In today's world, more than ever, we are exposed to a wide variety of toxins: They're in our air, food and water, in the workplace and at home. We even generate toxins within our own bodies. Our bodies are designed to be self-cleansing and self-healing. The internal detoxification process is an automatic daily procedure of the major detoxification organs. Toxins, however produce irritation and inflammation, adding to the burden of our digestive system. When our digestive system becomes overwhelmed, it is no longer able to adequately perform detoxification functions. This is a condition called "toxic overload".
Exposure to toxins results in an increased production of free radicals which over time damage or age our body tissues. Long term "toxic overload" may result in metabolic and genetic alternations that can affect cell growth, behavior and immune response. This is because the molecular structures of toxins are carcinogenic as they interact with human DNA. The World Health Organization has implicated environmental toxic chemicals in over 60 to 80 per cent of all cancer cases.
Scientists estimate that over 50 percent of U.S. residents have too much heavy metal in their bodies. These metals, which include lead, mercury, aluminum, cadmium and arsenic, are found in industrial byproducts as well as in tainted drinking water, pesticides and even things as common as dental fillings and cooking utensils. Once these chemicals are inside us, we can never fully eliminate them unless we undergo a detoxification process. As a result, most of us need some form of detoxification.
In the past, detoxification was administerred to reformed alcoholics and drugs addicts, cancer patients and people with severe allergies. Nowadays it is adopted by healthy individuals to maintain their body systems in pristine condition. Detoxification can make a big difference in optimizing the bodily functions. In fact, it might even help prevent chronic opportunistic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, chronic fatigue and arthritis. Detoxification, coupled with a healthy diet, is an essential anti-aging tool. It is one of the best ways to remain healthy in a polluted and toxic environment.
Signs that Detoxification is Needed:
- Unexplained headaches or back pain
- Joint pain or arthritis
- Memory is failing
- Depression or lack energy
- Brittle nails and hair
- Psoriasis
- Abnormal body odor, coated tongue or bad breath
- Unexplained weight gain
- Frequent allergies
History that may indicate Detoxification is needed:
- Heavy alcohol use
- Natural and synthetic steroid hormone use
- Exposure to cleaning solvents, pesticides, diuretics and certain drugs
Benefits of Detoxification:
- More Energy
- Stronger Immunity
- Easier Weight Loss
- Fewer Allergies
- Fewer Aches & Pains
- Healthier Skin, Hair and Nails
The Pectin Plus™ unique formula makes for a very potent detoxification support product, designed to bind with and remove heavy metals and other toxins in the body.
MCP and Detoxification
The standard western medical approach for removing heavy metals from the body is chelation therapy. This procedure, performed with harsh chelators introduced intravenously, can cause multiple side effects while potentially robbing the body of some of its essential nutrients. MCP as a detoxification agent that works as a gentle chelator in the bloodstream and it is very useful for ongoing use with no side effects.
Two recent clinical studies have found that MCP is a very safe and effective supplement for reducing heavy metal load. In one recent clinical study, MCP was administered to a group of volunteers, and baseline levels of their total body mercury burden were measured and then compared against levels after treatment with MCP for four months. The results showed a significant average decrease (over 60%; p=0.03) in the total body mercury burden after treatment with MCP. In an earlier study, MCP was given to patients and proven to increase urinary secretion of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic. Both studies concluded that MCP is a viable alternative to the harsher intravenous chelating therapies as MCP was found to be both effective and free of any side effects.
Cilantro and Detoxification
Cilantro has long been known to decrease heavy metals levels in the body and increase their levels in the urine. This detoxification property of cilantro was discovered through the work of Dr. Yoshiaki Omura. Dr. Omura treated several patients for an eye infection called trachoma (granular conjunctivitis), which is caused by the micro-organism Chlamydia trachomatis. Following the standard treatment, Dr. Omura found that the patients' symptoms would initially clear up, only to recur within a few months. He experienced similar difficulties in treating viral-related problems like herpes simplex types I & II and cytomegalovirus infections.
After taking a closer look, Dr. Omura found these organisms seemed to hide and flourish in areas of the body where there were concentrations of heavy metals like mercury, lead, and aluminum. Somehow the organisms were able to use the toxic metals to protect themselves from the medicine. While he was testing for these toxic metals, Dr. Omura discovered that the leaves of the coriander plant (cilantro) could accelerate the excretion of mercury, lead, and aluminum from the body.
This came about accidentally when he noticed that mercury levels in urine increased after an individual consumed Vietnamese soup. The healthy soup contained coriander, or, as it is better known in this country, cilantro. And when cilantro was used concurrently with natural antiviral or antibiotic agents and/or omega-3 fatty acids, the infections could be eliminated for good.
Dr. Omura's discovery resulted in a novel technique, which greatly increased the body's ability to clear up recurring infections, both viral and bacterial. By chance, he also discovered a natural, inexpensive, way to remove toxic metals from body tissues (even neural tissues of the brain and central nervous system) with no dangerous side effects.
Cillantro's chelating ability plays an important role in the Pectin Plus™ approach to detoxification. Cilantro mobilizes heavy metals out of the tissue so that garlic and pectin can bind to them and allow them to be excreted from the body.
Click Here to read more about cilantro research.
Garlic and Detoxification
The sulfhydryl (sulfur and hydrogen) compounds in garlic are potent chelators of toxic heavy metals, binding with them so that they can be excreted. Garlic also aids in the detoxification of peroxides such as hydrogen peroxide, and protects the liver from the toxicity of carbon tetrachloride. In addition, garlic extract increases the glutathione level and glutathione related enzymes which aid in detoxifying the body. Research has also suggested that garlic extract may help to protect the body from heavy metal poisoning. When garlic extract was combined with red blood cells it prevented lead, mercury and aluminum from destroying them. When no garlic extract was added to the blood samples, these heavy metals ruptured the red blood cells.