A detox : is it necessary?

By Nicolas Martineau B.Sc.

Detox diets, detox products, many people believe it is necessary to take a cure to get rid of toxins that could not be eliminated otherwise, but what is it really? Does our body retain all of its functions optimally as we age? Can certain supplements help support our body in some of its functions? These are the questions we will try to answer today.

Our body : a fascinating factory

Whether it is to ensure its vital functions or to deal with its environment, our body has the ability to transform, store, produce waste and reject it. All its functions have one main goal: to ensure its biological functions.

The liver, kidneys, intestines, skin and lungs are the main organs adapted to eliminate certain harmful substances.

To produce energy, our cells produce carbon dioxide which is expelled through the functions of our lungs. Thanks to our breathing, a gas exchange occurs there as oxygen enters our blood and carbon dioxide is expelled during our exhalations.

Ensuring multiple functions, our liver captures and transforms several substances. A simple example is when we consume alcohol, this substance accumulates in our blood and drunkenness is a sign of intoxication. If our liver did not perform its functions, alcohol would continue to build up in our blood, which could be fatal. Our liver is the main organ that eliminates alcohol. A multitude of biochemical reactions take place there and make it possible to transform alcohol into other substances which can be stored or transformed into energy.

The kidneys filter and eliminate waste through the urea found in our urine.

The intestines are well known for not only digesting carbohydrates, proteins and lipids but also for eliminating solid waste resulting from our digestion.

As for the skin, not only is it a barrier against external aggressions, but it allows us to produce vitamin D and eliminate certain substances through our sweat thanks to our sweat glands and the sebum produced by our sebaceous glands.

Aging and our organs

As we age, our bodies become less efficient. The phenomenon of aging is natural and affects the functioning of our entire system. An increasing number of cells lose their ability to function or they begin to function abnormally. A pigment called lipofuscin is stored in our tissues like other substances. Our connective tissues become stiffer, which makes our organs, blood vessels, and airways stiffer. Our cell membranes also change, making them less efficient. Aging also causes loss of muscle mass. Due to these cellular and tissue changes, our organs change as we age. Luckily, our organs have capacities beyond our normal needs. As abilities and the aging process vary for everyone, some people will be more or less affected by this loss of ability.

The role of supplements

Although adopting healthy lifestyle habits is THE solution to improving our quality of life, certain plants can stimulate certain biological functions and give our body a temporary boost.

The Dandelion

Recognized in herbal medicine for its diuretic, laxative and choleretic properties, dandelion is a great ally for people struggling with digestive disorders. Health Canada lists this plant among the medicinal ingredients that can be used in natural health products.

The Milk Thistle

This plant native to the Mediterranean basin, is used to fight digestive disorders, liver diseases and gallbladder. The Greeks had noted its therapeutic potential and used it during antiquity to treat liver disorders. Its beneficial actions come from silymarin, the active substance of this plant. The European Commission and the World Health Organization recognize its use to treat digestive disorders.

The Boldo

Particularly recognized in Chile, this plant is now recognized for its medicinal properties for minor liver disorders and various gastrointestinal disorders. Studies have observed anti-inflammatory, antipyretic (against fever), cytoprotective (protects cells), cholagogue (facilitates the evacuation of bile) and hepatoprotective (protects the liver) effects. These effects are attributable to boldine, an active substance contained in this plant.

The Indian Rhubarb

Recognized for its laxative effect, this plant contains several components including anthraquinones.

The Sacred Bark Tree

Cascara is a tree from North America. Its bark is used as a stimulant laxative. It acts on the absorption of water in the intestines and on its peristalsis (movement). It is through the enzymatic activity in the colon that the glycosides of cascara sagrada are transformed into Anthrones, which give the laxative effect.

The Burdock

A plant recognized by many for its buttons that stick like Velcro, this plant is traditionally used in herbal medicine as a diuretic, to stimulate sweating and to help eliminate toxins through the kidneys, skin and mucous membranes.

