Nutrients to support Genetic Detoxification
The very notion of detoxification brings up images in the mind of juicing, skin brushing, saunas, salads, perhaps tinged with deprivation.
The desire to detox usually comes from desperation. From having over-indulged from either recent events such as Christmas, or from an over-spent youth and abuse in former years.
Facing the fact that we are now really fat, sluggish, depressed, even riddled with adult acne forces the better side of self to buckle down, grow up and parent ourselves to a more healthful future.
Or, Detox can become a way of life. Again perhaps from desperate circumstances. Not a misspent youth, but rather having drawn the short straw in some way, resulting in chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia or multiple chemical sensitivity. This can be due to genetic predisposition or it can be due to chronic overt stress in youth, alcoholic or abusive parents, or living in a chemically toxic environment for some years.
Detoxification, however, is not all about cleanse, cleans cleanse. There are in fact TWO pillars to detoxification; cleanse and nurture.
It is the Nurture aspect of Detoxification that has pays a dividend to potentially sub-optimal functioning genetic pathways. Nurture includes making use of optimal nutrient intake. Especially where there are some genes which require higher doses of nutrient intake.
In this post, I will explore some of these key nutrients and their impact on health.
What are the key ingredients to create successful detoxification?
BETAINE which is also known as trimethylglycine: supports the short route of methylation by transferring a methyl group from itself to homocysteine, converting it into L-methionine in the liver and kidneys. It is a powerful lipotropic nutrient found in high concentrations in food such as beets and beet greens and has a powerful effect upon the liver’s detoxification pathways and it can help to reduce homocysteine levels.
High homocysteine is a marker of potentially poor heart health.
ZINC (GLUCONATE) converts vitamin B6 to its active form.
MAGNESIUM (CITRATE) is essential for the activation of enzymes. Methylation cannot take place without a magnesium molecule.
PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6) has been shown to improve the absorption of magnesium as well as other minerals into cells. It also enhances transulphuration which improves glutathione production.
RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2) specifically support MTHFR 677 and is included as co-factor for this enzyme which converts food folate to methylfolate. MTHFR is the key folate metabolising enzyme and low status of riboflavin may interfere with the metabolism of folate, particularly in individuals homozygous for the MTHFR/ C677T
CYANOCOBALAMIN (VITAMIN B12) is involved in the conversion of homocycsteine L-methionine.
CHOLINE (B GROUP VITAMIN) mobilises fat from the liver and plays an important role in fat metabolism and liver detoxification.
ROSEMARY supports oestrogen detoxification. It stimulates the liver enzymes involved in activating oestrogen hormones. These are responsible for oestrogen dominance and various associated problems.
BROCCOLI extract and DIM, essential sulphur from broccoli and DIM support sulphation (a phase 2 detox pathway within the liver).
N-ACETYL L-CYSTEINE (NAC) supports glutathione production that aids the detoxification of many water-soluble environmental toxins and the removal of unstable compounds from the liver including unhealthy oestrogen, drugs, and metals such as mercury and aluminium. If this pathway is under strain then this can lead to the accumulation of such unstable compounds and can contribute to the toxic symptoms of fatigue, depression, allergy, asthma, infertility. obesity and hormonal imbalances.
ALPHA LIPOIC ACID is a potent antioxidant that supports the intermediary phase of detoxification and recycles used glutathione.
SELENIUM is a strong antioxidant that supports glutathione production and the intermediate phase of detoxification.
