The body has its own natural detoxification process that includes organs like the liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system — and supporting these pathways is critical to our health. In this episode, Jim LaValle, RPh, CCN, explains what those systems are, how they work, and what you can do to support this aspect of your health. He also shares the signs that your body may not be detoxifying properly as well as strategies for support, including the role of certain lifestyle habits in enhancing detoxification.
This episode of Life Time Talks is part of our series on Performance and Longevity with MIORA.
Jim LaValle, RPh, CCN, is a clinical pharmacist, the cochair of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, the chair of the International Peptide Society, and the Chief Science Officer for Life Time.
In this episode, LaValle discusses the body’s natural detoxication process, emphasizing the importance of supporting organs like the liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system, as well as how environmental toxins and dietary habits can affect detox pathways. He also offers practical advice for enhancing detoxification through lifestyle habits. Insights include the following:
- Our bodies have their own detoxification systems that includes organs including the gut, liver, kidneys, lungs, lymphatic system, and more.
- Many parts of the body are involved in either getting rid of toxins from the environment or eliminating byproducts from your body’s metabolism process.
- The liver plays an important role in filtering and processing toxins.
- The kidneys are essential for filtering blood and excreting waste through urine.
- The lymphatic system helps transport waste and toxins away from tissues.
- Your skin helps eliminate toxins through sweat.
- Your lungs help expel toxins through breath.
- Our bodies can take in environmental toxins from foods we eat — think mercury from fish or arsenic from rice.
- A balanced diet rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals helps support detoxification. Diets that are high in sugar, carbohydrates, or fat and low in fiber can affect the gut microbiome and its ability to get rid of toxins.
- If environmental burdens accumulate and are not properly detoxed, they can disrupt or denature enzyme systems in the body that run every aspect of our chemistry.
- The body has three phases of detoxification:
- Phase one: Your body first takes a compound you’re exposed to and in the middle of metabolically processing it, creates an intermediate compound that is reactive. Adequate magnesium, amino acids, and certain vitamins are important to this part of the process.
- Phase two: Your body takes that intermediate compound and processes it to make it water-soluble for elimination. In this phase, nutrients like glycine, sulfur, B vitamins, and amino acids are important.
- Phase three: This part of the process involves taking it through the kidneys to be eliminated.
- Inadequate nutrients can lead to a poor transition between phase one and phase two; when this happens, your liver can’t keep up and can get backed up with intermediate intoxicants.
- Certain lifestyle habits can support healthy detoxification processes in the body, including:
- Drinking water: Adequate hydration supports kidney function and the flushing out of toxins.
- Regular exercise: Movement supports your lymphatic system and sweating helps eliminate toxins.
- Sauna use: Sweating in the sauna helps promotes toxin release. LaValle emphasizes the importance to taking a shower post-sauna (versus wiping off with a towel) to help wash away toxins that are eliminated.
- Healthy eating patterns: Increased fiber intake, reduced sugar consumption, and adequate protein can all support your body’s ability to release toxins.
- Regular detox programs like Life Time’s D.TOX can help reset the body’s system, but long-term lifestyle changes offer sustaining health benefits.
- It’s important to consult a healthcare provider for safe detoxification, especially for individuals with high toxin exposure (to things like metals or pesticides, for example) or those with underlying health conditions.
- Common signs that your detox capacity may be compromised include skin rashes, headaches, joint pain, cognitive issues, fatigue, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Advanced tests are available for measuring levels of common toxins like metals and pesticides in the body.
- The comprehensive lab testing that’s performed as part of the Metabolic Code can offer clues about how the systems in your body are interacting as well as how your kidney and liver are functioning.
- Checking your white blood cell count can also be beneficial: If it’s low, it could be a sign that your body might benefit from detoxification support.