Binders. You've heard of them, probably seen them for sale, you see people talking about them online, but what exactly are they, and most importantly, do you need them?
Think of binders as sponges that travel your body soaking up toxins as they go. Many binders stay in the intestinal tract to work at grabbing the copious amount of toxins from viruses, parasites and bacterial infections in the gut. Other binders are small enough to go systemic and can even cross the blood-brain barrier to pull metals and other toxins from the brain. This is especially important when working with children who have vaccine damage.
Binders work by grabbing onto potentially harmful molecules, things like heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, parasite by-products, viruses, metabolites of bacteria, fungus, plastics, solvents and more.
If you don't bind these toxins, they are reabsorbed from the bile in the colon only to recirculate again, adding more work for the liver to process and attempt to excrete again. This cycle continues even as you accumulate more toxins, creating an even more significant burden on your liver and gallbladder. This is why liver and gallbladder support is one of the first steps to detoxify and heal the body.
Okay, this sounds easy, right, get a binder, and you're good to go? Actually, no, different toxins require specific binders. Some binders will work with multiple toxins, but some are much better at a job than another binder. Some binders target heavy metals very well, but you wouldn't use those for mycotoxins, for example. You need to know what you're dealing with (get proper testing done) so that you can choose your binders wisely. There are great binder complexes on the market though that can cover many bases at once.
Most used binders
- Zeolite
- Silica
- Clays
- Chitosan
- Modified citrus pectin
- Humic and fulvic acid
- Charcoal
- Chlorella
Free toxin test
Binders aren't just for the chronically ill; they're for anyone that has a buildup of toxins. Want to do a free toxin test? Okay, follow these steps closely:
- Take a deep breath and exhale.
- Put your first two fingers on your neck to check for a pulse. The wrist is fine as well.
- Do you have a pulse?
- If you did, you have a buildup of toxins.
- If you didn't have a pulse, you don't have to worry about your toxic load :P
Whether you're dealing with Lyme, mold, CIRS, fatigue, gut issues or don't live in a pristine bubble, you're affected by toxins. You should absolutely be 'mopping up the garbage' while 'cleaning your house,' your body needs the help.
Matthew Kelly
Detoxification Specialist
Functional medicine practitioner
