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Environmental Toxicity and Detoxification

There has been a lot of news recently about environmental toxins: lead in toys, mercury in fish, and chemicals in plastic bottles. We live in a very toxic world. In 1939, Dupont had a slogan “Better Things for Better Living … Through Chemistry.”  Unfortunately, what was once thought to be a benefit to our society has now become a danger.

Toxin is a general word for molecules that have a negative effect on our body. Toxins can come from anywhere. We breathe air pollution, we eat foods laden with pesticides and processed with chemicals to make them last longer. There are heavy metals in our fish and our paint. The plastics that we store our food in and the Styrofoam that we take our leftovers home in are full of potential toxins. Even our body produces toxins as by-products of chemical reactions every day.

These toxins can interfere with the normal functions of our body if they aren’t cleared out quickly. Mercury can damage the central nervous system, kidneys, and endocrine system. Chronic lead poisoning can cause insomnia, headaches, lethargy and anemia, as well as decreased cognitive function. Molecules from plastics, primarily Bisphenol A, and pesticides mimic estrogen and can lead to irregular periods, infertility and even cancer.

Our liver is the filter in our body that works to clear these toxins. It removes them from the blood and tissues and sends them to the colon so they can be eliminated. Unfortunately, with the amount of toxins we can come into contact with daily, the liver can get overloaded and the filter backs up. If we are constipated, the toxins can re-circulate into our bloodstream instead of leaving the body. We start feeling sluggish, get headaches, our menstrual cycles become irregular, our brains get a little foggy. If the toxins remain high, our immune system can become affected and our bodies start to degenerate, potentially leading to arthritis, diabetes, and cancer over time.

“Detox” or “cleansing” have been buzz words for the last few years, and there’s some confusion about how to cleanse your body. The important thing about cleansing is making sure more toxins exit your body than enter. This can be something simple like drinking more water and eating more fiber, or it can be extensive like fasting or doing a 3-4 week protocol of modified diet and specific supplementation.

Where to go from here:

On a daily basis, drink 50-60oz of spring water, eat organic foods, eat more vegetables and high fiber foods, stay away from highly processed foods (foods in a box, bag, or can) and take a daily liver support formula. Be conscious of having a bowel movement every day.

Three to four times a year, do a more intensive cleanse. This usually involves 3-4 weeks of a modified diet, more intense liver support to encourage heavier detoxification, and colon cleansing. There are many types of cleansing protocols. Make sure you pick one that works best for you, and that you will stick to for the full time period.