Most “detox” advice backfires.

People end up starving the liver of what it actually needs to detox.

You don’t detox by restriction. You detox by supporting biochemistry.

Let's say you're following a low-carb diet trend at the moment, here's what really happens: when carbohydrates stay too low, the liver switches to gluconeogenesis. It begins converting amino acids like glycine and glutamine into glucose - the same amino acids required for Phase II detoxification: glutathione conjugation, sulfation and glucuronidation.

The result is a liver that’s overworked but under-resourced, slowing down toxin clearance, hormone recycling and bile flow.

Strategic carbs = strategic detox.

Fuel the pathways, not the trends.

Phase II detoxification demands energy. Without enough glucose, the body protects the brain, kidneys and red blood cells first. Detox comes last.

That’s why balance isn’t 'soft science' - it requires biochemical precision.

Most people think “detox” is about removing toxins or sugar or whatnot.

While I routinely screen for environmental toxins it is by large also a matter of nutrient starvation that makes us soak up these toxins like sponges. In reality, it’s about providing substrates - amino acids, glucose, sulfur donors, and cofactors like B-vitamins - that enable the liver to conjugate and eliminate waste efficiently.

The real question isn’t “How do I detox?”

It’s “What am I missing that prevents my body from doing it naturally?”

(And granted checking your environment for major sources of exposure.)

Below is toxic load measure for one of many clients who arrive with a high toxic load - often without knowing it - coming in because they are experiencing a cascade of symptoms, including digestive distress. Most have tried every diet imaginable in search of relief. While low-carb approaches can bring short-term improvement, they rarely address the root cause. In fact, certain genetic transporter defects make some individuals worse on such diets. Unless you’re testing the full range of biomarkers - from detoxification to hormonal and microbiome balance - you have no real insight into whether your approach is working for you in the long run.