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FEATURED SUPPLEMENT
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UltraClear Renew
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UltraClear Renew is, in my opinion, the single most valuable tool for detoxification. It is a medical food that is designed to support the body's detoxification systems. It is a hypoallergenic combination of healthful protein, carbohydrate, fat, fiber, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and plant extracts, all chosen for their beneficial effect on detoxification. It is fortified with fractions of hops, which increase the production of a biochemical that helps to rid the body of mercury and other metals. Needs vary from case to case, but if I could only use one product for detoxification, this would be it.
Call my office for more information or to order UltraClear Renew.
(516) 829-1515
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FEATURED LAB TEST
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Porphyrins Profile
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The Porphyrins Profile from Metametrix is a unique toxicity test, as it does not provide measures of any toxic chemical. It is however, in my opinion, the single most valuable lab test related to toxicity. What this test does show is whether various toxins are negatively impacting physiology. Porphyrins are biochemicals the body makes for various functions. Toxins can impair the metabolism of specific porphyrins, leading to elevated values. Seven different porphyrins and several ratios are provided with this test of a single urine specimen. Specific patterns of porphyrin elevation indicate toxic influence of different chemicals. Mercury, lead, arsenic, aluminum, dioxin and PBBs are some of the toxicities evaluated with this test.
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DR. DEBÉ'S UPCOMING LECTURE:
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"The Natural Management of Autoimmune Diseases"
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at Wild By Nature Market
369 West Main Street
Huntington, NY
Tuesday June 5th at 7:00 PM
Please reserve a seat:
(631) 424-6480
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DR. DEBÉ'S UPCOMING LECTURE:
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"The Natural Management of Autoimmune Diseases"
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at Wild By Nature Market
2709 West Long Beach Road Oceanside, NY
Thursday June 7th at 7:00 PM
Please reserve a seat:
(516) 764-3580
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DR. DEBÉ'S UPCOMING LECTURE:
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"The Many Faces of Gluten Sensitivity"
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at Wild By Nature Market
2709 West Long Beach Road Oceanside, NY
Thursday June 14th at 7:00 PM
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(516) 764-3580
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DR. DEBÉ'S UPCOMING LECTURE:
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"All You Need to Know About Detoxification"
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at Flushing Library
41-17 Main Street
(Rooms A & B, Lower Level)
Flushing, NY
(718) 661-1200
Wednesday June 20th at 6:00 PM
More details
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DR. DEBÉ'S UPCOMING LECTURE:
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"The Many Faces of Gluten Sensitivity"
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at Wild By Nature Market
369 West Main Street
Huntington, NY
Tuesday June 26th at 7:00 PM
Please reserve a seat:
(631) 424-6480
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"THE DIRTY DOZEN"
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The following foods have been found to have the highest levels of pesticides. Do your best to only consume "organic" versions of these:
Celery
Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Blueberries
Nectarines
Bell Peppers
Spinach
Kale
Cherries
Potatoes
Grapes (Imported)
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Greetings!
Welcome to the May, 2012 issue of NUTRITIOUS BYTES where we ask the question, "Do you need to detoxify?".
Virtually every chronic health condition can be related,at least in part, to toxicity. So, the answer is a resounding, "YES!" |
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Everyone Needs to Detoxify...But How?
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"Detox." It has become a rather popular and very misused word.
It seems to me that if a product or program has the word "Detox" or "Cleanse" connected with it then many people assume it has to be ridding the body of impurities and making the individual healthier. This is not true. Often times the product or program can even be detrimental. A case in point is the "Master Cleanse"- a nutritionally-bankrupt diet consisting of water, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. Great name, terrible program.
What about "colon cleansing"? Is that real detoxification? There are many approaches that may be classified as colon cleansing. The very best of these is incomplete at best. The colon is only one organ of detoxification. Others include the kidneys, lungs, skin, and most importantly, the liver.
In reality, detoxification is a basic biological function that every cell in the body continually performs. The body needs to protect itself from potentially injurious substances and eliminate them. Detoxification is an energy and nutrient-demanding process. Therefore, the cornerstone of detoxification is good nutrition.
There are many different types of toxic substances. What is most obvious are xenobiotics or foreign chemicals. These are the tens of thousands of man-made chemicals that simply did not exist 100 years ago. Extremely small amounts of these chemicals can have damaging effects. How extensive is exposure to these chemicals? A study of umbilical cord blood of ten newborns from U.S. hospitals in 2004 found an average of 200 chemical pollutants, including flame retardants and residues of pesticides that have been banned for thirty years! Environmental toxicity is a major concern.
 | | PCB content of common foods |
Other sources of toxicity include food allergens, dietary sugar-damaged proteins and fats (see the July 2011 Nutritious Bytes), our own hormones and other biochemicals, waste products from the 100 trillion bacteria inhabiting the human intestines, prescription and street drugs, and mercury-containing dental amalgam fillings. A surprising source of toxicity is our own tissues. Fat soluble toxins get stored in fatty tissues of the body. With weight loss, these toxins are released into circulation and the body must be equipped to detoxify and eliminate them. Nutritionally-inadequate weight loss diets commonly leave the body ill-equipped to cope with the surge of toxic chemicals. A lower grade type poisoning may occur from toxic metals like lead being released from thinning bones.
