A “detox” or “detoxification” diet is quite literally a plan to help remove toxins from the body. Of course, your body is well equipped to do this on its own. It is constantly working to detoxify your cells, getting rid of pollutants from the air and water you breathe, drink, and bathe in, and the harmful chemicals hiding in the food you eat. You don’t need to stop eating or drinking (or breathing) to avoid these toxins, the highly sophisticated detoxification system inside your body will flush them out. Sometimes, however, this system gets bogged down by an overwhelming of toxins, or you may not be taking in enough of the support nutrients that the body needs to keep its detoxification system running efficiently. Metabolic Maintenance’s Metabolic Detox® capsules have been designed specifically to naturally support you in that process. This is not a colon cleanse, laxative, or meal replacement, it is a nutritional supplement full of potent antioxidants and liver support to ensure your body has everything it needs to complete its natural detoxification pathways with ease and efficiency. Metabolic Detox® is recommended alongside a clean diet, lots of water, and a regular exercise program, to leave you feeling healthy, energized, and ready to take on the world!
How does the body detoxify itself?
The liver is the most important organ in the body’s natural detox pathway. The liver removes toxins from the blood and breaks down heavy metals or other unwanted chemicals enzymatically. Liver detoxification works in two phases, utilizing enzymes to convert fat-soluble substances into water-soluble substances, and then preparing them to be excreted from the body. The first phase requires B-vitamins, carotenoids, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E. The latter process requires amino acids, glutathione, or sulfur-based nutrients.
On the molecular level, antioxidants are crucial to the detoxification process. Many compounds are considered to have antioxidant capabilities, and there are a variety of ways in which antioxidants clear out or repair damage from toxic free radicals and reactive oxygen species. Some antioxidants are more powerful than others, however, and its important that we make sure our diet regularly includes a constant supply of potent antioxidants and precursors (building blocks) for the antioxidants made within the body.
How do Metabolic Detox® capsules work to support detoxification?
Metabolic Detox® capsules contain the antioxidant extract silymarin to specifically target and support the liver, as well as two potent thiol antioxidants, ALA and NAC, to support cellular detoxification and rejuvenation throughout the body.
Silymarin
Silymarin is an extract of milk thistle (Silybum marianum), which is a popular dietary supplement available alone for healthy liver function [1]. Silymarin is an herbal product and no health hazards or side effects have been documented in association with its use (when taken according to recommendations of course) [2]. Silymarin is known to support the liver with membrane-stabilizing and antioxidant activities, promote the growth of new liver cells, reduce inflammatory reactions, and inhibit fibrogenesis [1].
Apoptosis, or cell death, is now known as a component of virtually all acute and chronic liver diseases [3]. Silymarin can help to modulate an imbalance between cell survival and apoptosis by supporting cell cycle regulators and inhibiting proteins involved in apoptosis [1]. Silymarin is also known to increase glutathione production in the liver and contribute to the liver’s antioxidant defense system [4].
NAC
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is a powerful thiol antioxidant. NAC is not found in food but is a specially-derived form of the sulfur-containing amino acid L-cysteine. NAC is more stable than L-cysteine and easier to absorb.
NAC has historically been used to treat acetaminophen overdose as it is a powerful agent for liver detoxification. It is known to help replenish or even substitute for glutathione, the body’s “master antioxidant” [5]. Although glutathione is key to cellular detoxification and is involved in the detoxification of most endogenous and exogenous toxicants, a deficiency is common in response to a number of factors, such as age, stress, poor diet, or immunocompromisation [5]. Whether or not you are running low on glutathione, NAC can provide some much needed cellular support for detoxification.
ALA
Alpha lipoic acid (ALA), is also a thiol antioxidant and detoxification agent, with the added action of helping to recycle other endogenous antioxidants for reuse. On top of that, ALA interacts with glutathione and vitamin C to repair and protect cell membranes, supporting the structure of cells [6]. ALA is amphipathic, meaning it can work as an antioxidant in both fat and water-based fluids, and it can cross the blood-brain barrier allowing it to work everywhere in the body [7,8]. It has been demonstrated to improve age-associated cardiovascular, cognitive, and neuromuscular deficits, and has been implicated as a modulator of various inflammatory signaling pathways [9]. It has also been shown to decrease the storage of fat in the liver [10].
Why or when would I take Metabolic Detox® capsules?
If you’re feeling sluggish, have found yourself in a pattern of overindulgence that you’re ready to change, or you’re just ready to clean up your body and feel your best, it might be a great time to detox. If you’re looking for a supplement to support your whole body through detoxification, focusing on the star of the detox process (your liver, of course), Metabolic Detox® capsules may be right for you. As always, we highly recommend that you discuss this product and its potential benefits with your healthcare provider before adding the capsules to your healthy diet and exercise program.
References
- Fehér, János, and Gabriella Lengyel. “Silymarin in the prevention and treatment of liver diseases and primary liver cancer.” Current pharmaceutical biotechnology 13.1 (2012): 210-217.
- Shaker, E., H. Mahmoud, and S. Mnaa. “Silymarin, the antioxidant component and Silybum marianum extracts prevent liver damage.” Food and Chemical Toxicology 48.3 (2010): 803-806.
- San-Miguel, B., et al. “N-acetyl-cysteine protects liver from apoptotic death in an animal model of fulminant hepatic failure.” Apoptosis 11.11 (2006): 1945-1957.
- Vargas-Mendoza, Nancy, et al. “Hepatoprotective effect of silymarin.” World journal of hepatology 6.3 (2014): 144.
- Bobb, Andrew J., Darryl P. Arfsten, and Warren W. Jederberg. “N-acetyl-L-Cysteine as prophylaxis against sulfur mustard.” Military medicine 170.1 (2005): 52-56.
- Hager, Klaus, et al. “Alpha-lipoic acid as a new treatment option for Alzheimer type dementia.” Archives of gerontology and geriatrics 32.3 (2001): 275-282.
- Molz, Patrícia and Nadja Schröder. “Potential Therapeutic Effects of Lipoic Acid on Memory Deficits Related to Aging and Neurodegeneration” Frontiers in pharmacology vol. 8 849. 12 Dec. 2017, doi:10.3389/fphar.2017.00849
- Moini, Hadi, Lester Packer, and Nils-Erik L. Saris. “Antioxidant and prooxidant activities of α-lipoic acid and dihydrolipoic acid.” Toxicology and applied pharmacology 182.1 (2002): 84-90.
- Shay, Kate Petersen, et al. “Alpha-lipoic acid as a dietary supplement: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential.” Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-General Subjects 1790.10 (2009): 1149-1160.
- Park, Keun‐Gyu, et al. “Alpha‐lipoic acid decreases hepatic lipogenesis through adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK)‐dependent and AMPK‐independent pathways.” Hepatology 48.5 (2008): 1477-1486.