There are many factors that can bring toxins into the body and disrupt microbiome and gut health. Intestinal binders are used to excrete these toxic chemicals and play a critical role in healing infections and reducing symptoms associated with certain diseases. Read on to learn more about removing toxins with intestinal binders.

Symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, joint pain, muscle aches, shortness of breath, poor memory, and skin irritations can be associated with certain diseases brought upon by toxins. Whether it’s a result of a vector-borne illness like Lyme disease or mold found in food or your environment, these toxic chemicals need to be eradicated from your system to reduce symptoms and improve health. If you have been experiencing certain symptoms that seem abnormal, then intestinal binders are a beneficial strategy to consider. Numerous studies have shown that intestinal binders can clear toxins from your body and reduce symptoms associated with certain diseases. Read on to learn more about the benefits of intestinal binders!

Importance of Gut Health

Gut health is a key component in living a healthy, happy lifestyle. Unfortunately, the general population faces various types of digestive issues that lead to unhealthy guts, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, indigestion, bloating, or diarrhea. These negatively impact the mental, physical, and emotional health of an individual because of the gut-brain connection. This connection suggests that the gut and brain are interconnected; thus, when the gut is undergoing complications, your intestines send a message to the brain and cause feelings of stress, anxiety, and sadness. The frustrating part about having digestive issues is that it can be challenging to find a solution to the problem. Since gut health is the foundation of improved gastrointestinal (GI) tract functionality, it’s important to fuel your body with the right nutrients and rid yourself of any harbored toxins or heavy metals. This can be obtained by incorporating intestinal binders into your wellness plan.

What Are Intestinal Binders?

Intestinal binders assist in detoxification protocols within the body. They function by binding to the toxins so that they can be passed through the digestive tract and be eliminated, effectively leaving no trace of toxins behind. Some examples of intestinal binders include:

  • Activated charcoal: This is found in food, toothpaste, personal care items, supplements, and more. It involves the heating of carbon-rich materials—bone char, coconut shells, coal, sawdust, wood, or peat— to very high temperatures. This heating process helps to prevent certain types of poisonings from being absorbed into the body.
  • Chitosan: This comes from the harder outer skeleton of certain types of shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster, and crab. Its medicinal properties help to control and prevent high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, and other types of health-related diseases. Its function is to bind to fat and cholesterol in the digestive tract, which can play a role in reducing gut health complications.
  • Bentonite clay: This clay forms when a paste is mixed with water, essentially creating a soft-textured clay. It can be found in certain types of skin products or added to foods and beverages to help remove toxins from the body.
  • Zeolite: Found in minerals that are made up of aluminum and silicon compounds with high absorbency and ion-exchange capacity. This means that they can be used as detoxifying, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory agents to benefit overall health and well-being.
  • Chlorella: Chlorella is a type of algae that contains high amounts of protein, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber—all critical components to improve gut health. Since chlorella is a living organism, it’s trained to bind specifically to toxic metals (not essential minerals), making it have a high affinity for herbicides, pesticides, mycotoxins, and heavy metals. Also referred to as a “superfood,” chlorella has shown to be beneficial for promoting weight loss, reducing risk of cancer and other diseases, and boosting immunity.
  • Biosil: This is found in supplements that contain choline and silicon (two minerals that help to strengthen hair and nails). It also improves bone and joint health.
  • Fiber: This plant compound is found in various foods and supplements that are rich in vitamins and minerals. Boosting your intake of fiber-rich, plant-powered foods can also improve digestive health and eliminate body toxins.

Toxins and Their Long-Term Health Effects

Intestinal binders have been shown to improve gut function while ensuring that the body’s inflammatory response to infection is optimal. While there are numerous types of diseases and toxins that can have a negative impact on health, let’s focus on Lyme disease and mycotoxins.

Lyme disease is one of the most common vector-borne diseases in the United States. The cause of Lyme disease is generally a result of a bite from a tick with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. This infection is dangerous if left untreated because it can spread to the heart, joints, and nervous system. The symptoms generally associated with Lyme disease include fever, fatigue, headache, and skin rash.

Mycotoxins are naturally-occurring toxins that can be produced by molds grown on a variety of food products, produce or in water damaged buildings. These types of molds and fungi can be life-threatening, as it enhances immune deficiency and risk of cancer. Exposure to mycotoxins can be achieved in three ways: indirectly from animals that have eaten contaminated foods, directly from contaminated foods, or inhaled from your environment. This is a concerning issue because studies have shown that there are long-term effects associated with people who have been exposed to mycotoxins one way or another. Therefore, precautions should be taken when consuming certain types of foods along with incorporating foods that are less prone to containing mycotoxins. If you are suspicious of water damage in your home or workplace, mold testing is always an option. To learn about testing yourself or your environment, book a free discovery call here!

Effect of Intestinal Binders on Diseases

Microbial contamination can be found in various types of environments, so it’s important to understand how to minimize toxins or molds that can negatively affect digestive health. This is where knowledge about intestinal binders comes into play. Intestinal binders are a natural treatment method that play a crucial role in supporting the restoration and healing from lingering infections, such as Lyme disease and mycotoxins. To reduce these threatening issues, intestinal binders are beneficial components that prevent the recirculation of toxins between the gut, liver, and bloodstream when they bind with toxins in the gut.

If you are experiencing some common symptoms associated with vector-borne illnesses or toxins (such as shortness of breath, joint pain, headache, abnormal heartbeat, fatigue, muscle aches, or immunosuppression), it may be useful to incorporate specific intestinal binders that work best for you. However, before making any changes, seek medical advice from your doctor, healthcare provider, or the team at Pursue Wellness to get an accurate description of your diagnosis, prevention, and treatment method. We will work with you to eradicate symptoms of disease and help avoid any further complications.

To learn more about how to use intestinal binders and reduce toxins in your body, schedule an appointment at Pursue Wellness today!

For other health and wellness content, check out these other blogs:

Self-Love and Detox Tips for When You’re Feeling Burnt Out
Health Benefits of Yoga
Why Should You Work with a Functional Dietitian?
Health Benefits of Meditation

References: