Why You Should Consider Detoxifying Your Body Every Six Months

Oh, I can hear it now, ” What is this guy trying to sell me here? I understand the whole nutrition, hydration and activity things. That is pretty much just common sense, but detoxification, this is taking it just a little too far. I have a liver for that purpose, and it seems to be working just fine, why do I have to detoxify.”

Detoxification is controversial. Traditional medical practices often disregard it as unscientific and say there is little or no evidence to show effectiveness. On the other hand, holistic and alternative healthcare providers applaud the health benefits and incorporate them regularly as part of a healing strategy. So where does the truth lie? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the process of detoxifying as the following:

1. A: to remove a harmful substance (such as a poison or toxin) or the effect of such from the body.

B: to render (a harmful substance) harmless.

2. To free (someone, such as a drug user or an alcoholic) from an intoxicating or an addictive substance in the body or from dependence on or addiction to such a substance.

3. To neutralize.

Now let’s talk about that liver of yours. Yes, you do have a liver, and yes, it is critically important as part of your body’s natural detoxification process. What you may not be aware of is the fact that “liver pathology” is one of the fastest growing disease states of the past 25 years. “Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), now also known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is a widespread condition affecting a large portion of the global population. Globally, NAFLD prevalence is estimated to be around 38%. In Canada, at least 25% of adults are affected by MASLD. “This occurs when the liver does not process and break down fats as it normally should. To make it a little clearer, for one in four Canadians, their livers are being toxically overwhelmed and slowly dying. This is not conjecture, it is a terrifying fact.

You may not be aware, that the body in fact, eliminates toxins through the liver, kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymphatic system, and skin. While most of the body’s physiological processes, such as circulation or digestion, are limited to one organ or system, detoxification is critical enough to have six options engaged in some aspect of the cleansing process. Logic dictates that if “detox” was not of crucial importance to health, nature would not have devoted so much real estate to ensuring that it happens.

In my research into the evolution of health practices, it appears that detoxification is among the oldest medicinal modality known to man. In a 2020 article published on the Natural Med Doc website, Dr. Sarah Bennett, notes that “Numerous detoxification practices have been used across cultures worldwide dating back thousands of years. To be exact many of these practices date back to 2000 B.C.E and were documented to have been used in Ancient Egypt, China, India, Early America, even the Roman Empire.”

Much of what we eat or are exposed to environmentally contain substances which can harm the human body. Chemicals from various sources, refined sugars and processed foods, resident disease states, inactivity and chronic stress can all increase the number of noxious substances in our bodies. Most of these toxins are eliminated naturally, but some substances, such as heavy metals including thallium, antimony, mercury, lead, arsenic, and other noxious chemicals found in some industrial compounds and pesticides can remain, accumulate over time, and serve to exacerbate various health concerns. When our body is flooded with toxins, the organs responsible for their elimination can become overwhelmed and functionally deteriorate. If uncorrected, the body can become overwhelmed and incapable of coping with further toxin build-up. This means natural cleansing efficiency is weakened, system functions deteriorate, and disease can result. So how do we avoid this? 

As mentioned, the concept of body cleansing and purification has been in existence for centuries. Have some of these strategies to detoxify the body been effective? Yes. And there are still a variety of ancient detoxification techniques, such as fasting, saunas, dry brush, herbs, water, rest, meditation, and exercises, used today. Blends of substances served in the form of teas is another popular tool for cleansing body toxins, and some hold potential weight loss benefits as well. Still, established medical approaches view the process with a jaundiced eye. 

The mainstream medical view is that the body has mechanisms to rid itself of toxins, and that detoxification has not been scientifically validated to have any health benefit. I agree that there is need for regulation and advanced research, that just makes sense. Having accepted that, let’s remember that this opinion comes from a paradigm that has developed chemical preparations to address everything from hangnails to haemorrhoids. There is no doubt that humans possess built-in capacity to deal with toxins, but the efficiency of many of these mechanisms is predicated upon the body being functionally healthy and active. Let’s think about the following questions:

• What if the body has been compromised by disease, physical, chemical, or emotional stress, or inactivity? Do natural detoxification processes work as effectively?

• Do the natural detoxification mechanisms still work as efficiently as we age? 

• Does the long-term exposure to noxious chemicals or the use of medications perhaps impact toxicity levels in the body and potentially overworks some or all the organs that participate in the detoxification process? 

It is more than reasonable to assume that disease, stress, inactivity, and ageing can all compromise the efficiency of detoxification. We know that medications impact the inherent detoxification processes, with the “garbage cans” of the body—the kidneys, liver, or bowel— seemingly most impacted when things go wrong. 

Does a diet high in chemically enhanced foods or exposure to environmental toxins lead to the accumulation of greater than normal levels of substances not normally part of the human biome? Just from a logic perspective alone, the probability is there.

