How Loaded Are You?
Are you loaded? Unfortunately, I am not talking about your bank account! Instead, I am referring to your body’s total toxic load. Everyday, we are burdened by toxins in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the foods we eat, the chemicals we absorb, and the negative emotions we feel. If we remain unaware of possible exposures, we will unwittingly continue to expose ourselves.
Let’s review some common everyday compounds that we can avoid:
PHTHALATES and PARABENS: personal care products, fragrances, plasticizers, cosmetics, household chemicals. These disrupt our hormones. Get rid of scented candles, plugins, fabric dryer sheets, softeners, and fragrances. If you would not eat it, do not lather it on your skin.
PESTICIDES: used in farming inorganic foods. Glyphosate is found in GMO foods. It has become so ubiquitous that it is even on organic foods. Glyphosate is a possible carcinogen, endocrine disruptor, and originally was studied as an antibiotic ( therefore, it alters our gut microbiome). Eat organic, GMO free foods.
HEAVY METALS: found in the water supply, dental amalgams, foods, personal care products, cookware. Heavy metals like mercury, lead, and arsenic can disrupt the absorption of important essential minerals like calcium, iron, and zinc. You can use special water filters (reverse osmosis or charcoal filters). Stop using aluminum cookware and aluminum antiperspirants. Larger fish will accumulate higher levels of mercury than smaller fish. Therefore, eat the smaller ones like anchovies, herring, and sardines.
PCB’s, an example of PERSISTENT ORGANIC CHEMICALS: organic materials that do not degrade and, for this reason, persist in our environment for long periods of time and can be found in the air, water, and food. They bioaccumulate which leads to greater levels of POPS in animals further up the food chain. Per the WHO, farm raised salmon has been found to have higher levels than wild caught salmon.
BPA/BPS/BPF: used to harden plastics that are found in plastic food containers, dental sealants, canned foods, thermal receipts. These chemicals are hormone disruptors. Get rid of your plastic containers and opt for glass storage ones. Do not allow hot liquid or food to come in contact with plastic, and do not heat food in plastic containers. Use digital receipts to avoid contact with thermal paper.
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS: gases that are emitted from nail polish, paints, carpeting, pressed wood, furniture finishes, non organic dry cleaning chemicals, and cleaning products. Consider VOC free alternative polishes and paints. Consider a good quality indoor air filter, especially for your bedroom.
EMF’s from WiFi, cell phones, wireless devices, and cordless phones. EMF’s can affect our voltage-gated calcium channels and cause oxidative stress. Distance is your friend! Keep cellular devices far from your body (especially your brain, reproductive organs, and children). Place phones in airplane mode and remove from your bedroom. Consider turning off WiFi at night to improve your sleep. Use wired headphones. Avoid Bluetooth.
MOLD: Water damaged buildings can produce mycotoxins and volatile organic compounds that may disrupt and cause dysregulation within our immune system. This dysregulation leads to a myriad of symptoms in disparate body systems. Buildings must be properly inspected and remediated.
LESSEN YOUR LOAD: Simple Detoxification strategies:
Start by reducing exposures as discussed above. Evaluate the quality of the food and water you consume and the air you breathe.
Sweating: exercise, saunas.
Bowel movements: Aim for regular bowel movements to eliminate toxins. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet.
Epsom Salt Baths: provides magnesium for muscle and relaxation along with sulfation for detoxification.
Detox Binders: Some gentle binders can help eliminate mold toxins and heavy metals.
Replete Key MInerals: Minerals can displace heavy metals. When we have mineral deficiencies, heavy metals can substitute or bind at those minerals’ binding sites affecting function and enzymatic activity.
Support Phase 1 and Phase 2 Detoxification by the Liver: There are some dietary nutrients and vitamin supplements that can help the liver move out toxins.
Intermittent Fasting or Confined Eating Windows: supports detoxification and helps the gut work more efficiently.
Let’s review some common everyday compounds that we can avoid:
PHTHALATES and PARABENS: personal care products, fragrances, plasticizers, cosmetics, household chemicals. These disrupt our hormones. Get rid of scented candles, plugins, fabric dryer sheets, softeners, and fragrances. If you would not eat it, do not lather it on your skin.
PESTICIDES: used in farming inorganic foods. Glyphosate is found in GMO foods. It has become so ubiquitous that it is even on organic foods. Glyphosate is a possible carcinogen, endocrine disruptor, and originally was studied as an antibiotic ( therefore, it alters our gut microbiome). Eat organic, GMO free foods.
HEAVY METALS: found in the water supply, dental amalgams, foods, personal care products, cookware. Heavy metals like mercury, lead, and arsenic can disrupt the absorption of important essential minerals like calcium, iron, and zinc. You can use special water filters (reverse osmosis or charcoal filters). Stop using aluminum cookware and aluminum antiperspirants. Larger fish will accumulate higher levels of mercury than smaller fish. Therefore, eat the smaller ones like anchovies, herring, and sardines.
PCB’s, an example of PERSISTENT ORGANIC CHEMICALS: organic materials that do not degrade and, for this reason, persist in our environment for long periods of time and can be found in the air, water, and food. They bioaccumulate which leads to greater levels of POPS in animals further up the food chain. Per the WHO, farm raised salmon has been found to have higher levels than wild caught salmon.
BPA/BPS/BPF: used to harden plastics that are found in plastic food containers, dental sealants, canned foods, thermal receipts. These chemicals are hormone disruptors. Get rid of your plastic containers and opt for glass storage ones. Do not allow hot liquid or food to come in contact with plastic, and do not heat food in plastic containers. Use digital receipts to avoid contact with thermal paper.
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS: gases that are emitted from nail polish, paints, carpeting, pressed wood, furniture finishes, non organic dry cleaning chemicals, and cleaning products. Consider VOC free alternative polishes and paints. Consider a good quality indoor air filter, especially for your bedroom.
EMF’s from WiFi, cell phones, wireless devices, and cordless phones. EMF’s can affect our voltage-gated calcium channels and cause oxidative stress. Distance is your friend! Keep cellular devices far from your body (especially your brain, reproductive organs, and children). Place phones in airplane mode and remove from your bedroom. Consider turning off WiFi at night to improve your sleep. Use wired headphones. Avoid Bluetooth.
MOLD: Water damaged buildings can produce mycotoxins and volatile organic compounds that may disrupt and cause dysregulation within our immune system. This dysregulation leads to a myriad of symptoms in disparate body systems. Buildings must be properly inspected and remediated.
LESSEN YOUR LOAD: Simple Detoxification strategies:
Start by reducing exposures as discussed above. Evaluate the quality of the food and water you consume and the air you breathe.
Sweating: exercise, saunas.
Bowel movements: Aim for regular bowel movements to eliminate toxins. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet.
Epsom Salt Baths: provides magnesium for muscle and relaxation along with sulfation for detoxification.
Detox Binders: Some gentle binders can help eliminate mold toxins and heavy metals.
Replete Key MInerals: Minerals can displace heavy metals. When we have mineral deficiencies, heavy metals can substitute or bind at those minerals’ binding sites affecting function and enzymatic activity.
Support Phase 1 and Phase 2 Detoxification by the Liver: There are some dietary nutrients and vitamin supplements that can help the liver move out toxins.
Intermittent Fasting or Confined Eating Windows: supports detoxification and helps the gut work more efficiently.