endo-protocols

Week 2 — Activation (Days 8–14)

Goal: Now that inbound load is reduced, activate the Phase 2 estrogen clearance pathways. This is where the protocol does its heaviest mechanistic work.

🛑 Don’t start this week until Week 1’s eliminations are sustainable. Stacking active support on top of unchanged dietary inputs is less effective and can produce uncomfortable “detox” symptoms.


What you’re adding this week

   
💊 Phase 2 supplement stack Methylation cofactors (B12, B6, folate, magnesium), glutathione precursors (NAC), Phase 2 inducers (sulforaphane, milk thistle, curcumin, DIM) — all practitioner-confirmed
🥤 Protein-fiber shake AM + PM, mirrors the Core Restore kit structure; supports binding/elimination
🥦 Cruciferous + sulfur foods daily Doubled emphasis vs. Week 1
🔥 Sauna 3x this week Plasma volume + lipid-soluble clearance
🏃 Movement Add 1–2 Zone 2 cardio sessions (30 min, conversational pace)
📋 Tracking Continue daily log; note any shifts in HRV/recovery

Why Week 2 is the activation week

In Week 1, you reduced inbound load. Now the liver has bandwidth. Phase 2 enzymes are nutrient-dependent — they need methylation cofactors, glutathione, sulfur, and Nrf2 inducers to work at full capacity. This week, you’re providing those inputs in concentrated form.

The case-study evidence (homocysteine drop, B12 rise, recovery score increase by Day 5) suggests the active support added to the eliminations produces a measurable physiological shift around Days 4–7 of this week. See biomarker results and the case study for the n=1 evidence.


Daily routine

Morning

  1. Warm lemon water (continue)
  2. AM protein-fiber shake (replace breakfast 4 days/week; eat real breakfast the other 3):
    • 1 scoop clean rice or pea protein (20–25g)
    • 1 tbsp ground flax or chia (fiber + lignans)
    • 1 cup berries
    • ½ avocado or 1 tbsp nut butter
    • 8 oz oat or coconut milk + 4 oz water
    • 1 scoop greens powder if practitioner approves
  3. Phase 2 supplement stack with breakfast (all practitioner-confirmed):
    • Methylated B12 + folate
    • B6 (P5P form)
    • NAC 600 mg
    • Milk thistle / silymarin
    • Vitamin D₃ + K₂
    • Omega-3
    • Magnesium glycinate (if AM dose; otherwise PM)
  4. 30-min walk outside

Midday

  1. Lunch — cruciferous-forward: kale salad with roasted broccoli, walnuts, grilled chicken or chickpeas, olive oil + lemon
  2. Sulforaphane source — broccoli sprouts if you have them, or a supplemental form (practitioner-confirmed) with lunch
  3. Optional: short Zone 2 cardio session — 30 min walking incline, easy bike, easy swim

Evening

  1. Dinner — protein + 2 vegetables + complex carb
    • Continue elimination diet (no gluten/dairy/soy/corn/eggs/sugar/alcohol/caffeine)
  2. PM protein-fiber shake OR a small snack with protein + complex carb (your preference)
  3. DIM (if your practitioner has prescribed) — typically 100–200 mg with dinner
  4. Curcumin (if approved) — 500–1,000 mg with dinner (fat helps absorption)
  5. Calcium-D-glucarate — defer to Week 3
  6. Magnesium glycinate (evening dose if not AM) — 200–400 mg
  7. Sleep routine: phone off 8:30, bed by 9–10 PM

Sauna days (3 this week)


The supplement stack — what each piece does

Reminder: all of these should be reviewed with your practitioner. Dose ranges below are typical functional medicine ranges for context, not prescriptions. Several of these (DIM, sulforaphane extracts) can interact with hormonal contraception — flag with your prescriber if applicable.

Methylation cycle support

Supplement Function Typical dose
Methylcobalamin (B12) Methionine synthase cofactor → SAMe production 500–2,500 mcg/day
5-MTHF (methylated folate) Methyl donor in methionine synthase reaction 400–1,000 mcg/day
P5P (active B6) Trans-sulfuration cofactor → glutathione 25–50 mg/day
Magnesium glycinate Cofactor for >300 enzymes including methylation 200–400 mg/day

Phase 2 conjugation support

Supplement Function Typical dose
NAC (N-acetylcysteine) Glutathione precursor; clears reactive estrogen quinones 600–1,800 mg/day
Sulforaphane (broccoli sprout extract) Nrf2 activator; Phase 2 enzyme inducer 10–30 mg/day
Milk thistle (silymarin) Hepatoprotective; modulates CYP enzymes 150–300 mg/day
DIM Shifts estrogen metabolism toward 2-OH pathway (away from 4-OH) 100–200 mg/day — practitioner-required
Curcumin (phytosome or with piperine) NF-κB modulator; anti-inflammatory 500–1,500 mg/day

Foundational (continue from Week 1)


Food emphasis this week

Daily targets

Category Target Why
Cruciferous vegetables 2 cups/day Sulforaphane + indole-3-carbinol (DIM precursor) — Phase 2 induction
Sulfur-rich foods Daily — onion, garlic, leek, eggs (if reintroduced), cruciferous Sulfation pathway support
Fiber 30–40 g/day Bile-binding + microbiome support
Fatty fish 3x this week Omega-3 + glutathione support
Berries 1 cup/day Polyphenols + antioxidants
Filtered water 2.5–3 L/day Renal clearance + hydration
Green or herbal tea 2–3 cups/day Polyphenols + hydration

Cruciferous quick-prep ideas


What you might notice this week

Days 8–10: real shift starts to show up

Days 11–14: the protocol’s “good zone”

If you experience temporary symptom worsening during this week, it can happen when Phase 1 throughput exceeds Phase 2 capacity (so reactive intermediates accumulate transiently). Usually resolves in 24–48h. If severe or persistent, pull back on the most-recently-added supplement and call your practitioner.


⚠️ Important interactions to flag with your practitioner


End of Week 2 — checkpoint

Before moving to Week 3 — Clearance:

If you’re not seeing wearable improvement by end of Week 2, that’s worth a conversation with your practitioner — it doesn’t mean stop, but it may mean adjusting (e.g., adding food sensitivity testing, checking for SIBO, evaluating sleep apnea, etc.).