purifiers makes some of the highest-rated filters at the best prices.
    • Chitosan: 6 caps at bedtime. Chitosan is a fiber derived from the shell of crustaceans (sea creatures like shrimp). This fiber binds up toxins and carries them out of the body. Studies have shown that chitosan can even help the toxic build-up caused when a person has damaged kidneys and is on dialysis.

    Lungs

    • Deep breathing – heavy exercise can accomplish this. So can singing and deep breathing exercises.

    Liver / gallbladder

    • Silybum marianum –  milk thistle. The all-time most amazing substance for improving liver function. During a detox program, I recommend 9 caps per day of Lipotropic Formula OR a combination of Lipotropic Formula and Milk This Plus+ to equal 9 caps per day. (3 caps at 3 meals).

      Foods that improve the liver’s ability detox to include:

      Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale). Higher doses of the “detox magic” in these vegetables can be obtained in supplemental form from diindolomethanes or DIM’s.

      Limonene (lemon peel). Add some “lemon zest” (grated lemon rind) to Myatt muffins or other food to get your limonene.

      Adequate dietary protein (use whey protein to boost immunity and liver detox)

      Dietary sulfur (onions and garlic) and/or MSM (supplemental sulphur)

    Skin

    • Skin brushing
    • Saunas and steam baths

    Extracellular fluid

    • Urtica urens – nettle
    • Taraxacum officinale – dandelion
    • Arctium lappa – burdock

    Adipose Tissue

    • Omega-3 fatty acids
    • Weight loss (if overweight): many toxins accumulate and are stored in fat cells.

    Lymphatic System

    • Lymph drainage massage
    • Exercise (especially rebounding [mini trampoline])

    Blood vascular system

    • Alkaline-ash diet (fruits and vegetables: starch and proteins 4:1)

    General Detox

    • Allium sativum – garlic – also available in a potent supplement as Garlitrin.

    A Total Approach to Detoxification:

    Diet And Lifestyle

    • Weight loss diet if overweight. Fat cells store many toxins; losing excess fat releases these toxins so they can be eliminated.
    • Drink 64 ounces of pure water daily. Water is the single biggest detoxifier of the kidneys, liver, and extracellular fluid.
    • Exercise regularly. Exercise stimulates circulation and metabolism, speeding detoxification. The deep breathing encouraged by exercise is detoxifying to the lungs, and sweating is detoxifying to the skin. Rebounding (bouncing on a mini-trampoline) has the additional benefit of moving lymphatic fluid and assisting lymph drainage.
    • Skin brushing daily; sauna or steam bath at least one per week.
    • The Body/Mind Connection video: watch this at least three times. Clearing out old “emotional toxicity” is an important but often overlooked aspect of detoxification.

    Primary Support

    • Maxi Multi: 3 caps, 3 times per day with meals. A deficiency of any vitamin, mineral, or trace mineral can slow or stop various detoxification pathways. Optimal (not minimal) doses B complex vitamins, beta carotene, vitamin C, E, zinc, selenium, sulfur, calcium, magnesium and molybdenum are particularly important in detoxification.
    • Flax seed (source of lignan fibers and Omega 3 fatty acids): 2 teaspoons per day of ground, whole flax seed OR E-Z Fiber OR Fiber Formula, 12 caps per day in divided doses.
    • Maxi Greens: 3 caps, 3 times per day with meals as a source of broad-spectrum “green Superfoods” and flavonoids.

    Additional Support

    For the GI tract

    For the Liver

    For General & cellular detoxification

    • Chlorella: 2-3 caps, 3 times per day with meals.
    • Green Tea: 1 cap, 2 times per day OR drink green tea as a beverage, 2-3 cups per day. Or take as a supplement – Green Tea Extract.
    • Protein: Whey protein: 2 scoops per day in water or make into a “Super Shake.” The liver requires adequate protein in order to perform it’s detoxification tasks.

    Heavy Metals detoxification

    • Modifilan was reportedly developed in Russia by scientists at the State Rehabilitation Institute, where victims of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe underwent treatment. It detoxifies the body from heavy metals including strontium-90 and cadmium, radioactive elements, free radicals and toxins.