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| Why are toxins serious? It is estimated that 60 to 80 percent of all cancers are a direct result of chemicals in our air, water and food. Further, neuroscientists are now studying the role of environmental toxins in the development of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and in mental/behavioral disorders such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and attention deficit disorder. Toxins that directly affect the nervous system are called neurotoxins. Since the nervous system is intricately connected to the immune system, neurotoxins also affect our immune functions. Thus, our very ability to think and feel normally can be drastically affected by exposure to toxins. It does not take a giant leap of logic to realize that we could soon be in such a state of toxic poisoning that we would be unable to "problem-solve" our way out. |
Toxic Waste in Your Body?
Chronic health problems can develop from your body's impaired detoxification
ability. Uncover the link between your symptoms and your liver function.
What role does the liver play in detoxification? The liver is a key organ in
your body's self-defense system. It changes, or detoxifies, many harmful
substances into forms which your body can safely eliminate.
How do these toxins get into the body?
In today's world of processed foods and pollution, toxic substances exist almost everywhere. They are in the food you eat, the water you drink (from fertilizers, chemicals and other additives such as colorings and preservatives), and the air you breathe (from automobile emissions, pesticides and industrial pollutants). Some of the body's own compounds must be detoxified as well.
How does the liver detoxify substances?
A healthy liver uses two mechanisms, called Phase I and Phase II detoxification, to remove toxins. In Phase I, your body's enzymes activate toxic substances to make them more accessible to Phase II. In Phase II, other enzymes convert toxins to more water-soluble forms, which your body eliminates through urine or stool.
What happens during impaired liver detoxification?
An unhealthy liver does not detoxify substances as rapidly or as completely as a healthy liver. Slower detoxification results in more toxic substances circulating in the body. Unchanged or partially changed toxins are not easily eliminated and instead pass from the liver into the body. Eventually, the toxins are stored in fatty body tissue, including the brain and central nervous system cells. Stored toxins may be slowly released into the blood, contributing to many chronic illnesses.
How is liver function damaged?
A number of conditions affect how well the liver performs its detoxifying
duties. Repeated exposure to chemicals and toxins in food, water and the
environment increases the detoxification burden.
If you have a "leaky gut," your intestine allows large, undigested molecules to
pass into the body. Increased amounts of toxic substances can travel through the
liver and overload its capacity to detoxify them.
How is liver function measured?
One method to assess the liver's detoxifying ability is to examine the overall
state of your health. Toxic substances are contributing factors in a wide range
of health problems.
You may have heard of several different liver tests (such as liver enzyme
analysis) which look for clinical evidence of existing liver damage. Standard
"liver function" tests measure levels of enzymes such as SGOT and SGTT.
Unfortunately, by the time these tests register "abnormal," liver damage is
already present.
A definitive assessment of function can be made using the Detoxification
Profile. This test uses common substances to challenge the liver's
detoxification ability using urine and saliva samples. You simply swallow the
tablets, collect urine and saliva specimens, and return the test kit to Great
Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory. The specimens are analyzed, and the results are
sent to your health care professional. The specific results can be used to
develop a treatment plan. In addition to detoxification testing, your health
care professional may want to test your level of oxidative stress. Impaired
liver function can lead to higher levels of free radicals, substances in the
blood which have been linked to chronic illness. Analysis of a blood and/or
urine sample provides important information about damage resulting from a
dysfunctional liver.
How can I get a Detoxification Profile?
Talk to us about your symptoms and ask if a Detoxification Profile from Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory would be useful for you. Your body's natural self-defense system may be overwhelmed by toxins in food, water and air. Take this quiz to determine your level of toxic exposure and its effect on your body.
- Do you use tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars or chewing tobacco?
- Do you find yourself unable to quit the "junk food" merry-go-round?
- Do you have an aversion or disliking for meat?
- Do you live or work with someone who smokes in your presence?
- Are you often exposed to automobile exhaust fumes?
- Do you live or work in a building that has new carpeting, paint or furniture that may be giving off odors or gases?
- Have you ever used toxic chemicals such as insect sprays or herbicides at home or at work?
- Do you have one or more alcoholic drinks per week?
- Have you taken prescription drugs two or more times in the past year?
- Do you often eat meat grilled over a charcoal fire?
- Do you suffer from gastrointestinal problems?
- Do you have allergies, sinus problems or joint pain?
- Are you frequently tired from a normal day's activity?
- Is your energy zapped?
If you answered Yes to two or more of these questions, you may be reacting to increased toxic exposure and burdening your body's detoxification ability.
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