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What is the effect of the toxicity if your body is not detoxified?

Toxic overload results in an imbalance in gut flora (over 400 species!). This microbial “ dysbiosis” may result in the creation of microbial toxins such as endotoxin---the lipopolysaccharide cell walls of dead bacteria that constitute one of the most inflammatory substances known. It also results in the overgrowth of bacterial, parasite and fungus such as candidiasis. All these contribute to the condition known as “ leaky Gut Syndrome” which can lead to very serious immunological diseases and tissue degenerative diseases.

When your body is healthy, food is broken down by your digestive processes into its nutritional components, which are distributed around your body for the maintenance and sustenance of living tissues. But if the metabolic processes of digestion are impaired, intact food macromolecules can then trigger activation of the Gut associated Lymphatic Tissue ( GLT ) which constitutes 70% of your immune system. Metabolized food substances can also contribute to toxic accumulation in your gut, which may be absorbed and distributed throughout the body in a process known as “autointoxication”.

Understanding the role of your liver and the importance of liver detoxification:
The liver processes one and a half to two liters of blood every minute. It performs many vital function:

It is the body’s major site of synthesis and regulation for the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates:
It stores glycogen, vitamins ,B12, D, E and K, and minerals iron ( as ferritin ) and copper;
It detoxifies and processes for excretion all substances in circulation in the blood. This includes not only “ pollutant “ chemicals absorbed from the environment, but also infective agents, food substances, drugs and natural medicines, endogenous wastes and hormones.

The liver removes toxins by modifying them chemically to make them less toxic and more water soluble for excretion via kidney or bile. This chemical modification is achieved in two stages which we call “ Phase I Detox “ and “ Phase II Detox “.

Phase I reaction are mediated by something called P450 cytochrome enzyme chain, and require high levels of available protein, B2, B3, B6 folate, B12 flavonoids, vitamin C and iron to function effectively. The enzymes alter the toxins, making them more reactive in preparation for the next step called conjugation or Phase II. A common indicator or toxic exposure is a significant increase in Phase I activity, often overwhelming the capacity of Phase II to clear the resultant metabolites.

Phase II ‘conjugation’ reaction add other molecules to the phase I metabolites to inactivate them and make them easier to excrete. Such processes involve the addition of chemical entities such as sulphate or methyl groups, glucuronic acid, glutathione, or amino acids like glycine of taurine. Because of its complexity, if detoxification pathway is blocked, it is Phase II that tends to suffer the most. The high level of toxins we are exposed in modern day to day life increases Phase I activity so much that it produces high level of reactive metabolites. The highly oxidative nature of these metabolites causes extensive damage to hepatocyte membranes, leading to inflammatory responses ( hepatitis ), failure of bile production and over time, fatty liver and liver failure ( cirrhosis ).

Lots of nutrients such as Vitamin B group, methionine, glutamine, selenium and so on are necessary for Phase II support. Foods such as cabbage, broccoli, watercress, ginger, grape seed, green tea are very good source of Phase II support.