<\/p>\n
Detox \u2013 The Buzzword of the Decade<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nThe first time I heard the word \u2018detox\u2019 was in Medical School when I learned about detox programmes. These medically supervised treatments were designed to help those with life-threatening alcohol and drug addictions.<\/span><\/p>\nFast forward a few years and the word \u2018detox\u2019 pops up everywhere. ”10 SIGNS YOUR BODY IS SCREAMING FOR A DETOX” \u2013 and similar histrionic headlines, vie to grab our attention. Like \u2018superfoods\u2019 \u2013 another clever marketing invention – it has been massively hijacked by avaricious individuals and companies. There are now hundreds of detox diets, body wraps, teas, shakes, and juices, often aggressively advertised after known periods of overindulgence \u2013 such as Christmas. There are hundreds of books purporting the benefits of DIY juicing<\/a><\/span>. Shampoos and soaps carry detox claims on their packaging, and detox salt baths promise to effectively leech these toxins out of our bodies.<\/span><\/p>\nA\u00a0toxin\u00a0is any poisonous substance produced by bacteria, animals, or plants. <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nDetox retreats have also mushroomed out of nowhere, selling us the idea of a \u2018total body cleanse\u2019 \u2013 a week away, somewhere remote, eating virtually nothing, but priced as much as a small car. One gets the impression that our bodies are crammed full of dangerous toxins that need to be removed, on a regular basis, for us to function optimally. Is there any legitimacy to these claims, or is this another case of hysterical pseudo-science? Do we really need to pop a tube up our back passage to \u2018cleanse\u2019 us of nasties that lurk deep within?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Defining Toxins<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nThese \u2018detoxes\u2019 claim to rid the body of poisonous substances that we have ingested or inhaled. For the sake of clarity, let us define the word toxin – a term bandied-about but so rarely defined. A\u00a0toxin\u00a0is any poisonous substance produced by bacteria, animals, or plants. This means that a toxin is a biologically produced poison. The word toxin, has therefore been misused by many, to refer to any <\/strong>substance alleged to cause ill health \u2013 be it environmental pollution, synthetic chemicals in cosmetics or even artificial sweeteners. These should be referred to as toxicants or poisons because they are not directly of biological origin.<\/span><\/p>\nSemantics aside, should we be helping our bodies remove these toxins?\u00a0<\/span>In short, no<\/strong>. \u2018Detoxes\u2019- commercially packaged poison removers – are indeed just hysterical nonsense.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Built-in Detoxification<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nHealthy bodies are perfectly adapted to dealing with any toxins we may ingest or inhale. Our liver, kidneys, gut, lungs, immune system and skin are constantly protecting us from dangerous intruders. We have exquisite, built-in mechanisms to detoxify and remove waste and toxins. If an infection overwhelms our body\u2019s defenses, then we will get very ill, and to survive, we will need medication, like antibiotics. Ergo, an antibiotic can be argued to be a useful detoxifier.<\/span><\/p>\nMany detoxes call for an elimination of dairy, often vilified for causing \u2018excessive mucus\u2019. The truth is that there is little evidence that dairy increases mucous production. Furthermore, mucus has an essential protective function, preventing invasion by pathogens. Other detoxes recommend a \u2018water only fast\u2019 \u2013 not realising that excessive water intake can be dangerous and lead to seizures.<\/span><\/p>\nA healthy liver is perfectly able to handle toxins without the need for a cleanse, herb or tincture.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe detoxes that I am referring to in this article are all the bogus, unregulated products, that are relentlessly marketed to the uninformed public. In a healthy body, the aforementioned organs efficiently and effectively deal with any \u2018toxins\u2019 and render them harmless until they are excreted normally. The liver is one of our most important organs. It works hard to filter and detoxify the blood. It is also involved in metabolising nutrients and medicines. It is, therefore, the organ that is primarily targeted by these industries. \u2018Liver cleanses\u2019 are plentiful and popular. The truth is that a healthy liver is perfectly able to handle toxins without the need for a cleanse, herb or tincture.