By John Preckshot, RPh, FAARM, Director of Wellness Works

“It can be strongly said that the health of an individual is largely determined by the ability of the body to detoxify.”

— Joseph Pizzorno, ND, Encyclopedia of Natural Health

Detoxification, the removal of harmful or toxic substances from the body, occurs through several body organs, including the kidneys, skin, liver and lungs. The term “detoxification” is sometimes misunderstood, though. There is the process of detoxification that occurs in the body 24 hours a day, primarily in the liver. The purpose of detoxification, in this context, is to remove common allergens and irritants from the body daily to ensure good health. Then there is the act of detoxification, which consists of making changes to our diet and using various supplements for a few weeks to help support the liver and other organs in their daily job of protecting us from the consumed and built-up toxins in our bodies. By assisting your body in the removal of stored toxins through detoxification programs, your body can more easily heal itself.

Do I have toxins in my body?

Unfortunately, we all have toxins in our bodies, and our environment is becoming much more toxic. This increase in toxicity is expressed in a greater incidence of illness and disease. Decreasing toxic load through a more healthful diet, daily exercise and decreased chemical exposure (including prescription and over-the-counter medications), can help your liver more effectively keep you healthy.

What constitutes a detoxification program?

The first step to detoxification is a change to a healthier diet for three weeks. There are three goals of this diet change:

• Entirely eliminating common allergens and potentially irritating foods
• Cutting out foods that promote inflammation and the build-up of harmful toxins
• Providing the body with inflammation-fighting and liver-supporting essential nutrients

There are several diets that you can use to accomplish this. For a list of appropriate diets for detoxification, please contact Wellness Works at info@wellnessworks.com. While you may not feel great at the beginning of a detox diet, as the toxins leave your body, it will not be long before you feel healthier and renewed. And at no time during your diet will you starve or feel hungry! You will just learn to make better dietary choices.

Is that all I have to do?

In addition to a dietary change, a good detoxification program needs to supply your body with the nutrients it needs to help repair itself. The premier antioxidant and nutrient necessary for liver support of the detoxification process is glutathione.¹ Any detoxification program should include a good source of glutathione, like Liposomal Glutathione 250 mg found in Wellness Works.

The liver is also the vital organ involved in removing alcohol metabolites from the body. Research has demonstrated that the essential nutrients found in Alcohol Detox work to support healthy liver function and proper alcohol metabolism. ^2,3,4 If the stress and inactivity of the COVID-19 pandemic have increased your alcohol consumption, Alcohol Detox will be a good choice for you.

Finally, it is essential to remove the toxins from the body during the detoxification process. Colon Health Support is specially formulated to support comprehensive intestinal health by gentle waste elimination and intestinal cleansing. And as you begin your new, healthier, renewed life, a course of probiotics, such as our new SporeBiotic Max , would be the final step to a healthier you.

If you have any questions about detoxification programs for you, your staff or your pharmacy patients, please contact us at info@wellnessworks.com.

John Preckshot, RPh, CCN, FAARM, serves as the Director of Wellness Works nutrition. In 1981, he opened Preckshot Professional Pharmacy in Peoria, Illinois. The mission of the pharmacy was to provide a more holistic approach to health care by specializing in pharmacy compounding and functional medicine. Soon, Preckshot Professional Pharmacy was recognized as being the “non-pharmacy” pharmacy in central Illinois. Along the way, John received the PCCA M. George Webber Pharmacist of the Year award in 2000 and the Dupont Pharmaceutical Innovative Practitioner award in 2001. John completed his certification in clinical nutrition (CCN) in 2006. He completed his fellowship in anti-aging and regenerative medicine (FAARM) in 2014.

A version of this article originally appeared in PCCA’s members-only magazine, the Apothagram.

References

1. Sinha, R., Sinha, I., Calcagnotto, A., Trushin, N., Haley, J. S., Schell, T. D., & Richie, J. P., Jr. (2018). Oral supplementation with liposomal glutathione elevates body stores of glutathione and markers of immune function. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 72(1), 105–111. https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2017.132

2. Bellentani, S., Saccoccio, G., Costa, G., Tiribelli, C., Manenti, F., Sodde, M., Saveria Crocè, L., Sasso, F., Pozzato, G., Cristianini, G., & Brandi, G. (1997). Drinking habits as cofactors of risk for alcohol induced liver damage. The Dionysos Study Group. Gut, 41 (6), 845–850. https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.41.6.845

3. Lieber, C. S. (2003). Relationships between nutrition, alcohol use, and liver disease. Alcohol Research & Health: The Journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism , 27(3), 220–231. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6668875/pdf/220-231.pdf

4. Ward, R. J., & Peters, T. J. (1992). The antioxidant status of patients with either alcohol-induced liver damage or myopathy. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 27(4), 359–365.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products referenced in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.