Binders are the garbage men of the body. The liver will transform toxins and send them to the gut in bile so that they can be excreted. However, sometimes these toxins stick to bile and they cannot be excreted from the body. This means that as bile is recycled it still holds the bound toxins and carries them back to the liver – this adds to the body’s total toxic load.
Binders are a popular choice when addressing mold mycotoxins as they are able to bind the toxins in the bile so that the toxins are carried out in the faeces.
Preparation First
Some people can be sensitive to binders, which is why we want to prepare the body for using binders and also ensure that mold avoidance has been achieved. If you are in a safe living environment, you are avoiding moldy foods in your diet and you are pooping, peeing and sweating, it might be time to add in some binders.
Reactions To Binders
I have some clients who can take binders and experience no side-effects or symptoms. I have other clients who are generally supplement sensitive and need to build up the dosage of their binders very slowly. This is when it can be helpful to work with a practitioner who can monitor and support you through the process.
If you react to your binders, depending on the severity of the reaction, you can either reduce the dosage or increase drainage support (sweating, dry brushing, drinking plenty of water) or both.
It can be a normal part of the process to experience some reactions as you clear toxins from your symptoms. For example, you may notice that you have a bit more energy or clearer thinking (i.e. brain function) but your skin is worse or your bowels are looser. This could be a side effect of your body clearing toxins, through the skin or gastrointestinal system. The brain is one of the most important systems in the body so if you are feeling better cognitively, even if there are a few niggles elsewhere, this is a sign you are on the right track.
If you have a big upswing in “brain symptoms” such as brain fog or fatigue then you may need to back off and slow the process down.
How To Take Binders
Binders should be taken 2 hours away from main meals and therefore take first thing in the morning or last thing at night can work well. If you use a sauna, take 30 minutes before the sauna.
What Are The Best Binders To Take?
The table below is from the “8 Binders for Mycotoxins” article on the Great Plains Website. Here it suggests that certain binders may be beneficial for certain types of mycotoxins and therefore, your test results should be able to help you decide which binders may be best for your specific case.
Personally, I use the Cell Core products a lot in my practice and I have had good success with their Carboxy product in clients testing positive for mold mycotoxins. The benefit of this product is that it is a powder so you can titrate the dosage for sensitive individuals. You can use my invite code for Amrita Nutrition to purchase this product in the UK, an receive 10% off; 2IF3B6
How Long Should You Take Binders For?
I normally recommend a period of 3 months, after which I may move a client onto an anti-microbial protocol and possibly use weaker binders like probiotics for ongoing support. We may choose to retest at 3 or 6 months to assess the efficacy of the protocol. If a retest does not show progress we may need to consider ongoing exposure or ongoing colonisation.
Nutrient Deficiencies
In addition to toxins, binders can bind “good things” that we want to keep in the body. Therefore, I like to recommend that my clients continue with a B-complex and Multi-mineral or multi-vitamin supplement while taking binders. A NutrEval or Organic Acids test can be a useful tool to monitor nutritional status.
Conclusion
Working with binders can be complicated depending on the person. If you feel anxious about doing this on your own or you have been working on a recovery plan but you don’t feel like you are getting the traction that you’d hoped for, I would love to help. You can explore your options for working together here.
