Part Three: The Gut and Detoxification
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A Four-Part Blog Series
By Carrie Colarusso, Holistic Nutrition Therapist
Part Three: The Gut and Detoxification
How the gut aids in regulation, elimination, and inhibition of toxins
What is Detoxification?
Detoxification is the process of removing toxins and harmful substances or their effect, from the body.
Toxins are chemicals, heavy metals, and other substances accumulated from environmental sources, foods we eat, medications, as well as from byproducts of our body’s metabolism processes.
Environmental toxins include alcohol, tobacco smoke, and pollutants in the air.
Pesticides and antibiotics from food as well as antibiotics used to treat illness, can wipe out the good bacteria along with the bad causing dysbiosis.
Toxin accumulation can damage cells and organs and lead to multiple health issues.
Over consumption of alcohol or processed food, smoking, chronic antibiotic use and stress can all cause accumulation of toxins in your gut and liver.
When your gut is imbalanced because of these toxins, it effects gut health, leading to inflammation, mood disorders, a weakened immune system and poor detoxification.
The Gut’s Role in Detoxification
The body has a process of neutralizing and eliminating these harmful substances and toxins to maintain overall health. By eliminating toxins, the body can maintain balance and optimize functions.
One of the most effective ways of detoxification is by targeting your gut health. By balancing the harmful bacteria with the good bacteria in your gut, you are setting yourself up for a good start.
Not only is the gut responsible for this process, but other organs in the body work together in this process including the liver. The liver is the major detoxification organ in the body and our gut aids in liver health.
A healthy, diverse and balanced microbiota is essential for optimal detoxification. Remember from Part One of this series the mucosal lining of the gut acts as a barrier which prevents toxins from entering the bloodstream.
During digestion, the gut microbiota has the ability to chemically change the makeup of foreign substances or toxins. The bacteria metabolize and neutralize toxins, making them less harmful and quickly eliminating them.
A sluggish digestion in the gut and/or constipation can inhibit healthy elimination of the toxins from the body. Toxins in the stool are more likely to be reabsorbed back into the bloodstream when remaining in the gut.
Dysbiosis can impair detoxification processes. An imbalanced microbiota causes gut immune cell dysfunction, intestinal barrier issues, and inflammation; all of which can result in increased toxin absorption, reduced toxin elimination and compromised liver function.
Gut-Liver Axis
The gut and liver have a direct connection just like the gut and brain have a connection.
The liver is the major organ responsible for detoxification of gut toxins, bacteria, and digestive byproducts and other harmful substances in the blood circulation. It removes and metabolizes them into forms that can be eliminated from the body.
The gut-liver axis is through the portal vein and bile duct. The portal vein carries blood containing nutrients and toxins from the gut to the liver, and the bile duct carries the byproducts from the liver breakdown of toxins to the gut for elimination.
As previously discussed in part two of this series, dysbiosis or inflammation in the gut causes gut wall permeability, leaking toxins and harmful substances such as bacteria into the bloodstream.
The integrity of the gut wall barrier and liver health have a direct connection. When the integrity of the gut wall barrier is diminished, it chronically allows an abundance of toxins into the bloodstream, which circulates to the liver.
This causes inflammation and toxic burden the liver.
The composition of the microbiome, the integrity of the gut wall barrier, and detoxification function in the gut and in the liver are integrated in maintenance of health and the balance in the gut-liver axis.
A healthy gut and healthy liver are imperative for absorbing critical nutrients, detoxification of harmful substances, a healthy immune system, and optimal brain function and mood.
Read on to Part Four: Nurturing Your Gut
- Cloyd J. The Role of the Liver and Gut in Detoxification and How to Support Them With Integrative Medicine. Rupa Health. Published July 5, 2023. https://www.rupahealth.com/post/the-role-of-the-liver-gut-in-detoxification-and-how-to-support-it-with-integrative-medicine
- Did you know that your gut plays a MASSIVE role in detoxification? Read this article to find out how - BiO-LiFE. BiO-LiFE - We care for Your Wellness. Published November 7, 2022. Accessed August 10, 2024. https://biolife.com.my/did-you-know-that-your-gut-plays-a-massive-role-in-detoxification-read-this-article-to-find-out-how/
- Barron K. The Impact of Stress on Gut Health & Detox - WholisticMatters. WholisticMatters. Published November 19, 2022. Accessed August 10, 2024.
- Cleveland Clinic. What Is Your Gut Microbiome? Cleveland Clinic. Published August 18, 2023.
- Szabo G, Bala S, Petrasek J, Gattu A. Gut-Liver Axis and Sensing Microbes. Digestive Diseases. 2010;28(6):737-744. doi:https://doi.org/10.1159/000324281
- Dr. Ameet Aggarwal ND. Drameet.com. Published 2022. Accessed August 21, 2024.