Living Clean & Green

“We are exposed to 6 million pounds of mercury and 2.5 billion pounds of other toxic chemicals each year… The simple truth is that we are living in a sea of toxins and it is destroying our bodies and brains.”(1) 

Boosting our body’s detoxing processes is vital not only for those with chronic illnesses but all of us, as we are increasingly exposed to damaging pollutants which, researchers have linked to the increasingly rapid rise of autoimmune conditions(2). Supporting the body’s detoxing processes (the science of how our bodies get rid of waste), is vital if we are to keep our internal systems functioning optimally. And the toxin-overload begins young; “According to the nonprofit organization Environmental Working Group, the average newborn baby has 287 known toxins in his or her umbilical cord blood”(1). We can only imagine how many pollutants and toxins we have been exposed to in our life times!

“When our bodies become overloaded with all varieties of phenolics (from gasoline to PAHs and estrogens) failing to detoxify properly, there can be aberrant hormone metabolism coupled with high levels of toxicity in the gut...It is safe to say that many people are suffering inadequate evolution of phase III detoxification, in particular, given the overwhelm of toxins in our current environment. This all potentially creates a case of mistaken identity, with dangerous chemicals that mimic necessary hormones & latch on to their receptor sites causing  the brain & pituitary gland to function as if there is a deficit, due to low levels on receptor sites. Excess estrogen production in response to this false "deficit" message, as well as failure of proper reception and detoxification create a recipe for toxic soup in the body. The gut is particularly vulnerable in this scenario.”(3) 

What Do We Mean by Detoxing?

When you hear the word “detox,” you might think of a green juice cleanse or wheatgrass enemas. But as great as those methods can be, they are just the tip of the iceberg. If waste builds up - which can happen if any detox pathway is overrun and malfunctions - it causes disease, illness and can make us really sick(1).

Detox (noun) - a process or period of time in which one abstains from or rids the body of toxic or unhealthy substances; detoxification.

(verb) - abstain from or rid the body of toxic or unhealthy substances.

Heavy Metals, Toxins, Pollutants and Irritants

Multiple organs in our body are dedicated cleaners (liver, kidneys, gallbladder etc.) and are totally devoted to detoxing. They are normally really good at the job but they have not adapted to deal with the sheer overwhelming daily bombardment of pollutants, chemicals, pesticides and toxins that fill the air, land, food and water in our cities; “We are living in a world that is over-burdened with toxins, from car and airplane exhaust to cleaning chemicals and perfumes, heavy metals, and dirty water.”(4) When gut health and other bodily systems are compromised, the body can fail to process and eliminate these toxins, they go through enterohepatic recirculation, where they are reabsorbed in the intestines and end up being re-circulated through the body, only to be re-filtered by the liver again until the detoxification process is successful. This causes a considerable energy drain and uses our body’s resources required for detoxifying the blood and when any internal system dysfunctions - the nervous, immune or circulatory systems - this cycle can occur daily(4).

And it’s not just environmental pollutants which cause and contribute to our internal toxic burdens - stress can too! Stress - the mental, emotional and spiritual toxins that affect us; isolation, loneliness, anger, jealousy, hostility etc. And when stress is chronic, the chemicals and hormones released by the body’s stress response are continually triggered and have nowhere to go. They build up, becoming toxic and cause damage to the body and mind(5), (6). 

The Importance of Fasting for Human Health

We spill the beans about the profound medicinal practice of fasting in depth on the Fasting for Health page, plus all the different types, so we’ll be brief here. Also check out the Health + Beauty page for some basic health tips and info.

Put simply, humans are biologically adapted to experience cycles of fasting and feeding. During the eons that we evolve on this planet food was not constantly available. In stark contrast, today our mass mono-culture, intensive agricultural farming keeps the supermarkets on every street corner, restaurants, cafes and refrigerators at home overflowing with food. “Unlike today, our ancestors typically had to compete among themselves and with other species for a limited supply of food. In this context a survival advantage was conferred on individuals that were quick-witted, physically agile, and energy-efficient during periods of limited resource availability.”(11) As a result of our evolution-driven biology, when we halt caloric intake, our bodies naturally shift from the “Go-Go” mode into the “Rest and Repair” mode. Having an abundance of food available and eating too frequently does not allow your body the time it needs to rest and repair, and undertake processes essential for the maintenance and the optimal functioning of our internal systems. In the time between meals, our GI tract’s “housekeeper wave” and our body’s detoxing processes come into play and our bodies get to work, cleansing themselves.

Dr Michael Mosley discusses on his site The Fast 800, how 21st century western populations’ eating-habits have been attributed to diseases which did not exist until very recently, such as the increasingly common 80+ different types of autoimmune diseases. Lack of fasting, over-feeding, stress and the Hygiene Hypothesis are all modern phenomena which are directly linked to poor physical wellbeing and mental health conditions.

