10 Ways to Detox Your Life
It is a sad reality that toxins such as heavy metals and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are present in our modern-day environment, and carry the capacity to negatively impact our health. It is estimated that around the year 2045, the world sperm count will reach zero. Yes, zero. This is because of the toxin load our bodies are exposed to and the assumption that these loads will only increase at the same rate over time.
Toxins can disrupt and wreak havoc on everything from your hormones, your metabolism, inflammation in your body and brain and your gut health
The good news is you can implement practical steps to start reducing your exposure to these toxins within your environment. Read on for our suggested steps that all people should take to reduce their daily toxic load.
1. Transition all cleaning, personal care and make-up products to natural equivalents
Synthetic versions of these products contain compounds such as phthalates, parabens, triclosan and heavy metals which all exhibit endocrine-disrupting or irritant effects within the body. Transitioning to natural alternatives can be easy and economical by simply switching over as you run out of each synthetic product. We have several suggestions on our website for companies who provide all natural personal care, cleaning and cosmetic products. We recommend FATCO for personal care, Primal Life for dental health, Beauty Counter for clean cosmetics, and doTerra for essential oil based cleaning products and scents/perfumes.
2. Store and heat all food in glass or stainless steel containers and don’t use non-stick pans
Plastic containers are comprised of EDCs such as bisphenol-A (BPA). Additionally, BPA-free products are not immune to EDC status, as they still contain similar bisphenol compounds (such as BPE or BPS). These chemicals transfer into foods, especially when heated, making their avoidance a powerful step in reducing EDC intake. While glass can be useful for pantry items and leftovers, lighter stainless steel can make a great low-tox solution for kid’s lunchboxes and water bottles. Replace your toxic nonstick pans with a good old-fashioned Iron skillet! This is a bonus because iron skillets release natural iron that is actually very healthy for us to consume.
3. Limit exposure to air pollution and get fresh air
Avoid walking or exercising along main roads.
Concentrations of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, and toxic gases such as carbon monoxide are increased on main roads, so take the back streets for runs and walks where possible to decrease your exposure to these chemicals.
Spend your weekends in green spaces riding bikes or walking
4. Install a water filter
This reduces your exposure to compounds such as chlorine and fluoride, which can both negatively impact your thyroid gland, which is significant as it governs the metabolic rate of your entire body.
For drinking and cooking water, we recommend that you install an under-the-sink reverse osmosis system, or there are convenient tabletop versions available on amazon.
5. Use natural air fresheners and perfumes
Synthetic scents contain phthalates, a known EDC group. With manufacturers only required to list these chemicals as ‘fragrance’ or ‘parfum’ on labels, we as consumers can easily be misled as to the true ingredients within a synthetic product.
doTERRA has great essential oil-based rollers for perfumes and cologne replacement.
6. Consume organic produce and grass-fed, free-range, wild-caught meats where possible
This reduces your intake of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are EDC chemicals that resist degradation, bio-accumulate in water supplies, soils, and crops, and are then consumed by livestock. Further, numerous pesticides and herbicides used in fruit and vegetable farming carry EDC status, making organic fruits and vegetables, where possible, an avenue worth considering when working to reduce toxin exposure.
Grass-fed beef, free-range chickens and pork, and wild-caught fish ensure that you are avoiding the by-products of toxic foods (including plastics!) fed to these animals in conventional agriculture systems. As I always say, you are what you eat ate. So, if your meat was fed plastics, corn, and soy that were treated with pesticides and are treated with drugs to make them fatter and to fight off the disease common in the conventional agricultural spaces, then you are consuming all these things too.
7. Keep indoor plants
Not only do they consume carbon dioxide, but indoor plants also absorb and hence reduce levels of air pollution, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are emitted from indoor furniture, paints, aerosols, and adhesives. Plants such as the peace lily, Boston fern, Aloe vera, and bamboo all offer this fantastic protective effect.
8. Increasing Your Toxin Elimination
You can also encourage the detoxification and removal of stored environmental toxins from your body. This may be particularly pertinent for those in professions who have ongoing exposure to chemicals; such as hairdressers, painters, cleaners, miners, metal workers, mechanics or those in aeronautical services. Three tips to encourage healthy detoxification for these people in particular (but which benefits everyone), include:
Exercise This promotes the circulation of blood and lymph, enhancing the elimination of waste products from your body. It also increases the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to your organs and muscles for optimal repair and functioning.
Dry skin brushing As your skin is a major organ of elimination, removing any build-up of dead skin cells increases your body’s capacity to detoxify and eliminate toxins effectively.
Dry sauna, red light therapy, cold plunge, and skin wraps can be powerful detoxification tools, as they encourage your body to sweat and remove waste through your skin.
Massage can also support detoxification by stimulating lymphatic and blood circulation.
9. EMFs, screens, and light pollution
Light is a pollutant too! It sends the wrong signals to our bodies about what time of day it is and turns on pathways and stress hormones that should be off and turns off pathways of detox that should be on! From around 10p-2am at night, our bodies are supposed to be in a mode called “rest and digest” and a part of this cycle is called autophagy. Autophagy is basically your individual body cells going around and gathering up the trash that piled up all day while they were working and getting it disposed of. Because we spend so much less time in autophagy because of light exposure keeping those processes from starting at night or not being asleep at those critical hours, the cells begin to get trash piled up, which interferes with how well the cells can function. This basically creates a toxic cellular environment which can lead to some catastrophic results!
10. Be vigilant. Get rid of it and keep it out!
The problem with people doing “detox diets” or “cleanses” is that it implies a temporary commitment. Most people do these cleanses and then go right back to what they were doing before. To maintain the most detoxed body that you can have, you have to be vigilant about getting rid of these things, but also stick with these practices all the time. There will be times that are out of your control when you will be exposed to toxins, so in order to counter those moments, you have to vigilantly control what you can control in order to keep your toxic load as low as possible.
Remember, toxins are present in our environment, and their health impacts are real. However, making incremental steps toward reducing your exposure all adds up to big change, which your body will certainly thank you for.
References
Gore AC, Chappell VA, Fenton SE, Flaws JA, Nadal A, Prins GS, et al. Executive Summary to EDC-2: The Endocrine Society’s Second Scientific Statement on Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals. Endocr Rev. 2015 Dec;36(6):593-602. doi: 10.1210/er.2015-1093.
Spanier AJ, Fausnight T, Camacho TF, Braun JM. The associations of triclosan and paraben exposure with allergen sensitization and wheeze in children. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2014 Nov-Dec;35(6):475-481. doi: 10.2500/aap.2014.35.3803.
Original article by Claire Murray published by Metagenics. Updated by Vital Health