Becoming pure

Factual Questions
1

Theoretically, if I wanted to remove every toxin I could from my body, what would I need to do? How long would it take?

I figure probably a day to clear out my liver, and up to three days for my intenstines. Sure, it would take awhile to get rid of any tar that might be stuck to my lungs and bad cholesterol that’s plastered across my arteries. That could take years, if it ever does go away.

But, let’s say we’re talking just 99.44% pure here. The abridged version of pure. Supposed I drank nothing but filtered water and ate nothing but chemical free apples for a week. Would that clear my system out? If not, what would?

2

Depending on what medication you take/have taken, it’ll be longer than a day to clear out your liver. I currently take two medications, both of which have a half-life of two weeks or longer (Tegretol is about 2 weeks, Prozac is almost certainly longer).

As to tar in your lungs and cholesterol in your arteries: you’re right, that’ll never completely be flushed out.

Drinking filtered water and eating only chemical-free apples will get you: 1. Indigestion (apples are rather acidic); 2. Possible kidney problems (because of the high simple sugar intake). A balanced vegetarian diet composed entirely of “organically grown” foods would probably be a better choice.

LL

3

Enderw: Theoretically, if I wanted to remove every toxin I could from my body, what would I need to do? How long would it take?

I would be glad to answer, Enderw if you restate your question. As far as I know, there are no “toxins” in your body. Look up “toxin” and ask again.
What do you mean by “tar”? Are you a heavy smoker? Cholesterol is normally made in your body, like insulin, frex. You can’t “get rid” of it. If it’s elevated (<200mg/dl or 6.5mmol/L),it’s possible to lower it with diet and drugs, if it’s normal, some reduction is possible with strict vegetarian diet.

Lazarus, for you:

Pharmacokinetics: Carbamazepine is administered orally. Absorption of carbamazepine from the GI tract is slow and variable. The suspension is more rapidly absorbed than tablets and should be administered at least every 8 hours. Bioavailability is roughly 85%. Plasma concentrations peak within 4—5 hours after administration of the immediate-release tablets and within 1.5 hours after administration of suspension. Serum concentrations of 4—12 µg/ml are considered to be therapeutic in the treatment of seizure disorders. Several days of therapy may be required to reach steady-state concentrations. Carbamazepine extended-release capsules or tablets taken every 12 hours provide steady-state plasma concentrations similar to immediate-release tablets given every 6 hours. Carbamazepine is lipophilic and appears in CSF, brain, duodenal fluids, bile, and saliva. Carbamazepine has been shown to accumulate in the fetus after crossing the placenta, and it is distributed into breast milk. Concentrations in breast milk reach 60% of serum concentrations. The drug is 76% protein-bound in adults and 57% in children.

Carbamazepine is metabolized in the liver by oxidation to an active metabolite, carbamazepine 10,11-epoxide, which undergoes further metabolism. Carbamazepine is a potent enzyme inducer and can induce its own metabolism; this appears to be mediated via its effects on the CYP3A4 isozyme. Onset of enzyme induction is at about 3 days, with maximum effect at about 30 days. There is high interindividual variability in the extent to which induction occurs. The plasma half-life is 25—65 hours initially and 12—17 hours after repeated dosing. Carbamazepine is excreted in the urine, 72% as unconjugated metabolites and only about 3% as unchanged drug, and the remainder is excreted in the feces

Pharmacokinetics: Fluoxetine is administered orally and is well absorbed from the GI tract. The presence of food can delay the rate of absorption, but not the extent. There may be some first-pass metabolism. Peak plasma concentrations occur in 6—8 hours. Steady-state plasma concentrations of fluoxetine and its principal active metabolite norfluoxetine are achieved in 2—4 weeks. Both fluoxetine and the active metabolite, norfluoxetine, exist as enantiomers. Since these four compounds differ in kinetics and potency, no relationship between serum concentrations and clinical effect has been defined.[719] Fluoxetine is highly protein-bound (94.5%) to predominantly alpha1-acid glycoprotein. The drug is well distributed, and it readily crosses the blood-brain barrier and presumably the placenta. It is distributed into breast milk.

Fluoxetine is demethylated in the liver to several metabolites. The only known active metabolite is norfluoxetine, which appears to be as effective as its parent in the blockade of serotonin reuptake. Fluoxetine has the slowest elimination of the SSRIs. The half-life of fluoxetine is 2—3 days and that of norfluoxetine is 7—9 days. There is considerable individual variation, which may be associated with variance in the rates of N-demethylation and hydroxylation. About 60% of an oral dose is excreted in urine within 35 days, and about 12% of the dose is excreted in the feces within 28 days.

Hepatic impairment can affect the elimination of fluoxetine. The half-life of fluoxetine and norfluoxetine are prolonged to 7.6 days and 12 days, respectively, in those patients with cirrhosis versus healthy controls.

