Many experts believe that many of the fat-soluble chemicals we ingest daily through food, water, and the environment can become deposited in cells in our bodies. A poor diet can also impair our natural ability to detoxify chemicals, which further leads to their build-up in the body.

This cumulative load, called the “body burden”, is thought to lead to illness and has been linked to hormonal imbalance, impaired immune function, nutritional deficiency, and an inefficient metabolism. Initially, there may be subtle warning signs, such as fatigue, poor skin, and pain.

Lab tests that assess urine, stools, blood, and liver function are available at certain private labs such as Great Smokies Diagnostic Labs. Note that doctors who are not familiar with detox may be reluctant to order these tests.
To become more familiar with symptoms thought to be linked with toxicity, take the Detox Screening Quiz
Benefits of a detox diet
In general, people often report improved energy, clearer skin, regular bowel movements, improved digestion, and increased concentration and clarity. Improvement can also be assessed by measuring markers of disease and laboratory tests.