Guest post by Beate Caglar (Mindful Eating)
What's the truth behind the detox myth?
It's often said that the body doesn't need help with detoxification. Rather, it's supposedly capable of removing toxins and pollutants itself, and therefore there's nothing to detoxify. Is "detox" (the English word for detoxifying) then just a myth?
Before the age of industrialization, I would have agreed. People lived more or less in harmony with nature, and the natural cleansing processes were perfectly suited and sufficient for the pollutants they ingested back then. But unfortunately, we have since created a world that overwhelms the detoxification and cleansing systems of many people.
Harmful or toxic substances are found everywhere in our living environment: air, environment, tap water, living spaces, clothing, cosmetics, cleaning products, etc. Problematic substances also repeatedly find their way into our food, often legally:
- Acrylamide, a suspected carcinogen, is found primarily in baked goods
- Rice absorbs particularly high levels of arsenic, which is associated with increased genotoxic effects in humans
- Meat, fish, eggs and milk are responsible for 80% of the total intake of dioxins and PBCs, which are toxic and some are carcinogenic
- Uranium in drinking water
- Glyphosate, the world's best-selling weed killer, kills all plants unless they are genetically modified. Glyphosate has been classified by the WHO as probably carcinogenic. Therefore, I use organic products (Demeter, Bioland, or Naturland) whenever possible
The body can eliminate many of these problematic substances on its own, but not all. The human organism has difficulty eliminating so-called neurotoxins [e.g., heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, aluminum; biotoxins (toxins from fungi, bacteria, and viruses); man-made environmental toxins such as dioxins, formaldehyde, insecticides, wood preservatives; preservatives, irritant toxins such as aspartame (sweetener), food colorings, fluorides, methyl and propyl parabens].
According to the findings of the "Environmental Toxins Report 2015" by the Swiss environmental organization Green Cross, nearly 100 million people worldwide are exposed to dangerous environmental toxins that can severely damage their health. A major contributing factor is the increasing exposure to the six most dangerous pollutants (lead, mercury, chromium, radionuclides, pesticides, and cadmium).
Do you regularly eat tuna and other predatory fish? Then it's quite possible that your body has accumulated mercury.
Besides consuming contaminated food, what we apply to our skin also becomes part of us. Because the skin isn't an impermeable barrier, substances are absorbed, and thus the ingredients in cosmetics can enter our bodies. Otherwise, no cream would work.
Last but not least, there is of course what we may ingest ourselves: nicotine, alcohol and other drugs, sleeping pills and painkillers.
After all this, it should be clear that our detoxification system probably needs help. Why is this constantly questioned? Is everyone just copying from each other, or is it because surprisingly few people experience the negative consequences? Of course, organisms do adapt, and our cleansing system (especially the liver and kidneys) works under high pressure for a long time. But when the metaphorical barrel overflows, when the cleansing systems are overwhelmed, or in the worst case, when they shut down, remaining pollutants and toxins are stored, and this can lead to cell damage, chronic illnesses, and even cancer.
And now what?
Performing a detoxification program on your own (e.g., specifically targeting heavy metals) can be counterproductive and dangerous and should therefore only be undertaken under expert supervision and guidance. Coriander, for example, mobilizes more toxins than it can remove from the body, and can thus flood the connective tissue with metals that were previously hidden in a "safe" place (re-intoxication).
Before undergoing a real detoxification program, there are simple options that everyone can use at home first.
- Avoidance strategy:
Anything I don't subject my body to, it doesn't have to laboriously detoxify. This means the primary goal is to stop the intake of new toxins. We have control over this in many areas, but not in others. The biggest points of contact for most of us are food, water, air, cosmetics and cleaning products, and our living space. - Nutritious Foods:
Everything I do for my body is good for it. Besides plenty of exercise, sufficient sleep, sweating in the sauna or during sports, and stress reduction, these include nutritious foods (not just foodstuffs) that, among other things, provide an adequate supply of minerals and vital nutrients, healthy fatty acids (e.g., from avocados, walnuts, flaxseeds), protein (e.g., from legumes), fluids (good, still, ideally structured water), and phytochemicals (with high antioxidant properties). This supports the body's natural detoxification processes.
Seedlings, rejuvelac and sprouted pulses
Sprouts make it incredibly easy to bring valuable minerals and phytochemicals into your home, all year round. For example, broccoli is one of the healthiest vegetables. The sprouts contain even more vital nutrients than the mature plant. Plant seeds contain a complex nutrient tissue that is activated during germination to supply the plant until it can generate its own energy through photosynthesis. This means that during germination, the seed becomes a nutrient package, and the nutrient density (concentration of bioactive substances, protein, fat, carbohydrates, and fiber) will never again be this high. Humans can greatly benefit from this. Sulforaphane, a powerful indirect antioxidant found primarily in broccoli, activates the body's own detoxification enzymes in the liver, which can neutralize carcinogenic free radicals.
To ensure that these wonderful nutrients can be absorbed through the gut before reaching the cells, we need a healthy gut – more precisely, 100 trillion beneficial bacteria in our gut microbiome. One of the simplest recipes for gut health is Rejuvelac. This (very easy-to-make) fermented drink is made from sprouted grains and is rich in B vitamins, vitamin E, vitamin K, amino acids, and enzymes. The fermentation process also produces valuable lactic acid bacteria, making Rejuvelac a probiotic food. These bacteria support the development and maintenance of a healthy gut microbiome, thus strengthening our immune system. To put it simply, 80% of our immune system resides in the gut. And a healthy gut microbiome even keeps our brain sharp. Just add 150-200 ml of Rejuvelac to your smoothie every morning, and you're done.
Legumes are often underestimated. Yet they are an excellent source of protein, fiber, and B vitamins. They are also one of the best plant-based sources of iron. Sproutinghas the same effect as sprouting broccoli and other seeds. Furthermore, sprouting makes legumes much easier to digest.
Whether plant seeds, grains or legumes, they can all germinate with the wonderful and extremely practical germination jar from Keimgrün .
So, now let's put the theory into practice: Get out the pots and sprouting jars: How about a lentil and spinach curry made with sprouted lentils, healthy organic baby spinach, organic fennel fragrant with essential oils, wonderful oriental spices, and sprouted fenugreek, which goes wonderfully with this dish?
(c) Beate Caglar (Mindful Nutrition), February 2022
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