We often see online the so-called human body detoxification timetable, which claims that there is a specific time for each organ to detoxify. But is it really true? Let's debunk these rumors together!
Rumor 1: Sleeping can detoxify the body
Truth: Not sleeping will only make you look tired.
The idea that sleeping can make you beautiful has been around for a long time, and many people believe it without thinking. This may be because staying up late can make you tired and exhausted. For someone who wants to look good, their appearance will definitely suffer. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that sleeping can make you beautiful.
Rumor 2: 9:00-11:00 Lymphatic detoxification
Truth: The lymphatic system is constantly working.
It is said that from 9:00 to 11:00 every night, the lymphatic system detoxifies, and the immune system becomes active. During this time, you should calm down and listen to music to keep yourself quiet. This will help the immune system efficiently detoxify and increase your immunity.
The author of this rumor may not even understand what the lymphatic system is. Lymphatic fluid is formed when tissue fluid enters the lymphatic vessel. Tissue fluid is the liquid that filters out from the plasma in the capillaries. A normal person generates 2-4 liters of lymphatic fluid every day, roughly equivalent to the plasma volume of the whole body.
The lymphatic system is constantly circulating. The lymphatic fluid from all over the body is collected through lymphatic vessels and enters the right lymphatic duct and thoracic duct, then flows into the veins. The physiological significance of lymphatic reflux is to recover proteins, transport fats and other nutrients, regulate fluid balance, and provide defense and immune functions.
The lymphatic fluid passes through multiple lymph nodes during the reflux process. Inside the lymphatic sinuses of the lymph nodes, there are a large number of phagocytic macrophages that can remove red blood cells, bacteria, and other particles.
This process is happening all the time, and the time from 9:00 to 11:00 is not special for the lymphatic system.
Rumor 3: 11:00 PM - 1:00 AM Liver detoxification
Truth: Liver detoxification only happens when you drink alcohol.
From 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM, the liver begins to detoxify. You should be asleep at this time and not stay up late. If you don't sleep, your liver will be exhausted and damaged.
The liver is the largest gland in the human body. It is not only related to the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, hormones, vitamins, but also has secretion, excretion, and biotransformation functions. The detoxification function of the liver is actually a biotransformation process.
Taking alcohol as an example, 90% to 98% of alcohol is metabolized by the liver (the rest is metabolized by the kidneys and lungs), with a metabolism rate of 100-200 mg/h · kg. For a person weighing 70 kg, the amount of alcohol metabolized per hour is 7-14 g.
The metabolites produced in this process are toxic to the human body. If you want to reduce liver damage, the key is not to drink alcohol.
In terms of liver detoxification function, it is like a part-time job. That is to say, when a person drinks alcohol, the liver will start the detoxification function for alcohol. From 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM, if you haven't drunk alcohol, there is no need for detoxification.
Rumor 4: 1:00 AM - 3:00 AM Gallbladder detoxification
Truth: Bile is produced by the liver, and the gallbladder only stores it and releases it when stimulated by food.
From 1:00 AM to 3:00 AM, it is the time for gallbladder detoxification. At this time, you should continue to sleep to facilitate the detoxification of the liver and gallbladder.
Many people have a misconception about the gallbladder. They mistakenly believe that bile is produced in the gallbladder. In fact, bile is continuously secreted by liver cells. During the non-digestion period, after bile is formed, it flows out through the hepatic duct. Part of it enters the duodenum, and the rest enters the gallbladder for storage and concentration. During the digestion period, the gallbladder contracts and releases bile into the small intestine for digestion.
In other words, the gallbladder needs the stimulation of food to release bile. If the gallbladder only releases bile from 1:00 AM to 3:00 AM, then the person's digestive function would be severely affected.
Rumor 5: 12:00 AM - 4:00 AM Spine hematopoiesis
Truth: Humans do not rely on the spine for hematopoiesis.
From 12:00 AM to 4:00 AM, it is the time for the spine to produce blood. You must be asleep during this time and must not stay up late!
When the fetus is in the womb, blood is produced in the yolk sac during the embryonic period, and then in the liver and spleen. After 4 months, bone marrow begins to produce blood and gradually strengthens. When the baby is born, blood production relies entirely on the bone marrow. If there is hematopoiesis outside the bone marrow in adults, it has no compensatory significance and indicates a disorder of hematopoietic function.
Rumor 6: 3:00 AM - 5:00 AM Lung detoxification
Truth: Coughing is not detoxification, but a reaction to irritation.
From 3:00 AM to 5:00 AM, the lungs begin to detoxify. People who usually cough may experience increased coughing at this time, but they should not immediately take cough medicine to avoid suppressing the rapid elimination of waste from the lungs.
Most of the time, it is correct not to use cough medicine. Coughing itself is not a disease but a reaction to respiratory system diseases, which needs to be treated by addressing the cause. If it is pneumonia caused by bacteria, antibiotics should be used.
The main function of the lungs is respiration, inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide. As for detoxification...try deliberately inhaling a bunch of toxic gases and you will immediately experience severe coughing, regardless of the time.
Rumor 7: 5:00 AM - 7:00 AM Large intestine detoxification
Truth: Go to the toilet when you need to.
From 5:00 AM to 7:00 AM, it is the time for the large intestine to detoxify. This is the best time for you to go to the toilet. If you don't have a bowel movement, it indicates that something is wrong and you may need to go to the hospital to get checked. Find out what the problem is.
Go to the toilet when you need to. If you feel the urge to defecate every day at 4:30 but insist on waiting until 5:00 to go, it is not a problem with your bowel movement function, but rather a problem with your brain.
Rumor 8: 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM Small intestine nutrient absorption
Truth: Don't people eat breakfast during this time? It's obvious!
From 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM, it is the time when the small intestine absorbs nutrients. Before this time, you should have breakfast. Otherwise, your daily nutrition will be lacking. People who are treating diseases should eat before 6:30; those who are maintaining their health can eat before 7:30. I advise those who are not used to eating breakfast to develop the habit of eating breakfast every day, even if it's after 9:00.
The small intestine is indeed the main organ of absorption, including water, inorganic salts, sugar, fat, protein, and cholesterol.
As for the breakfast time, it is the eating time for most people. It is a correct but unnecessary statement. There is no evidence to prove that eating at a different time is harmful. People treating diseases or pursuing a healthy lifestyle do not need to eat at a specific time. This kind of statement is purely alarmist and sensational.
According to the analysis above, it is evident that everyone has their own biological clock, and the human metabolic, excretory, and detoxification systems are very complete. There is no need to deliberately "detox on time".
