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What are the key ingredients and mechanisms behind Dr. Mark Hyman's recommended detoxification supplements and diets?
Executive summary
Dr. Mark Hyman’s detox approach centers on a food-first 10‑day plan emphasizing cruciferous and sulfur‑rich vegetables, elimination of certain foods, and a hand‑picked supplement stack that highlights glutathione support, vitamin C (often liposomal), liver‑support blends, and nutrients to balance blood sugar and digestion [1] [2] [3]. His commercial offerings bundle recipes, coaching and a supplement kit intended to “optimize” detoxification while claiming support for liver, GI and phase‑I/II enzyme pathways [4] [3] [2].
1. The dietary backbone: whole foods, crucifers and sulfur foods
Hyman’s program foregrounds a strict short‑term dietary reset built from whole foods that “take out the wrong foods and focus on the right foods,” with daily intake of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, kale, collards, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower) and garlic/onions to supply sulfur — nutrients Hyman says help drive endogenous detox pathways, especially glutathione production [5] [1] [6].
2. What the diet removes and why: an elimination strategy to reduce toxic load
The 10‑Day Detox repeatedly frames itself as removing “hidden ingredients” and common offenders in the Standard American Diet to balance hormones, reset brain chemistry and reduce cravings; the effect is described as lowering exposures and metabolic stresses that Hyman links to toxin overload and disease [7] [5] [1].
3. Supplement themes: glutathione, vitamin C, liver/GI support and metabolic regulators
Hyman highlights glutathione as a “master detoxifier” and vitamin C as a key cofactor — he frequently recommends liposomal forms for absorption — and points to targeted formulas such as “Liver‑G.I. Detox” and “OncoPLEX Plus Myrosinase” to support detox enzymes and organ‑level clearance [2] [6]. His commercial 10‑Day Detox Supplement Stack is described as chosen to “balance blood sugar, optimize digestion, and reduce toxic load” [3].
4. Mechanisms he cites: boosting enzyme systems, glutathione and chelation
Hyman’s materials explain detoxification as a multi‑organ process (liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, gut, lymph) and emphasize feeding enzymatic systems and glutathione synthesis (made from cysteine, glutamine, glycine) via sulfur‑rich foods and supplements; he also mentions chelators (DMSA, EDTA) for heavy metals as used in monitored protocols [2] [6].
5. Specific supplement types sold or recommended
The program and site offerings include curated kits and individual products: multivitamin/mineral basics, glutathione (often liposomal), vitamin C, liver support blends, polyphenols and targeted medical‑food supplements — all marketed to work “synergistically” during the 10‑day protocol and to address blood sugar, inflammation and cravings [3] [2] [8].
6. Commercial and coaching context: productized detox with paid support
Hyman positions the detox as both an educational program and a packaged commercial service: a recipe/meal‑plan book, an online course and community, plus a $200‑valued supplement kit and optional coaching or lab‑based personalization. The site explicitly markets convenience (supplements shipped) and extra services such as live calls or lab optimization [4] [9].
7. Scientific framing and claims: from “science‑based protocol” to functional medicine narrative
Materials repeatedly use language like “science‑based protocol,” and Hyman frames the plan within functional medicine’s focus on root causes and longevity; his pieces link foods and nutrients to biochemical processes (e.g., glutathione production, methylation support) and claim clinical benefits such as reduced cravings and improved energy [3] [2] [7].
8. What the available sources do not address or quantify
Available sources do not provide primary clinical trial data, specific dosages for most supplements in the public product descriptions, nor independent efficacy or safety studies for the full 10‑day stack — beyond product and program claims, external validation is not cited on the pages provided (not found in current reporting).
9. Practical takeaways and caveats for readers
Hyman’s detox combines dietary elimination, sulfur‑ and crucifer‑rich foods to support glutathione, plus supplements targeted at liver/GI detox and metabolic balance; the program is sold as a bundled, coached experience and emphasizes productized supplements [1] [3] [4]. Readers should note that the materials emphasize functional‑medicine explanations and product solutions; the sources here do not show randomized controlled trials or independent safety assessments for the marketed supplement kit (not found in current reporting).
Sources referenced: Mark Hyman site pages on the 10‑Day Detox, detox foods, supplement stack and related blog posts [4] [2] [1] [3] [6] [5] [9] [7].