Detox Diets: What Makes Sense for Cancer Patients?

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August 19, 2008 - 4:27 pm email to a friend printer friendly view / write comments

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Dr Bufi

Some cancer patients want to do some kind of detox plan. I am not sure if it is the time of year or just the economy (perhaps both) but this detox issue seems to be cycling back again. Most or all of you have heard me say this before, “Part of my job is to protect you, part of my job is to prevent any type of supplement reaction with any type of cancer treatment.” Understanding mechanisms of detoxification and understand limitations for cancer patients require some basic guidelines.

A narrow definition of detox would be the reduction of the toxic properties of a poisonous substance or simply a biotransformation. A popular definition is enhancement of waste elimination by inducing the release of accumulated toxins from the tissues and facilitation of their subsequent removal from the body. This of course assumes that toxins may build up when elimination can not keep up with production of cellular wastes or absorption of toxins. Most people want to detox after acute or long-term exposure to toxic substances like heavy metals such as mercury or lead, exposure to solvents, long term prescription medications, drug and/or alcohol detoxification. In addition, toxins of daily 21st century life like pesticides, pollution, exogenous hormones, or my relatives back in New York (just kidding Johnny!). The overall goal with all of this is to clean up, get back on track, lose weight, improve skin tone, increase energy, promote longevity, decrease risk of all sorts of disease.

Detox is nothing new for the purification processes have been associated with religious and cultural events around the world for thousands of years.

The types of detox programs vary a great deal starting with dietary regimens, fasts, colon cleanses, chelation, herbal detoxification. There are also organs of detoxification: liver, kidneys, colon, skin, lungs, blood.

It actually appears that most people’s natural detoxification systems work very efficiently and do not need the assistance of detox. I feel that most of the advertised detox systems are potentially more harmful than beneficial. It is actually possible to overburden the natural detoxification systems (e.g. liver enzymes). Some of these detox products have very little if any scientific evidence or studies.

The potential for harm could be from extreme diets that incorporate very low caloric intake. This could induce ketoacidosis (from fasting, low protein intake), could cause muscle wasting and loss of muscle mass (negative nitrogen balance), or create too-rapid detoxification which can mobilize stored toxins (sore throat, headache, nausea, skin rash).

There are many unnecessary “detox” systems marketed to cancer patients and some are even proclaimed as “alternative” cancer treatments. Many are deficient in some essential nutrients, many are very low in protein, and almost all are not worth their grandiose costs.

So for anyone who has or has had cancer please keep the following detox information in mind:

Fasting is potentially very dangerous for cancer patients/survivors.
Negative protein balance leads to muscle wasting.
Diets need to be specific to each person.
Do not attempt detox during treatment.
Do not attempt to detoxify too quickly.
Do not attempt to detox without medical supervision.

Also, many detox programs promote use of laxatives which is also potentially dangerous due to the potential for dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.

Some basic detox guidelines are:
Remove common sources of chemicals: pesticides, hormones, caffeine, alcohol.
Remove common allergens (stresses immune system)
Ensure good digestion and elimination (no constipation)
Maintain a balanced diet with plenty of protein
Moderate exercise
Detox should be individualized for each person

In summary, commercial detox programs often promote fasting and are therefore potentially dangerous for cancer patients and cancer survivors. Detox programs can be way overpriced, expensive. A gentle, balanced detoxification program, customized for you, is a good option, long after treatment is completed. I ask/tell/insist my patients to wait at least six months.

Be mindful and be well,

Patrick Bufi ND

Posted in: Alternative Cancer Treatments, Naturopathic Medicine/CAM                     email to a friend printer friendly