Phase 3 of Detoxification

What happens in Phase 3?

Phase 3 is commonly referred to as the waste removal and excretion phase. During phase 3 the conjugates from Phase two, that are now water soluble and have been reduced in toxicity, are ready to be removed from the body. They are pumped into the bile and intestinal lumen to be processed and eliminated. In this portion of detoxification, a healthy gut is imperative.

If you have an imbalance of healthy bacteria vs. bad bacteria (E. Coli, Clostridium) the bad bacteria can produce enzymes like beta-glucoronidase that deconjugate (unbind them) the Phase 2 compounds making them impossible to eliminate, sending them back to be processed again and again by the liver, further increasing a person’s toxic load. This negative feedback loop can be a harbinger of weird symptoms and disease states, which is why proper detoxification is often our doctors first suggestion in treatment.

What natural products can enhance phase 3?

Research has shown that calcium-D-glucarate and glucaric acid found in various fruits and vegetables including oranges, apples, grapefruit and cruciferous vegetables inhibit beta-glucuronidase, thereby supporting detoxification. Silymarin, a constituent of milk thistle, also inhibits the enzyme beta-glucuronidase.