When the body is functionally efficient, the blood carries toxins to the liver, which uses enzymes to break down these substances, rendering them harmless or eliminating them via the urine, feces, breathing or skin. Here is an important point: unfortunately, these systems were built to dispose of “natural” toxins, not the man-made ones we have to deal with today. 

Dr. Subrata Chakravarty listed the following symptoms of toxicity on the Hope for Cancer Treatment Centers’ website in 2016.

• Allergies

• Excessive mucus

• Constant fatigue

• Regular muscle aches and pains

• Weight you just can’t shed

• Bad breath

• Constipation, bloating or IBS

• Broken-out skin, rashes, acne, puffy eyes, eczema, or psoriasis

• Sensitivity to smells

• Arthritis or gout

• Mental fatigue

• Depression

To assume that there is no value to keeping the body free of toxins is just not logical, especially considering the dramatic changes in diet and lifestyle that have occurred over the past sixty years. Would it be unreasonable to think that an ageing body may be more prone to the accumulation of toxins due to the increased exposure over time, combined with the natural loss of organ efficiency associated with getting older? Well, yes. This is especially so if health is already compromised by disease, stress, obesity, extensive use of medications, or inactivity. 

Acknowledging this; for any program aimed at reclaiming health to be successful it must pay attention to the potential for resident of toxicities and present a successful strategy for creating avenues for their removal. In my mind, to dismiss the value of detoxification would be negligent.

If I have at least piqued your interest, let me lay out what I would suggest being the best plan and timeframe for accomplishing this, and explain why every 6 months? 

In preparing for this work, I scoured the available research to find what would be simple, inexpensive, and effective in safely stimulating detoxification. Cranberry juice won hands down due to its simple effectiveness and the amount of research supporting its efficacy as a detoxification adjunct. The broad health benefits of cranberry juice are well-documented, and my experience has shown that it serves as the perfect companion to regular activity, proper nutrition and hydration to aid in cleansing toxic substances from your system. Note, there are few collateral health risks associated with its use, with the notable exception of a potential impact upon the blood thinner Warfarin. Having said that, in an article published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Science in 2013,Nuggehally R. Srinivas states: “While the debate continues on the issue of an interaction between Warfarin and cranberry juice, the summation of the pharmacodynamics data obtained in patients and healthy subjects from different prospectively designed and controlled clinical trials does not provide overwhelming support for the existence of a pharmacodynamic drug interaction for normal cranberry juice ingestion.”(As always, if you have any concerns about potential interactions with your current prescription medications, contact your pharmacist or medical practitioner prior to starting to use the cranberry juice.)

As you are about to see, cranberry juice is one of the most potent natural healers on the planet. Taking the lead from an article published on the website Medical News Today entitled “What are the Health Benefits of Cranberry Juice?” The following is a synopsis of the author’s findings as well as other related research I have found to support cranberry’s use for detoxification:

Fights age-related damage: Free radicals tend to accumulate in the body as people age, and they cause oxidative damage. There is a link between oxidative damage and health issues, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, digestive health and urinary tract dysfunction. Among the key nutritional benefits abundant in cranberry juice are antioxidants that help fight harmful damage associated with free radicals. The presence of antioxidants means that cranberries and cranberry juice can be of benefit in helping fight age-related damage to the body’s tissues.

Improvement in heart health: Cranberries are high in chemicals called polyphenols, which have been shown to support cardiac function. A 2011 study entitled “Low-Energy Cranberry Juice Decreases Lipid Oxidation and Increases Plasma Antioxidant Capacity in Women with Metabolic Syndrome,” Basu, Betts, Ortiz et al., found that cranberry juice increased the antioxidants in the blood plasma of females with metabolic syndrome and increased the antioxidants in the blood plasma. People who consistently drank cranberry juice also had reduced levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) which is known as the “bad” type of cholesterol.In a paper entitled “How to Use Cranberry Juice to Make Your Heart Bulletproof,” Nicole Penguin notes that “In a small study of 56 men and women with risk for heart disease, these participants supplemented their diet with either a daily placebo beverage or a daily glass of authentic cranberry juice that contained 173mg of phenolic compounds that have known antioxidant properties for eight weeks. The cranberry juice was able to lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation throughout the body, lower blood sugar levels and decrease insulin resistance in participants who drank a glass of it daily.”

Treats or prevents urinary tract infection (UTI): The use of cranberry juice for treatment and prevention of bladder and urinary tract infections as a successful home remedy has been in play for years. The antibacterial effects of cranberry juice were reported to reduce the incidence of UTIs according to a 2017 study by Jensen, Struve et al. The reduction of UTI incidence is thought to be due to the ability of antibacterial properties to reduce the colonization of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the bladder. In a similar 2010 article published on WebMD, Katrina Woznicki writes, “Scientists report that within eight hours of drinking cranberry juice, the product could help prevent bacteria from developing into an infection in the urinary tract.”

