By Dr. Josh Redd, Chiropractic Physician, RedRiver Health and Wellness Center
Binders are supplements that can help remove heavy metals, toxins, and mold mycotoxins from your body.
Here are some binders that can help reduce the toxic load on your body:
Modified citrus pectin: This product is processed from citrus peel and is able enter the bloodstream to bind to toxins throughout the body. It is also a “prebiotic” which means it’s a food source for your good gut bacteria. Healthy gut bacteria are also important to help protect you from toxins. Look for a source that is free of fillers.
Activated charcoal: Activated charcoal is a common binder for toxins. It is also used for digestive complaints.
Bentonite clay: Bentonite, montmorillonite, and illite (French clay) clays are used to bind toxins. They act like a sponge with an electrical charge that attracts toxins when mixed with water. Avoid products that may have lead contamination.
Zeolite: Zeolite is a natural compound made of volcanic rock and ash that is an effective binder for heavy metals and toxins.
Chlorella: Chlorella is a type of algae that binds to mercury and lead. It is also rich in B vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. If you take blood thinners, consult your doctor before taking chlorella.
Silica: Silica is a popular supplement to improve the hair, skin, and nails, but it also binds metals such as thallium that are harder to detox.
Support your pathways of elimination to detoxify the body
Binders latch onto toxins, but it’s important to support your body in eliminating them. Also, heavy metals bind to receptors on cells when minerals are low, so it’s also important to make sure you have sufficient minerals in your body.
To improve the function of the pathways of elimination, support the following:
- Liver and gallbladder function
- Bowel elimination
- Hydration
Eat 25–38 grams of fiber a day, drink plenty of filtered water, eat foods that are good for the liver (like bitters and greens), exercise regularly, and sweat regularly to support elimination of toxins from your body.
Prevent chemical sensitivities
It’s important to minimize the overall toxic burden on the body, but it’s also very important to avoid developing chemical sensitivities. Your overall toxic burden may matter less than whether you have an inflammatory reaction to certain toxins. In other words, you can react to a toxin in the same way you react to gluten or dairy. You want to prevent this from happening as removing a toxin from your life is harder than removing a food from your diet — many toxins are in our air, water, food, and everyday items.
This is why it’s so important to live an anti-inflammatory lifestyle. If you already have chemical sensitivities, ask my office about methods to lower your sensitivity so you can better tolerate everyday life.
To learn more about our services and to schedule a free consultation, please visit redriverhealthandwellness.com. We work with your prescribing physician for optimal results. Do not discontinue medication or hormone replacement therapy without consulting your prescribing physician.