Guest article by Beate Caglar ( Mindful Nutrition )
What's the truth about the detox myth?
You read again and again that the body doesn't need any help detoxifying. Rather, he himself is able to remove toxins and pollutants and therefore there is nothing to detoxify. So is “detox” just a myth?
Before the beginning of the age of industrialization, I would have agreed to this. People lived more or less in harmony with nature and the natural cleaning processes were predestined and sufficient for the pollutants they absorbed back then. Unfortunately, we have now created a world that overwhelms many people's detoxification and cleansing systems.
There are harmful or toxic substances everywhere in our living space: air, environment, tap water, living space, clothing, cosmetics, cleaning products, etc. Problematic substances also find their way into our food again and again, often legally:
- Acrylamide, a substance suspected of causing cancer, is found primarily in baked goods
- Rice absorbs a particularly high amount 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 sometimes carcinogenic
- Uranium in drinking water
- Glyphosate, the world's best-selling weedkiller, which kills any plant unless it is genetically modified. Glyphosate has been classified as a probable carcinogen by the WHO. That's why I use organic products (Demeter, Bioland or Naturland) whenever possible.
The body can eliminate many of these problem substances itself, but not all. When excreting so-called neurotoxins [e.g. heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, aluminum; biotoxins (toxins from fungi, bacteria and viruses); human-made environmental toxins such as dioxins, formaldehyde, insecticides, wood preservatives; Preservatives, stimulant toxins such as aspartame (sweetener), food colors, fluorides, methyl and propyl parabens] are difficult for the human organism.
According to the results of the “ Environmental Toxins Report 2015 ” by the Swiss environmental organization Green Cross, almost 100 million people worldwide are exposed to dangerous environmental toxins that can cause serious damage to their health.
One factor in particular is the increasing exposure to the six most dangerous pollutants (lead, mercury, chromium, radionuclides, pesticides and cadmium). Are tuna and other predatory fish regularly on your menu?
Then it could well be that your body has stored mercury too. In addition to eating contaminated foods, what we put on our skin also becomes a part of us. The skin is not an impermeable barrier, but substances are absorbed and so the substances contained in cosmetics can enter our body. 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.
With all of this said, it should be clear that our detoxification system probably needs help. Why is this always questioned? Is one copying the other or is it because surprisingly few people feel the negative consequences? Of course, organisms also adapt and our cleansing system (especially liver and kidneys) works under high pressure for a long time. But if the metaphorical barrel overflows and the cleaning systems are overwhelmed or, in the worst case, stand still, then remaining pollutants and toxins are stored and cell damage, chronic diseases and even cancer can occur.
And what's next?
Carrying out an actual detoxification treatment (e.g. specifically targeting heavy metals) can be counterproductive and dangerous and should therefore only take place under expert supervision and support. Coriander, for example, mobilizes more toxins than it can remove from the body and can therefore flood the connective tissue with metals that were previously hidden in a “safe” place (re-poisoning).
Before you undergo a real detoxification treatment, there are simple options that everyone can use at home.
- Avoidance strategy
Everything that I don't put into my body doesn't have to be laboriously detoxified. This means that the primary goal is to stop the supply of new toxins. We have influence on this in many areas, but not in others. The biggest point of contact for most of us is food, water, air, cosmetics and cleaning products and our living space. - Valuable foods
Everything that I do good for my body, it can enjoy. In addition to lots of exercise, enough sleep, sweating in the sauna or while doing sports and reducing stress, these are good foods (not foods), which include, among other things, a sufficient supply of minerals and vital substances, good fatty acids (e.g. from avocados, walnuts, linseed), protein ( e.g. through legumes), liquid (good, still, ideally structured water ) and secondary plant substances (with a high antioxidant effect). This supports the body's own cleansing processes.
Seedlings, Rejuvelac and sprouted legumes
With sprouts you can easily bring valuable minerals and secondary plant substances into your home, at any time of the year. Example: One of the healthiest vegetables is broccoli. What the full-grown plant has in terms of vital substances, its sprouts even have in potentized form. Plant seeds contain a complex nutrient tissue that is activated during the germination process to nourish the plant until it can obtain its energy through photosynthesis. This means that during germination a package of nutrients is created from the seed and the nutrient density (concentration of bioactive substances, protein, fat, carbohydrates and fiber) will never be as high again. People can benefit greatly from this. Sulforaphane, a powerful indirect antioxidant found primarily in broccoli, activates the body's detoxification enzymes in the liver, which can neutralize cancer-causing free radicals.
So that the great nutrients can be absorbed through the intestines before they reach the cells, we need a healthy intestine, more precisely: 100 trillion good bacteria in our intestinal microbiome. One of the easiest recipes for gut health is Rejuvelac . A (very easy to make) fermented drink made from sprouted grains that is rich in B vitamins, vitamin E, vitamin K, amino acids and enzymes. Fermentation also creates valuable lactic acid bacteria, which makes Rejuvelac a probiotic food. These support the development and maintenance of a healthy intestinal microbiome and thus strengthen our immune system. To put it simply, 80% of our immune system is located in the intestines. And a healthy intestinal microbiome even keeps our brain fit. Add 150 – 200ml Rejuvelac to your smoothie every morning and you’re done.
Pulses are often underestimated. They are an excellent source of protein, fiber and B vitamins. Allowing the legumes to germinate beforehand has the same effect as with broccoli and other seeds. In addition, the legumes become very digestible through germination.
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 action: Get to the pots and the sprouting jars: How about a lentil spinach curry made from sprouted lentils, healthy organic baby spinach, organic fennel scented with essential oils, great oriental spices and sprouted fenugreek , which goes wonderfully with this dish?
(c) Beate Caglar (Mindful Nutrition), February 2022
Homepage: www.achtsame-ernaehrung.com
Instagram: mindful_ernaehrung