Renal impairment does not appear to affect elimination half-lives of the parent drug and its active metabolite; drug accumulation has not been observed in patients receiving dialysis. Neither drug is substantially removed by hemodialysis

4

Well peace, that was a…um…thorough answer to my question. Thanks.

To further elaborate, imagine that I wanted to implement some sort of Tai Chi program wherein I become pure of mind body and soul. I’m not looking to clear myself of ALL toxins, but let’s say I wanted to get rid of all food additives and as many chemicals as possible. Just completely flush out my system while still maintaining a healthy diet. What would it take and how long would it take? I’m going to assume Twinkies are out.

5

All right, we are making progress here.
I never heard of “Tai Chi”, which sounds like a Chinese thing. Mind and body notwithstanding, “clean body” is a welcome thing. I think I know where you are getting. I assume, you feel no ill effects of any “toxins” now, that you are healthy, in the common sense of the word.
Some chemicalls (e.g.,asbestos) may stay in your body indefinitely, no matter what you do. Most chemicals, though, do not dwell long, since they are water- or fat-soluble and are amenable to ample cleaning capacity of the body.
Coming back to you question: if there are no toxins in your body to begin with, there is nothing “to get rid of”.
If you point me to “Tai Chi” page, I can review it for you, if you are interested in my opinion.
The idea of getting rid of “all” food additives is impractical and not worthy, because not all of them are necessarily harmfull, at least at the amounts consumed. As a matter of common sense, stay away from canned (salty) and processed food (does not taste good, anyway). But do not feel guilty about an occasional drink, or canned salmon, or pastami. I’d like to eat only “healthy” foods, but I want a good steak or something once in a while. After all, eating well does not guarantee a long life (anyone can be struck by a truck), but it will definitely guarantee a dull life.
Lazarus, read the Pit.

6

A couple of semi-related points:

It’s a truism in biology that it’s impossible to do anything completely. You can never kill all the bugs or remove all of the contamination, etc, etc. Real processes work asymptotically, so you can approach completion but never reach it.

Also, I know no one’s mentioned killing all the bacteria in the body yet, but as a preemptive strike I’ll point out that there are many good bacteria in the body, and killing them would be a bad idea.

Carry on.

7

I remember hearing about a health-food guru who told a talk-show host that he was going to live to be 100 “unless he was run over by a sugar-crazed taxi driver.” Right after he said this, he died of a heart attack. He was in his 40’s or 50’s.

8

Diceman, I am so glad you mentioned this. Of course, one case does not prove or disprove anything, but it illustrates my point.
One can ruin one’s healh (by eating junk, or heavy drinking or…there are ways), but “poor health” cannot be “improved” much. It’s more or less genetically determined and “health” eating will maintain what is given to us by nature. An already ruined health can be “brought back” somewhat, if… A very poor and rough analogy: by changing oil and taking good care, one can maintain a car for years, till it rusts away. No amount of grease will extend car’s life. But it’s very easy to destroy a car, if… there are many ways.

9

I would reccommend the following, it may not be the best solution, but it’s a start.

No.1
Get a massage once a week, a good deep tissue, professional massage (No Asian ones :P)

Why?
This helps relieve you muscles of “toxins” deposited from bad food and stress. (note: I use quotes to avoid the use of the definition of toxins from disproving my post)

No.2
Eat plenty of healthy protein, like fish (I like tuna), try to avoid stuff that was fed hormones or chemicals (like most chicken and beef, although it wouldn’t hurt much)

Drink plenty of water, and a good supplement like Met-Rx (one packet a day).

Eat your vegetables and fruits, and stick to a low fat diet, stay away from saturated fats, unsat’s are ok in moderation.
You may want to buy your veggies and fruits from a whole foods place, but it’s up to you.

Why?
Your body needs protein to maintain muscle mass, and other important stuff!

The supplement is so you don’t have to worry about your vitamin intake

The water will help flush you body of bad stuff after excercise, massages, etc.

Fruits have good simple sugars that you need after a workout

Eat your vegetables because your mother told you so.

No.3
Work out by doing some cardio excercise and some non cardio excercise such as running and free-weights (respectively). Do each on alternating days, or whatever makes you comfortable. I tend to lift weights 3-4 days a week, and do cardio when I can.

Why?
Working out will help burn off fat that stores those the stuff you want to get rid of, and give you a nice beach body too.

No.4
Have fun on the weekends, eat what you want, as long as it’s in line with the level of strictness you want to maintain during the week. It’s ok to go one level up on the weekends, like eating desert and stuff, but you sound like you want to go for broke.

If you do this for 6 weeks, I’m sure not only will you feel better, but you’ll look much better and be much more confident about yourself. You may even be able to go pick up that sexy babe you see every morning when your going to work, and when her husband finds out you’ve been violating their marriage, you’ll have the muscles to beat him up!