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Fast forward a few years and the word \u2018detox\u2019 pops up everywhere. ”10 SIGNS YOUR BODY IS SCREAMING FOR A DETOX” \u2013 and similar histrionic headlines, vie to grab our attention. Like \u2018superfoods\u2019 \u2013 another clever marketing invention – it has been massively hijacked by avaricious individuals and companies. There are now hundreds of detox diets, body wraps, teas, shakes, and juices, often aggressively advertised after known periods of overindulgence \u2013 such as Christmas. There are hundreds of books purporting the benefits of DIY juicing<\/a><\/span>. Shampoos and soaps carry detox claims on their packaging, and detox salt baths promise to effectively leech these toxins out of our bodies.<\/span><\/p>\n A\u00a0toxin\u00a0is any poisonous substance produced by bacteria, animals, or plants. <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Detox retreats have also mushroomed out of nowhere, selling us the idea of a \u2018total body cleanse\u2019 \u2013 a week away, somewhere remote, eating virtually nothing, but priced as much as a small car. One gets the impression that our bodies are crammed full of dangerous toxins that need to be removed, on a regular basis, for us to function optimally. Is there any legitimacy to these claims, or is this another case of hysterical pseudo-science? Do we really need to pop a tube up our back passage to \u2018cleanse\u2019 us of nasties that lurk deep within?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n These \u2018detoxes\u2019 claim to rid the body of poisonous substances that we have ingested or inhaled. For the sake of clarity, let us define the word toxin – a term bandied-about but so rarely defined. A\u00a0toxin\u00a0is any poisonous substance produced by bacteria, animals, or plants. This means that a toxin is a biologically produced poison. The word toxin, has therefore been misused by many, to refer to any <\/strong>substance alleged to cause ill health \u2013 be it environmental pollution, synthetic chemicals in cosmetics or even artificial sweeteners. These should be referred to as toxicants or poisons because they are not directly of biological origin.<\/span><\/p>\n Semantics aside, should we be helping our bodies remove these toxins?\u00a0<\/span>In short, no<\/strong>. \u2018Detoxes\u2019- commercially packaged poison removers – are indeed just hysterical nonsense.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Healthy bodies are perfectly adapted to dealing with any toxins we may ingest or inhale. Our liver, kidneys, gut, lungs, immune system and skin are constantly protecting us from dangerous intruders. We have exquisite, built-in mechanisms to detoxify and remove waste and toxins. If an infection overwhelms our body\u2019s defenses, then we will get very ill, and to survive, we will need medication, like antibiotics. Ergo, an antibiotic can be argued to be a useful detoxifier.<\/span><\/p>\n Many detoxes call for an elimination of dairy, often vilified for causing \u2018excessive mucus\u2019. The truth is that there is little evidence that dairy increases mucous production. Furthermore, mucus has an essential protective function, preventing invasion by pathogens. Other detoxes recommend a \u2018water only fast\u2019 \u2013 not realising that excessive water intake can be dangerous and lead to seizures.<\/span><\/p>\n A healthy liver is perfectly able to handle toxins without the need for a cleanse, herb or tincture.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The detoxes that I am referring to in this article are all the bogus, unregulated products, that are relentlessly marketed to the uninformed public. In a healthy body, the aforementioned organs efficiently and effectively deal with any \u2018toxins\u2019 and render them harmless until they are excreted normally. The liver is one of our most important organs. It works hard to filter and detoxify the blood. It is also involved in metabolising nutrients and medicines. It is, therefore, the organ that is primarily targeted by these industries. \u2018Liver cleanses\u2019 are plentiful and popular. The truth is that a healthy liver is perfectly able to handle toxins without the need for a cleanse, herb or tincture.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\nDefining Toxins<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Built-in Detoxification<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Human](\"http:\/\/insulean.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Detox-HumanLiver.jpg\")
![\"TOXINS](\"http:\/\/insulean.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/TOXICANTS-INSULEAN-1024x552.jpg\")