For the average North American, toxic exposure is subtle and yet
ever-present. To avoid ongoing exposure, you will need to think about the
sources of your water, the safety of your food, chemicals in everyday
products, and so on. The primary concept of environmental medicine is to
diminish the toxic load-the burden on your body- and to stop further
exposure. Some people tend to be more sensitive to toxins than others. Both
low level and intense exposure can cause a wide variety of symptoms in the
GI tract and throughout the body."
Jeffry Anderson, M.D. Avoid Toxic Exposure (Optimal Digestion chapter 23)
Perhaps there is no other topic in the area of whole food nutrition and
natural health that inspires more angst, more controversy and ultimately
more confusion and frustration than the subject of internal cleansing. And
yet, there isn't another topic more important to understand.
Why is this important subject so negatively charged, controversial, and
confusing? Part of the answer is our individual and collective ignorance
about the miraculous nature of our own anatomy and physiology. Another
reason is the variety and complexity of our imaginary associations with one
of the terms that usually accompanies all discussions of internal cleansing:
detoxification.
Remember the following statement?
The human body is a marvelously designed living organism with the ability to
grow, regulate, repair and defend itself when given natural, high quality
full spectrum nutrition.
You may have seen this statement several times already. This is the Cell
Tech nutrition philosophy statement, and it speaks volumes about the most
important lessons to be learned about anatomy and physiology in general and
detoxification and cleansing in particular.
In section one, there is a portion called: Each Cell is a Factory. The
message in that particular section was this: every cell in our body shares
the same metabolic needs and performs the same metabolic functions every
minute of every day. These needs and functions include:
Every cell needs a balanced synergy and broad spectrum of micro-nutrients
delivered on a daily basis.
Every cell takes these nutrient raw materials to create and build the
various products of metabolism; hormones, enzymes, and every other
biochemical agent and re-agent necessary to complete its various, specific
and sometimes unique biological tasks (depending upon the organ or system
the cell belongs to).
Every cell produces toxic byproducts and waste products as a result of
normal metabolic activity.
Every cell retains the knowledge and ability to identify, neutralize, and
eliminate all the toxic byproducts and waste products created via normal
metabolic activity.
Every cell retains this knowledge and ability as long as two critical
factors are also in place: the introduction of a balanced synergy and broad
spectrum of micro-nutrients daily, and the prevention of various toxic and
non-nutritional exposures and insults.
What does this mean?
It means that our bodies are designed to cleanse, nourish, and regenerate
themselves on a continual basis, but in order to do so they require our
mindful attention and practical assistance. It means that cleansing and
detoxification are completely natural, normal, and vitally essential
components of our cellular metabolism and physiology. It means that because
we live in a modern post-industrial society, we can no longer remain
ignorant or indifferent to the condition of our food supply and of the
environment and how these factors affect our body.