The body is a miraculous system that allows for thousands of biochemical reactions and functions to occur simultaneously. As hard as our body works - from fighting a flu to solving a math problem, it accumulates metabolic waste through regular activity. Externally, we can absorb environmental pollutants through our skin and lungs. These are things like chemical by-products, car exhaust, and pesticides.

Toxins are primarily stored in our fat cells. Thankfully, our bodies naturally have a system in which it relies on to eliminate this waste. These are known as detoxification pathways. Our body has two primary detoxification pathways that are utilised in processing toxins and eliminating waste. During the warmer seasons, customers visiting your store may inquire about what supplements they can take to aid in detoxification. They might not be fully knowledgeable about what detoxification truly is (not a juice fast or a quick fix) and might need a nudge in the right direction. In this article, we'll explore ample ways to support our body's natural detoxification pathways and identify the precursors to good health without restrictive dieting or drinking gallons of cold-pressed juice. These can help people feel better, gain mental clarity, experience better digestion, and even help clear up their skin conditions or allergies.

Before we get into detoxification, we must understand what it is that we're detoxifying from. The reason why detoxification is often associated with weight loss is because toxins are stored in our fat. When we lose weight through diet and exercise, our fat cells shrink, and therefore, we excrete the toxins into our bloodstream to be carried out. These toxins include heavy metals (arsenic, lead, mercury), chemicals, excess hormones, and pharmaceutical wastes. These are called toxins because, in large amounts, they can lead to organ damage, cancer, or even fatality.

Our bodies usually do a good job eliminating toxins without us doing anything, but our detoxification pathways can become clogged in some cases. This simply means it's not functioning optimally, making it more difficult to eliminate waste from our bodies. Toxin buildup can show up as constipation, brain fog, anxiety/depression, chronic fatigue, compromised immunity, acne, and rashes.

Similar to the enzymes in our stomach that help process and make nutrients bioavailable; the body employs different enzymes for each part of the detoxification process. Let's get into what those are.

Two Detoxification Pathways and Supporting Enzymes

There are two phases of the detoxification engine. In Phase 1, the toxins are chemically modified in the body into reactive intermediaries. These reactive intermediaries are neutralized in Phase 2, turning into water-soluble particles so they can be excreted from the body. An adequate level of antioxidant support is needed to protect the body from damage potentially caused by the reactive intermediaries in phase 1. An enzyme is a substance that acts as a catalyst for a specific biochemical reaction. Two primary types of enzymes facilitate the processes in phase 1 and phase 2 of detoxification.

CYP1A detox enzymes are phase 1 enzymes responsible for processing hormones, pharmaceuticals, and procarcinogens.
CYP2A detox enzymes are phase 2 enzymes that process pharmaceuticals, environmental toxicants, ketones, fatty acids.

Now this is where it gets interesting.

Certain nutrients act as catalysts to the enzymes themselves, speeding up their ability to metabolize the toxins. New research suggests that polyphenols and diets rich in phytonutrients may offset the toxicity from pollutants and reduce disease risks. Cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, have been shown to increase the activity of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 enzymes. Broccoli and foods rich in the bioflavonoid quercetin (in spinach, apples, and onions) have been shown to enhance activity in CYP2A enzymes.

Another great source of polyphenols is matcha green tea. Matcha is made from tencha leaves, and has around ten times the nutrional potency of green tea leaves in their steeped form. If you’re looking for high quality matcha, look no further than Domatcha, which carries exclusively 100% Japanese grown and produced matcha.


Regarding the antioxidant support we mentioned earlier, think of Glutathione as the head honcho in the liver, which is involved in both phase I and II of detoxification. Remember that the liver is one of the body's most important organs responsible for detoxification.

Chronic inflammation is a result of oxidative stress plus low glutathione levels. Thus, those suffering from chronic inflammation should incorporate nutrients which are precursors to glutathione production.

Glutathione: A master antioxidant and a tripeptide found in the liver that can be supplemented through the diet. Precursors to glutathione production are vitamin B6, minerals like selenium and magnesium, and the amino acid cysteine.


Arcwell Glutathione (Reduced), 500mg/60 caps

Where to find: Arcwell™, a Canadian supplement brand, offers the reduced form of Glutathione. Reduced Glutathione is the active form, which helps ensure optimal bioavailability. Glutathione plays a key role in fighting against oxidative stress and neutralizing free radicals, and supporting detox and immunity.

NAC (N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine): A stable form of the amino acid Cysteine naturally occurring in the human body. NAC is converted into cysteine in the liver and kidneys, then into Glutathione.

NAC has been used to relieve chronic bronchitis and clear excess mucus in the lungs. Studies also show that NAC helps alleviate symptoms and severity of influenza-like symptoms.


Arcwell NAC, 600mg.90 caps

Where to find: Arcwell™ NAC guarantees high purity (>98%) and a dosage that has proven its efficacy.

Resveratrol: Resveratrol has been shown to induce phase II detoxification enzymes CYP1A2 in human studies.


Arcwell Trans-Resveratrol, 250mg/60 caps


Where to find: Arcwell™'s Trans-Resveratrol boasts a >98% purity. Trans-Resveratrol as an active form has been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer effects based on scientific research. It has been proven to enhance cognitive and cerebrovascular functions and support healthy aging.

Brain Detoxification

Have you ever experienced brain fog? This may be induced by a buildup of metabolic waste in the brain. The glymphatic system is responsible for deep cleaning the brain and central nervous system of metabolic waste. An impaired glymphatic system is associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Research shows that the glymphatic system operates exclusively during our sleep cycles. That's why getting adequate rest is crucial for detoxification and keeping our brain and nervous system functioning optimally.

Bottom Line: How is having optimal functioning detox pathways beneficial for your customers?

The benefits of having a properly functioning detoxification system are ample. Take weight loss, for example. As people approach their older years, many are advised by their doctors to shed a few extra pounds to keep stats like bad (LDL) cholesterol or blood pressure low. It can be challenging to lose weight when detox pathways are not optimal. That's why using a combination of diet, lifestyle, and supplementation to support your body's natural detoxification pathways becomes paramount to helping people find relief from adverse symptoms like difficulty losing weight, brain fog, and skin rashes.

Conclusion: Make Detoxification a Lifestyle

The term detoxification has long been mismarketed to promote a lifestyle that involves fasting or restriction. It's time to change the narrative around detoxification; instead of a tactic, we can support it as a natural process in the body. This begins by educating people coming into your stores and asking about it. All it starts with is a conversation to help guide people to the right answers. We can encourage customers to follow a plant-based diet full of phytonutrients to help support the antioxidants that protect our cells from age and environmental damage. We can supplement our diets with nutrients that help expedite or replenish our glutathione stores to aid in both phase 1 and phase 2 of detoxification. When it comes to detoxification, the opposite of restriction is true. Instead, we need abundant nutrients and enzymes to work symbiotically to produce long-term gains for our health, energy, and vitality. Let's make supporting detoxification a lifestyle, not a fad.

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