3 Reasons to Take Calcium-D-Glucarate

Your liver works hard for you. Even if you don’t drink alcohol or work amongst harsh chemicals, the toxins you inadvertently breathe, eat, drink, and even slather on your skin are a burden on your liver and this can start to take its toll on your energy and performance over time. Environmental toxins can even mess with your hormone balance and make it hard for you to lose fat.

Your liver is always filtering toxins – that’s its job. But there are some things you can do to support this process. Which brings me to one of my favorite, most targeted supplements for everyday detox: calcium-d-glucarate.

It can decrease LDL cholesterol and remove toxins and excess estrogen. Excess estrogen can be a problem for just about anyone, but an even bigger problem for obese (or formerly obese) people.

To understand why CDG works, you have to understand a little biochemistry.

How the body gets rid of toxins

One of the ways the body gets rid of toxins is through a process called conjugation. During conjugation, toxins are packaged into water soluble compounds called glucuronides. Being water-soluble, glucuronides can be eliminated through the feces or the urine. However, high levels of an enzyme called beta-glucuronide can inhibit this process. This enzyme separates toxins from their conjugate bond and allows them to be reabsorbed. This allows toxins to keep circulating in the body where they make you feel, in a word, blech.

Calcium-d-glucarate prevents beta-glucuronide from disturbing this process.  It keeps the toxins bound inside a glucuronide which is then removed from the body.  Toxins are most damaging in their free form, which is why you want them to be bound (conjugated) and released from the body.  Calcium-d-glucarate inhibits beta-glucuronidase which allows toxins to be removed.^[1]

Calcium d glucarate benefits

Calcium-d-Glucarate (CDG) is a natural substance produced by all mammals, including humans. Small amounts are also found in fruits and vegetables. Early humans were able to get enough calcium-d-glucarate from their own production since they ate relatively low amounts of toxins and lived in a clean environment. As toxin exposure has increased, humans need more calcium-d-glucarate to help excrete the extra toxins.

There is no *technical* deficiency of calcium-d-glucarate because it is not essential. However, humans produce small amounts, so it’s easy to not have as much as you might need.

Here are three reasons calcium-d-glucarate is a seriously useful supplement.

1. Liver detox

When calcium-d-glucarate is taken orally, it’s metabolized into glucaric acid.  This is the active form of calcium-d-glucarate and the one produced naturally by the body.^[2] Glucaric acid is not available as a supplement by itself which is why you have to buy calcium-d-glucarate.

2. Removing excess estrogen

High levels of beta-glucuronidase increase the level of circulating unconjugated estrogen. This means estrogen that would have been excreted is now able to bind to more receptors. This can cause increased tissue growth, inability to lose fat, and even man boobs.

High estrogen is also a problem for men. Whether you’re a man or woman, calcium-d-glucarate may help maintain proper hormone balance.

3. Decrease LDL cholesterol

Despite the numerous health effects of a paleo diet, one of the mysterious negative effects seems to be elevated LDL cholesterol.  Paul Jaminet wrote an excellent post on this topic where numerous people said they experienced high LDL levels.

Not only is total cholesterol increased, but it’s LDL cholesterol.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as long as it’s pattern-A LDL (large, puffy, non-atherogenic).  However, since being Bulletproof means doing everything possible to ensure optimal health, this is something that needs to be dealt with.

When cells are stressed or damaged, they need cholesterol for repair.  As Dr. Jaminet also pointed out, high LDL levels are needed to repair damaged tissue.

In rats, CDG lowers total cholesterol by up to 14 percent, and LDL cholesterol by up to 35 percent.^[3] The mechanism by which this happens is still being determined by researchers.

Dosage and possible side effects

Recommended dose: A normal detox dose is 500-1000 mg. People with high estrogen may benefit from taking as much as 3000-4500 mg a day – ask your doctor before adding any supplement to your regimen.

CDG can interact with alcohol and some drugs that act on the liver, like statins. WebMD has the full list of possible interactions listed here.

Time taken: Doesn’t really matter.

By taking this supplement, you can help your liver remove toxins, especially excess estrogen, and possibly lower your LDL and total cholesterol.

For more supplements I recommend for nearly everyone, check out this post.