Our world is beautiful, but it is also, unfortunately and overwhelmingly due to human meddling, increasingly toxic. The chemicals from our environment enter into our bodies through our lungs, our gastrointestinal system, and our skin. They settle in our tissues, including our fat, liver, bone marrow, muscles, brain, and joints. Once inside, they interfere with our bodily functions, thereby making it more challenging for our cells, tissues, organs, and systems to behave properly.
Becoming healthier includes making an active daily choice to reduce one’s “toxic burden,” which is defined as the total accumulation of toxins in the body. Signs of toxic burden in the body include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other gut disorders, neurological disorders, autoimmune challenges, hormonal disorders including hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, and diabetes, infertility, chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia, headaches, multiple chemical sensitivity, and inflammatory disorders.
The typical ways for toxins to be eliminated from our bodies are via our skin, lungs, large intestine, and kidneys. The better these organs function, the more easily they can help to remove chemicals from the body. But,…..as to the REAL trick to staying low-tox in this toxic world? Avoid the toxins in the first place!
Here’s how:
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Eat clean food. As in, real food (not the kind my kids call “chemical food”), grown without fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, etc.
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Drink clean, filtered water. A 2017 study found that 94% of water in the US is contaminated with plastic fibers! Ughhh.
- Breathe clean air. Throw out the chemical air fresheners, room deodorizers, and artificially scented candles. Spend more time outdoors, on the beach or amidst the trees.
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Be selective with your cleaning and body care products. Use organic products when possible. Labels don’t usually tell the whole story; opt for products from companies that you trust, or make your own cleaning products. If you’re really daring, you could make your own body and hair products, too!
Seasonal cleansing is the cornerstone of reducing one’s toxic burden. Cleansing should not be an afterthought anymore; it’s essential for health. There are many ways to cleanse, including undergoing modified water fasts, juice cleanses, simple food or broth cleanses, and protein powder-based cleanses, to name a few. However, be careful with cleansing, and consult your healthcare practitioner before embarking on an audacious detox.
Every teeny step we take to reduce our exposure to toxins and improve our elimination of them can enhance our health and make us more resilient and vital. So, be judicious about what you eat, drink, and breathe. And don’t forget to detox!
