What is the Detoxification Process According to Functional Medicine?

It seems there’s always some detox fad making the rounds on social media, claiming to help with weight loss, reduce inflammation clear your skin, boost your energy, and more. Should you jump on the bandwagon? Functional medicine doctors say no. Your body is well-equipped to rid itself of toxins, with the liver working as the primary detoxification organ, and the kidneys, intestines, lungs, and even skin helping to release toxins from the body. Rather than doing a detox regimen, your goal should be to support your body in the work it’s already doing. Let’s dig a little deeper into some misconceptions about the need to detox.

Wooden blocks illustrating the comparison of detox myths & facts in functional medicine

What Are Some Common Detox Myths?

Myth: Your body can’t detox on its own because it is too full of toxins.
- Fact: There are certainly toxins in your body, both endotoxins, which the body makes, and exotoxins, which come from outside the body. However, the liver’s primary function is to detoxify the body, and it’s very good at it. The best thing you can do to help your body clear toxin is to support your liver by maintaining a healthy diet.
Myth: Detoxing helps you lose weight.
- Fact: Weight lost in a detox is likely fluid loss, and not sustainable. As soon as you go back to eating normally, the weight will come back.
Myth: Detoxing with natural ingredients is safe.
- Fact: Even if it’s just a juice fast, a detox can cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies, stomach issues, and electrolyte imbalances. Supplements and herbal detox products are not required to be reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and can actually be toxic to the liver.

Detox Facts Backed by Functional Medicine

So, what can you do to remove toxins from your body naturally? Start by reducing toxin exposure by choosing whole foods, filtering your air and water, and avoiding plastic containers and cleaning products with toxic chemicals. Then, prioritize nutrient-dense foods, and support your gut health with probiotics and prebiotics. Exercise can also be beneficial, as sweating helps release toxins through the skin.

How to Support Healthy Detoxification Safely to Reap the Benefits of Detoxification

Traditionally, doctors have viewed detoxification as an unnecessary step, believing that the body can detoxify itself with no additional help. In functional medicine, we recognize that our natural detoxification systems can use some support, given the number of toxins in our environment. However, quick fixes like extreme fasts are not the answer. Rather, reducing the toxins in your body requires a sustainable, long-term solution, with healthy habits that will improve your organ function and reduce your toxic load naturally. Protecting your liver by eating a nutritious, plant-based diet, with lean proteins, whole grains, and plenty of fruits and vegetables will provide you with all the benefits a detox claims to provide.

For Guidance and Help with a Functional Medicine Detox, Contact Advanced Functional Medicine

You don’t need a celebrity detox, but you might need some guidance on lifestyle changes that can support a healthy liver, and Advanced Functional Medicine can help. We exclusively practice functional medicine, and our whole body approach to medicine utilizes all-natural, researched-based nutritional approaches to optimize the body’s natural healing abilities. Each individual receives unique and customized care, formulated based on the latest scientific resource, and we have a 96 percent success rate in patient outcomes. As a medically driven, patient-focused health clinic, we support our patients’ individual health goals, providing natural relief for symptoms of chronic factors and expert guidance about the decisions affecting a patient’s long-term health. It is our goal to promote healing from the inside out, in its truest, healthiest form. To schedule an appointment or learn more about how we can help restore your health and strengthen your body’s unique physiological functions, call 858-500-5572 or contact us through our website.