Toxic times call for elimination measures, cleansing, and avoidance and have never been so important. There are chemicals in the environment that we come into contact with every day that can greatly affect health. There are pesticides found on fruits and vegetables, dioxins in meat and dairy products, many fish have high levels of mercury and pesticides, BPA and phthalates are found in household items including shower curtains, food packages, storage containers, and plastic water bottles; unfiltered well water and city water can have multiple contaminants not always at low levels, as do household cleaning products, cosmetics, perfumes, shampoos, air fresheners, mattresses, carpets, vinyl flooring, and so on.
Chemicals that build up in the body will start to affect health if they are not removed. There are four basic steps to reducing your body burden and preserving your health: first, reduce your exposure to these chemicals as much as possible. Second, mobilize any stored toxins so they can be removed. Third, make sure your body is eliminating these harmful toxins effectively.
This means supporting the liver and your metabolism. The liver acts as a filter, removing harmful chemicals that cannot be broken down from the blood and making them more soluble so they can be eliminated in the bowels or urine as waste. This means supporting the metabolism is important and for example treating conditions like constipation are important so we are readily and effectively eliminating this waste as it’s processed.
It’s also important to do cleanses on a regular basis to keep these toxins from building up in the tissues over time; as well as taking daily detoxification measures to support the liver in removing toxins from the blood as you are exposed. Some exposure is unavoidable and keeping the body’s waste removal processes functioning well is the best way to avoid chronic disease and pathology due to toxic body burden in toxic times.
Studies evaluating body burden have shown that most people have some degree of body burden and are storing toxins in their fat, bones, mitochondria, and blood. In other words, we’ve all got it! And these toxins can affect all the major organ systems in the body and potentially lead to headaches, nervous conditions, memory loss, brain fog, mood disorders, chronic fatigue, pain syndromes, infertility, endometriosis, and cancer just to name a few. So start reducing your body burden today by taking steps to reduce your exposure:
Buy organic fruits and veggies as much as possible
If you have to buy conventional, avoid the dirty dozen
Purchase only hormone free and anti-biotic free meats and dairy
Eat wild fish that is known to be low in heavy metals
Avoid foods canned foods lined with plastic and try to buy fresh or frozen foods instead
Buy in bulk to reduce packaging in general
Drink only filtered water out of glass jars
Use an air filter in your home
Always hang your dry cleaning outside for several hours before hanging the clothes in your closet
Take your shoes off when inside and avoid tracking chemical in on your shoes
Use fabrics instead of vinyl and plastic as much as possible
Use eco friendly cleaning products, detergents, and soaps
Use only non-toxic paraben free cosmetics, lotions, shampoo, deodorants, and other products
Avoid perfumes and other fragrances
End each shower with 1 minute of cold rinse and then use your towel to rub the skin vigorously and promote blood flow
Spend at least one hour per week sweating in a Sauna
Try incorporating moderate exercise for at least 30-45 minutes every day
Make sure you are eating plenty of fiber and drinking plenty of water
Ideally, you should have at least one bowel movement every day
Take a week or weekend every 3 months and do a juice or water fast or other cleanse to support your liver.
Drink herbal tea instead of coffee or alcohol
Use castor oil packs over your liver area once or twice per week