The Artichoke

Mainly known at the culinary level, the artichoke plant also has several medicinal properties. It is thanks to components such as cynarin, luteolin 7-O-glucoside and its chlorogenic acids that the artichoke is used in herbal medicine to help relieve digestive disorders and stimulate the secretion of bile.

Far from claiming to detoxify the body, these active ingredients are rather adapted to stimulate the activities of the eliminatory organs. They are therefore interesting allies to give a temporary boost in case of food abuse or fatigue of our body. As we age, our bodies become less efficient. This is why these plants will be of good help in case of indigestion.

Land Art Products

Two main products are offered by Land Art to help your organs of elimination: Total Detox and Milk Thistle.

Our Total Detox is a complete formula, used as a laxative, diuretic, cholagogue and choleretic. A single bottle offers a complete cure composed of 8 medicinal plants. It only takes one dose a day to benefit from this mild cure for your systems. For more information, we invite you to visit our Total Detox product page.

Our Milk Thistle is the supplement of choice for liver protection and support. Milk Thistle helps support liver function, helps relieve digestive issues and helps relieve hangovers. For more information, we invite you to visit our Milk Thistle product page.

Land Art also offers the Detox Bundle, which includes these two wonderful products as well as two others and which allows you to save 20% on the total value of the products.

detox bundle

References :

Changes in the body with aging
(https://www.merckmanuals.com/en-ca/home/older-people%E2%80%99s-health-issues/the-aging-body/changes-in-the-body-with-aging)
Renal aging: Causes and consequences
(https://jasn.asnjournals.org/content/28/2/407)
Aging changes in organs, tissues and cells
(https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/004012.htm#:~:text=Because%20of%20cell%20and%20tissue,function%20beyond%20the%20usual%20needs.)
Organ reserve, excess metabolic capacity, and aging
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5835208/)
Aging: what to expect
(https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/aging/art-20046070)
Normal aging: A steady loss of organ and process function
(https://www.kevinmd.com/2017/04/normal-aging-steady-loss-organ-process-function.html)
Aging changes in organs – tissue- cells
(https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/special-topic/aging-changes-in-organs-tissue-cells)
Target organs of detox
(https://www.ericfavre.com/lifestyle/uk/home/detox/target-organs-of-detox/)
Monographie Santé Canada Pissenlit- Taraxacum Officinale
(https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/atReq.do?atid=dandelion.pissenlit&lang=fra)
Monographie Santé Canada Chardon-Marie – Silybum marianum
(https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/atReq.do?atid=milk.thistle.oral&lang=fra)
Monographie Santé Canada Boldo – Peumus boldus
(https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/atReq.do?atid=boldo&lang=fra)
Monographie Santé Canada Aloès – Aloe vera
(https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/atReq.do?atid=aloe.oral.orale&lang=fra)
Monographie Santé Canada Cascara Sagrada – Rhamnus purshiana
(https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/atReq.do?atid=cascara.sagrada&lang=fra)
Monographie Santé Canada Artichaut – Cynara cordunculus
(https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/atReq.do?atid=globe.artichoke.artichaut&lang=fra)
Monographie Santé Canada Bardane – Arctium lappa
(https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/atReq.do?atid=burdock.bardane.oral&lang=fra)
Pro-health activity of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale L.) and its food products – history and present
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1756464619302683?via%3Dihub)
In vitro and in vivo hepatoprotective effects of the aqueous extract from taraxacum officinale root against alcohol-induced oxidative stress
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278691510001869)Passeport Santé
(https://www.passeportsante.net/fr/Solutions/PlantesSupplements/Fiche.aspx?doc=chardon_marie_ps)
Passeport Santé
(https://www.passeportsante.net/fr/Solutions/PlantesSupplements/Fiche.aspx?doc=boldo_ps)
Wikipédia
(https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascara_(arbre))
Wikipédia
(https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bardane)

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