“We have a lot to learn from hunter-gatherers about what constitutes a healthy lifestyle.”(12)

As we rave about above, fasting is one of the most effective detoxing methods. Here’s the top 3 we recommend - 

• Fasting (see above and Fasting for Health, to learn about all the benefits and different types)
• Toxin Binders (see below) - natural extracts and agents you can take to help support and enhance detoxification pathways
• Detoxing your environment + going green - eliminating and reducing your toxin and pollutant exposure starts at home. Surrounding yourself with natural materials, avoid harmful domestic and cosmetic chemicals and products by making your own(13), (14) and with efficient air purifying/detoxifying plants can all help reduce the burden. We include some recipes for homemade cosmetics which we use every day on our Health + Beauty page. (See more on this below - some may not be right for you)

As is often the case, nature provides the solution! There are many natural agents which act as “toxin binders” and help us eliminate internal toxic waste. Here are a few that are SIBO-safe (make sure you do your own thorough research before taking any) - 

• Zeolite. This type of clay is effective at aiding detoxification of molds and mycotoxins as well as mercury
• Modified citrus pectin (MCP). Chemically modified pectin can be absorbed by the body, unlike natural pectin (found in lemon zest). It can bind most efficiently to lead and some other heavy metals. When lead is present in the system, it can prevent the removal/excretion of other metals despite properly functioning detox mechanisms
• Activated charcoal. Possibly the highest binding capacity of all toxin binders, charcoal is broad spectrum detoxification agent, used as a traditional healing remedy for thousands of years. Just two grams of activated charcoal powder has about the same surface area as a football field. The porous surface has a negative electric charge that attracts positively charged unwanted toxins and gas. Medically, it's used in hospitals to bind to poisons, allowing them to pass through the body without being absorbed and thus, cause damage or death. It works through a process called “adsorption” (that’s ad, and not ab), which means “to bind to” rather than “to absorb.” We use this substance now and again to control bloating and as well as to aid detoxing
• Humic/fulvic acids. Potent binders for glyphosate detoxification. 
• Silica available in food-safe grade as Diatomaceous Earth, is found in multiple forms in nature, and silicon, a component, is the second most prevalent element after oxygen. It is the most effective binder for removing aluminum from the body. Aluminum has an affinity for the brain and nervous system and is now known to be a major contributor in neurodegenerative and cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Fortunately, it is one of the easiest metals to detoxify, but typically not without some support.

The Gut Microbiome & Autoimmunity

As mentioned above, the Hygiene Hypothesis is now being linked to disease and ill health in humans and in a scientific game of dot-to-dot, the connection between the human gut microbiome, human health, disease and autoimmunity is now being made. One study revealed that the gut-residing microbe Bacteroides fragilis - a member of the human microbiome - “pumps out protein molecules that mimic a human protein, causing the human defense system to turn on its own cells by mistake, contributing to autoimmune deregulation.”(21) And this is just one of 1000 different species of known bacteria which call our guts home(22) - not including all the potential undiscovered species! Gut bacteria have now been linked to a range of diseases, and studies are revealing that bacteria in the SI may be able to travel from the gut to other organs where they can trigger autoimmunity. One research team focused on the bacterium Enterococcus gallinarum, which they discovered can spontaneously "translocate" outside of the gut to lymph nodes, liver, and spleen(23). As this research is new (and exciting!), medicine has yet to harvest this knowledge to create an autoimmune medication or solution. But it’s just a matter of time :)

"Treatment with an antibiotic (preferably nutraceutical and non-damaging!) and other approaches such as vaccination are promising ways to improve the lives of patients with autoimmune disease."(23).

In light of the findings above, it now won’t surprise you to learn that balancing the microbiome (as well as being vital for overall wellbeing and human health) also plays a powerful part in autoimmune healing. However, strains of bacteria found in most probiotic supplements can be detrimental as they can contribute to SIBO, adding fuel to the fire. The lactobacillus or bifidobacterium species normally reside in the SI but in very small amounts. Although they are “beneficial” bacteria, increasing the bacteria burden within the SI - whether they be “good'' or “bad” - should be avoided for anyone with gut dysfunction/disorders and gut dysbiosis. 

“Soil is a vital natural resource that is nonre-newable on the human time scale...and is a living, dynamic, natural body that plays many key roles in terrestrial ecosystems. It is the essence of life and health for the well-being of humankind and animals and the major source of most of our food production.”(24)

Back in the “good old days”, we grew/found our own (organic) food and pulled it straight from the ground, eating it dirt and all - O.K. so we probably rinsed it - soil tastes nasty! The earth is full of bacteria, and it’s where we used to get most of our probiotics. In our hyper-hygienic modern lives, we are so far removed from the dirt that our food grows in, and because of mass mono-cultre agriculture, the soil is often nutritionally and microbially-poor(25) and contains harmful pesticides. It’s because of this farming style that we’re missing out on some of the crucial microorganisms that populate the soil and used to populate our own gut microbiomes, keeping our bodies and immune health in check. 

This is where soil-based probiotics feature - “...we evolved in an environment where we were continually exposed to these soil-based organisms.  Our ancestors were not scrubbing their vegetables and fruits before they ate them.  They were taking them out of the ground and maybe wiping them off a little bit and eating them.” ”...there’s a lot of evidence that these soil-based organisms have profound immunoregulatory effects.  In other words, we evolved with them over a long period of time, and our immune systems have a symbiotic relationship with them and function much better in their presence.” - Chris Kresser(26) 

“In the last two decades, public interest in soil quality has been increasing throughout the world as humankind recognizes the fragility of earth’s soil, water and air resources, and the need of their protection to sustain civilization.“(24)

“Through consciousness, our minds have the power to change our planet and ourselves. It is time we heed the wisdom of the ancient indigenous people and channel our consciousness and spirit to tend the garden and not destroy it.” - Bruce Lipton

***Please note that soil-based probiotics may not be right for your case. If your GI motility is as poor as ours, it's best to stay away from probiotics, fermented foods and anything which can contribute to your bacterial burden.