Our health is dependent on how well we can eliminate toxins. If these toxins are not eliminated via the stool they can be reabsorbed. Binders attach to toxins and make it easier for the body to eliminate them. While no binder will eliminate all toxins, they do play an important role in the detox process. They are also good for maintenance to keep toxins from bioaccumulating in your body.

 

The binders listed below work differently based on an individual’s different phase of treatment, and your specific toxic load. Ask your practitioner which binder would work best for you and get a recommended schedule. Sourcing a high-quality binder is extremely important because inferior binders may contain toxins themselves.

• Bentonite Clay is a consumable clay originating from the ash created by volcanoes. It soaks up toxins, heavy metals, and other harmful materials. (Taking bentonite clay may give you a bloated feeling in your stomach as the clay swells on contact with water. Could cause constipation in some.
• Zeolite is a crystallized mineral created by lava and water. It has a lot more power than any clay. Excellent for mold and mycotoxins as well as mercury. Because zeolite cannot trap large particles, vitamin and mineral levels are unaffected.
• Activated Charcoal has possibly the highest binding capacity and is typically made from either bamboo, hardwood, or coconut shells. Activated charcoal isn’t absorbable by your body, so it passes through the GI tract while taking toxins with it. For external use (acne, wounds, whitening teeth), hardwood charcoal is ideal.
• Chlorella works well for heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, herbicides, and mycotoxins. Chlorella can mobilize metals, so it’s important that you begin slowly and work up to the desired dose. The body’s heavy metal burden will likely need something more than just chlorella.
• Silica is a naturally occurring substance found in the earth’s crust, plants, and some vegetables. It’s made of silicon and oxygen. It’s the most effective binder for removing aluminum from the body. Know that glyphosate binds onto aluminum and carries it straight into our brain, so detoxing glyphosate along with aluminum is important.
• Enterosgel is a silica-based gel used for binding aluminum and has a low affinity for vitamins and minerals. It is also good for binding to gut endotoxins.
• Humic and Fulvic Acids are made of decomposed plant matter and are a potent binder for glyphosate detoxification.
• Modified Citrus Pectin is a powdered fiber supplement that binds most efficiently to lead and other heavy metals, plus helps sweep up biotoxins in the gut caused by mold and other infections.
• CSM Cholestyramine is prescribed by your physician. CSM binds biotoxins in the small intestine which are then excreted in the stool.

One of my favorite binders, GI Detox, is made from 25% activated charcoal and 75% Pyrophyllite clay – a rare clay that is richer in silica and quartz than other clays and works by both adsorbing (adhere) and absorbing (to ‘swallow’ up) chemicals. It also helps restore microbial balance in your gut and is gentle enough to use daily.

Tips:

• Many of these binders will also bind to nutrients, so it’s suggested you take them on an empty stomach either one hour before or two hours after supplements, medications, and food.
• Aflatoxins, a mycotoxin produced by two different species of mold, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus (commonly found in corn, peanuts, grain, soy) are best bound by activated charcoal and bentonite clay.
• Many binders can cause constipation so fiber from vegetables, and chlorella or magnesium citrate, may be helpful. Be sure to drink plenty of water with binders.
• Taking binders before bed can mean a deeper sleep because binders reduce reabsorption of toxins from the gut, reducing the burden on our liver, which is especially active between 1-3am. Anything that overburdens the liver tends to interfere with sleep and binders reduce one of the main burdens – toxins being reabsorbed from the gut.
• Use a broad spectrum of binders.
• Binders can also be helpful after imbibing in unhealthy foods or a little too much alcohol. 😉

Consult with your practitioner before starting binders.