Toxicity can be boiled down to two things: what you are being exposed to and your ability to eliminate what is present in your tissues. We need to take steps to reduce our exposures by drinking and bathing in filtered water (contact my office for a referral to a good water filtration company), perhaps using an air purifier, and eating food that is natural and organic. Choose natural household cleaners as well as personal hygiene and make-up products. See "Everyday Exposures" (below) for more details.
We also need to empower the other half of the "detox" equation: elimination. This is a complex subject but very simply, many nutrients are required to process, neutralize, and eliminate toxins. A nutrient-rich, modest calorie, unrefined whole foods diet is critical. The diet should be rich in plant foods and contain adequate protein - amino acids are perhaps the single most important class of nutrients for detoxification. Eggs, garlic, onions, beans, green tea, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli are a few important foods to power detoxification. A good supplement can add quite a bit to this approach. The product I commonly recommend is AdvaClear. Exercise and stress reduction are also important contributors to the detoxification process.
The preceding recommendations are things to do on a daily basis. For chronic health conditions and for those desiring optimal health, a short duration, intensive detoxification program is needed. This can be done by almost anyone for 1 week or more every year. I have been putting my patients through metabolic detoxification programs for more than twenty years. I recommend a bit more intensive diet and use of a lot of detoxification supplements. One of the most important of these is UltraClear Renew (see left-hand panel). Sauna therapy, Swedish massage, rebounding, and other treatments can further aid detoxification. If testing has been done to identify the presence of specific toxins or involvement of specific body organs, then specific treatments are employed. For example, mercury toxicity is effectively dealt with by ingesting a substance called DMSA.
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Assessing Toxicity
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How Toxic Are You?
Would you like to see if your symptoms indicate a significant degree of toxicity? There is a validated symptom questionnaire that I use in my practice. To access the questionnaire, click here. |
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A Neurological Toxicity Test
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Functional Acuity Contrast Test
The Functional Acuity Contrast Test measures visual contrast sensitivity. It is an objective tool for determining if an individual is suffering neurological effects of toxicity. The test assesses the person's ability to see shades of gray. This ability involves the optic nerve, which is an extension of the brain. The test works like this: A card is held at a certain distance and one eye is tested at a time. The card has rows and columns of circles with gray lines that are arranged at different angles. The intensity of the gray shading varies from circle to circle. The test subject has to state which direction the gray lines are pointing: straight up and down, up to the left or up to the right. Toxicity has been found to impair the ability to see subtle shades of gray. Published research has demonstrated a connection between failing this test and a variety of toxins, including mercury, lead, styrene, organic solvents, and biotoxins.
I perform the Functional Acuity Contrast Test in my office.
 | | Functional Acuity Contrast Test |
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Laboratory Testing for Toxicity
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There are many different types of laboratory tests that deal with toxicity. Many tests measure levels of environmental chemicals in blood, urine or hair specimens. Some of the tests available include:
- Toxic Element Profile
- Phthalates and Parabens Profile
- Bisphenol A (BPA) Profile
- Organochlorine Pesticides Profile
- PCBs Profile
- Volatile Solvents Profile
- Organophosphates Profile
Then there is a Porphyrins Profile, which measures signs of toxicity (see "Featured Lab Test" on left panel).
Additionally, and very importantly, there are tests that measure the body's detoxification pathways and the nutrients needed to run them. The best profile in this regard is the Individualized Optimal Nutrition Profile.
Lastly, there are also genetic tests, which check for inherited inefficiency in some of the body's detoxification enzymes. Weaknesses identified are partly modifiable through natural means.
 | | Sample Report: Toxic Elements-24 Hour Urine-Chelated |
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Everyday Exposures
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When I bring up the subject of toxicity with some of my patients, they ask me something such as, "Where can I be getting exposed to toxins? I eat organic food, use filtered water, and have a healthy lifestyle." The fact is that we are continually exposed to a multitude of potentially health-damaging synthetic chemicals. To learn about this subject, click the picture below for a great interactive website.
 | | The multitude of everyday toxic exposures |
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Sincerely,
Joseph Debé, DC, DACBN, CDN
Board Certified Nutritionist
38 Great Neck Road
Great Neck, N.Y. 11021
(516) 829-1515
www.drdebe.com
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