Detox Now

Whether you want to start 2012 with more energy, lower cholesterol or a smaller waistline, beware: Even your best-laid plans could be destined for failure.

Why? Because while you’ve been enjoying almost six weeks straight of rich food and holiday parties, your liver has been working overtime… leaving your body toxic, tired and overburdened as a result. The bottom line: You can’t expect any success out of your health resolutions in the New Year unless you’ve got a smart detox strategy first.

Now is a critical time to boost your intake of the antioxidant glutathione—a compound that, in its active (or “reduced”) form, binds with and disarms free radicals, heavy metals and other dangerous toxins that wreak havoc on your health.

Your body’s earliest detox efforts deplete your natural glutathione stores—but regular doses of the liposomal form of this nutrient (the most absorbable and effective type of glutathione available) can keep your levels of this highly effective antioxidant replenished at all times.

Next, consider supplementing with a daily dose of milk thistle. The active constituent of this liver-supportive botanical is silymarin—a powerful natural compound with proven antioxidant and free-radical scavenging abilities. Studies show that silymarin can stimulate liver regeneration and protect it from damaging toxic metabolites, while increasing your body’s levels of critical antioxidants, including ascorbic acid, superoxide dismutase and glutathione.

Herbs such as Scutellaria baicalensis and Cynara scolymus (better known as artichoke) deliver added antioxidant defense. Research has revealed that active constituents of the former can aid in detoxification by increasing the transport of chemicals and drugs to your liver, while reducing their toxic effects and supporting glutathione levels.8-9 Meanwhile, artichoke extracts have an equally protective effect on your liver, with studies showing that this botanical can reduce liver cell death, glutathione loss and cholesterol synthesis while increasing crucial bile flow.

Look to a few of the basic antioxidant nutrients for comprehensive detox support. Vitamin C, for example, scavenges free radicals and protects against the reactive oxygen species (ROS) that promote oxidative stress—while n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) restores your liver’s glutathione levels and binds with toxic metabolites. Likewise, the lipid-soluble antioxidant lipoic acid is clinically proven to deliver wide-ranging liver protection, whether you’re struggling with alcohol-induced damage or toxicity from poisoning.

Finally, no detoxification program would be complete without ample fiber intake. Without frequent bowel movements, toxins can stay in your intestines for long periods of time—eventually reabsorbing into your body. Taking a good fiber supplement, on the other hand, can ensure that your body eliminates these toxins efficiently, while boosting beneficial microflora and reducing trouble-causing bacteria in your colon.

Integrating all of these toxin-fighting solutions into your daily regimen throughout 2012 can give you a critical edge as you kick off the New Year.