HOW TO REDUCE OUR exposure to toxins
Approximately 9 million deaths per year are attributable to toxins. (Dr. Mark Hyman)
It’s a New Year! The promise of better days ahead! A clean slate! For most, this is also the time of year that we take stock in all that is good in our lives and re-evaluate and let go of the things that no longer serve us. One of those things we MUST do a better job at is re-evaluating and implementing ways to reduce our toxic load.
Did you know that approximately 9 million deaths a year are caused by toxins? (According to reporting done by Dr. Mark Hyman on the subject.) Genetics aside, environmental toxins and toxins in our food sources are the two biggest contributors of disease. Everyday, each of us is exposed to hundreds of toxic chemicals: in the air we breathe outside and inside our homes; in the chemicals we use to clean our homes; in pesticides; in personal care and beauty products and cosmetics and in the foods we eat and even in the water we drink! This reality check may make one feel both overwhelmed and hopeless. Where does even the motivated person even begin to unpack this? Is it possible to totally eradicate our exposure to toxins? The unfortunate truth is no: we cannot completely eliminate toxin exposure, BUT we can take steps to mitigate it. So what are some things one can do to help diminish one’s toxic load? The following are some easy changes we can all make.
Let’s dive in!
FORTIFY YOUR GUT HEALTH: Eating clean, whole, unprocessed, sustainably grown food is important to overall good nutritional health. This is also the basic building block of the body to establish resilience against toxins. When we take measures to fortify our gut health we give our gut and our liver the best chance at being effective at detoxification. The micronutrients in whole unprocessed foods help our body process chemicals it contacts. Within whole foods, special ones to be sure to include are cruciferous vegetables such as kale, broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, and sauerkraut. These plants up-regulate our anti-oxidant defenses and anti-inflammatory pathways.
AVOID ALL PLASTIC CONTAINERS FOR BOTH FOOD STORAGE AND WATER: People are getting more savvy to the fact that plastic is just not good for us. But what about if it's “BPA safe?” Unfortunately, that’s still not good enough! Plastics contain as many as 15 endocrine disrupting chemicals including BPF and BPS. Habits are hard to break. Grabbing that plastic water bottle and running out the door is convenient. Instead opt for glass, aluminum or ceramic for water bottles and for storage containers. These are readily available on Amazon. It’s not always easy but, be the unicorn! Be the trendsetter and carry containers that won’t make you and your loved ones unwell because yes–these little things add up and can make a big difference.
AVOID UNNECESSARY CHEMICALS AND PESTICIDES IN YOUR HOME: When you can, opt for things like vinegar and water to clean. Avoid toilet cleaners, oven cleaners or heavy duty degreasers that contain hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, sodium or potassium hydroxide or ethanolamines. These chemicals can cause skin burns, blindness, and lung irritation. If you must use these chemicals, always wear gloves and open a window to better ventilate the space. Cleaning products can release a plethora of chemicals into the air including ones linked to asthma, developmental harm and cancer. Always check the label to be sure the products are fragrance free and free of triclosan and quaternary ammonium compounds. These chemicals are also associated with asthma and reduced fertility and birth defects in animals. In addition, don’t use air fresheners (so easy to make your own: equal parts water/rubbing alcohol and essential oils) and avoid scented cleaning or laundry products that don’t disclose their fragrance ingredients on the product label. These products can trigger allergies and often contain suspected endocrine disrupters such as phthalates and synthetic musks. Do your best to only use a product as strong as you need for the job. Use a mild product for daily or weekly cleaning and a stronger cleaner if necessary for less frequent, deeper cleaning. Choose wisely and selectively! Here is a link to Branch Basics a clean product line I have been using in my home: https://branchbasics.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=14227462503&utm_content=126227685032&utm_term=kwd-355230596850&gclid=CjwKCAiAs8acBhA1EiwAgRFdw5xdvxOED897jA_zjZDxVoRI7IuKNS1cgbWiFNYI4BATNR-bi0TZIxoCE8UQAvD_BwE
BE SELECTIVE WITH YOUR PERSONAL CARE AND BEAUTY PRODUCTS: this may be a more difficult one for some people to adopt, however you don’t have to overhaul everything today! Take an inventory of the products you use. Look at their labels-see for yourself. Decide which products you are willing to swap out for a healthier/cleaner choice. Maybe this is your deodorant or toothpaste. Start there! Look for brands with fewer ingredients and things you can recognize and pronounce. Perhaps you opt for Coconut oil as your new go-to moisturizer. There are lots of clean products available, you just have to be willing to look!
SUPPLEMENTS: always consult with your doctor before starting any supplements. The following are several suggestions of supplements that boost our body’s ability to process toxins: Vitamin C; Curcumin; Probiotics; Vitamin E.
AIR FILTRATION: air filtration systems have been studied to be effective at mitigating the effects of toxins.
SAUNAS: This is a great form of self care and is also excellent to aid the body in detoxification.
The bottom line is this, you don’t have to do everything all at once! Pick one or two things that you know you can easily do. As is true for most things when it comes to change: it must be easily doable, therefore repeatable, in order to be sustainable. So go slow, but go! This is not a problem any of us can continue to ignore. We can do better. We must do better for ourselves and for our families.