Supports digestive health: There is growing indication that the phytochemicals contained in cranberries play an important role in digestive health. Supportive evidence for the digestive health benefits was reported in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. Shaomin Zhao, Haiyan Liu, and Liwei Gu noted that cranberry juice aided with inhibiting the production of a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori in the stomach and is thought to promote digestive health.

Supports post-menopausal health: The risk of heart conditions has been shown to increase after menopause. In a 2015 work published in the Journal of Nutrition, Janet A. Novotny, David J. Baer, Christina Khoo, et al., who investigated this phenomenon, noted that cranberry juice consumption can lower blood pressure, triglycerides and fasting glucose levels, which are risk factors for developing cardiovascular diseases, thereby suggesting cranberry products can be useful dietary supplements for post-menopausal women.Similarly, in work published on the Healthline website entitled “Does Cranberry Juice Have Benefits for Women and Girls?” the author notes “While more human studies are necessary, cranberry juice may have several benefits for women’s health. These include easing PMS symptoms, preventing osteoporosis, aiding postmenopausal health, and reducing signs of ageing.”

Cranberry juice aids in fat-flush: All the above benefits aid in general health maintenance, but of more salient interest to many readers, is the impact of cranberry juice on the metabolism of fat. Natural cranberry juice is rich in essential vitamins, such as vitamin C—which helps to thin out bile and allow the liver to break down fat more efficiently, aiding in the elimination of waste products such as undigested foods—and minerals. In a study by the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, researchers analyzed the effect cranberry juice had on cholesterol levels. Those participating in the study included the juice daily as part of their normal diets. An unexpected outcome was a significant decrease in both body weight and BMI, which demonstrated evidence that cranberry juice could benefit people as a weight loss tool. Furthermore, cranberry juice contains arbutin, a natural diuretic that helps flush excess fluids from the body that may contribute to bloating associated with water trapped in extracellular tissues. 

Helps prevent infections: A 2011 study entitled “More Power to the Cranberry: Study Shows the Juice is Better than Extracts at Fighting Bacterial Infections” was published on the Worchester Polytech Institute website. A team led by senior author Terri Camesano determined that cranberries inhibited the growth of E. coli in the urinary tract. Similarly, a 2010 study published by the Pub Med website found that cranberries could help defend against some viruses, including norovirus, which is a common cause of food-borne illness. The authors of the study caution that more research is needed but argue that cranberries might be a useful method of treating or preventing food-borne illness.

Let’s cut to the chase. Forty-seven years of clinical experience has taught me that when it comes to any form of behaviour modification, keeping it simple is the way to go. You can certainly make detoxification complex, and there are certainly circumstances where drastic measures are required to reclaim health, but for most of us in the middle, an approach that is less disruptive to our usual lifestyle, tends to generate greater compliance. The following protocol has, in my practice with patients, demonstrated good results with minimal disruption.

21 Day Cranberry Detox Program

***Of critical importance to the success of the program, you must use natural un-sweetened cranberry juice. 

Follow this protocol for the next three weeks:

1. On waking consume 2 eight-ounce glasses of room temperature water. If the water is too cold or warm some people find it irritating to the stomach when ingested early in the day.

2. Mid morning drink one eight-ounce glass of water followed by a second comprised of 1/3 cranberry juice, and 2/3 cool or room temperature water.

3. Before your mid-day meal, consume 2 eight-ounce glasses of cool or room temperature water.

4. Mid-afternoon drink one eight-ounce glass of water followed by a second comprised of 1/3 cranberry juice, and 2/3 cool or room temperature water.

5. Before your last meal of the day, consume 2 eight-ounce glasses of cool or room temperature water.

***Please note: The above recommendation is not a substitution for what would be your customary hydration regime. You should still target ½ cup per waking hour of non-alcoholic fluids on top of what is suggested above. This will give you 80 ounces of water/cranberry juice per day, plus between 48-64 additional ounces from your traditional routine. The increase in water intake alone will aid as a purge, and with the added detox benefits of the cranberry juice you have a gentle system-cleanse. Start by using the cranberry juice twice per day as recommended above for the first week, then consider substituting the juice cocktail for the second eight-ounce glass of water at noon for the remaining two weeks. If you find that the mid-day dose of cranberry is too much for your system, then stick to the initial program. The purpose here is not to “flush” away toxins. The body is not a toilet that you can flush and whisk away waste. For any cleanse to be safe, it must be a gentle and gradual process. This is why I recommend it be done every six months.

Avoid over-hydration. Yes, this is rare but real. I could find no guidelines on what level of hydration would cause such a phenomenon, but staying within the advised guidelines and timeframes of the above program should be more than safe. This is a recommendation which should be well tolerated by the average person. Having said that, there may be unique physical, medical, or medication circumstances where the suggested volume of water is contraindicated. If you have any concerns, take the time to consult with your health care provider prior to starting the program.

About the Author: Dr. POOLEY has been in practice for over 46 years, is a former champion bodybuilder and author of the book the Un-Diet Diet.