Better Your Health & Well-Being By Minimizing Your Toxic Load
You come across toxins everyday in a variety of ways – from the air that you breathe, to the water that you drink, and the food that you consume. Our bodies also produce natural toxins, like ammonia and carbon dioxide. While toxins are a natural occurrence, it is important that your body does not become overburdened with them as this can compromise your health and well-being.
What are common toxins?
As previously mentioned, toxins can be both internal and external. External toxins can be found in:
Food additives and preservatives
Saccharin
This additive has been shown to induce tumors in test animals
Nitrites (these do occur naturally in food, but they are commonly ADDED to foods)
Artificial coloring
Yellow No. 5 – may cause severe asthma symptoms
Red Dye No. 2 – may lead to cancer
Blue #1 and Blue #2 – may cause chromosomal damage
Red Dye #3 (also Red #40) – proven to cause thyroid cancer and chromosomal damage in laboratory animals. May also interfere with brain-nerve transmission
Yellow #6 and Yellow Tartrazine – increases number of kidney and adrenal gland tumors in lab animals and may cause chromosomal damage
Natural green color
Sweeteners
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
May increase the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, as well as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Aspartame
May elevate blood glucose and increase anxiety
Caramelized sugar syrup
Potassium bromate
Common additive used to strengthen bread and cracker dough, helping it rise during baking
Labeled as causing tumors, toxic to the kidneys, and may even cause DMA damage
AKA bromates, calcium bromate, potassium bromate, sodium bromate, bromated flour
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
Created by a naturally occurring chemical called glutamate
May lead to headaches, flushing, sweating, facial pressure or tightness, numbness, tingling or burning in the face, neck and other areas, rapid heart palpitations, chest pain, nausea, and weakness
Also may be a neurotoxin
AKA hydrolyzed soy protein and autolyzed yeast, sodium glutamate, MSG, Accent, Zest, Ajinomoto, and Vetsin
Sodium Benzoate
Common food preservative and used in many processed food products and rinks to prevent spoilage
Often added to sauerkraut, jellies and jams, and hot sauces
Also used as an antifungal preservative in pharmaceutical preparations and foods
Possible cause of hyperactivity in some children
Sodium Nitrite
Found in meat products like sausages, cured meats, and canned meats
May cause pancreatic cancer and other health problems
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative used in wine-making
Individuals who are sulfite sensitive may experience headaches, breathing problems, and rashes; majority of sensitive individuals are asthmatic
Sulfur dioxide
Found in beer, soft drinks, dried fruit, juices, cordials, wine, vinegar, and potato products; prohibited for use on raw fruit and vegetables
Adverse reactions include bronchial problems, particularly those prone to asthma, hypotension (low blood pressure), flushing, tingling sensations or anaphylactic shock
Also destroys vitamins B1 and E
Propyl Paraben
Commonly used in many foods such as tortillas, bread products and food dyes
Also commonly found in many cosmetics – creams, lotions, shampoos, and bath products
A federal study showed that 91% of Americans tested had propyl paraben in their urine
Propyl paraben is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that is “Generally Recognized as Safe.” Studies indicate that subjects had decreased sperm counts and testosterone levels.
Shown to alter the expression of genes, including those in breast cancer cells and to accelerate the growth of breast cancer cells
BHT and BHA
Found in cereals, chewing gum, potato chips, and vegetable oils
Affects the neurological system of the brain, alters behavior and has a potential to cause cancer
BHA and BHT are oxidants which form cancer-causing reactive compounds in your body
How food is prepared
Smoking or charcoal-broiling of meat can result in the deposition of mutagenic polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
PAHs are carcinogenic
Nitrosamines can be formed during the frying of bacon that contains nitrite
By-products of processing fats
Trans Fat
Created when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil which usually occurs during the manufacturing process
Very small amounts are naturally occurring in animal fat
Commonly found in foods such as fried doughnuts, cakes, pie crusts, biscuits, frozen pizza, cookies, crackers, and margarines
Increases risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes
Products can be listed as 0g of trans fats if they contain less than 0.5g per serving – look for partially hydrogenated oil to make sure your food doesn’t contain trans fats
Trans fats have now been banned from food products, but it is still possible to receive these artificial trans fats in the diet
Water
Air pollution
Pesticides & other chemicals
Can induce tumors and may contaminate foods through their application directly on crops or from other sources of environmental contamination
Glyphosate
Disrupts gut microbiome and can lead to cancer
Chlorpyrifos
Exposure during pregnancy and early life harms the developing brain, including reduced IQ, delayed development of motor and sensory functions, and social and behavioral dysfunction
Cleaners
Fragrance
Cosmetics
Plastics
Think BPA and phthalates
Medications
Heavy metals
Such as mercury which is commonly consumed via fish
Mercury is a neurotoxin, meaning it can damage the brain and nerves
Certain deep sea, fish like king mackerel and swordfish, contain high amounts
Lead
Can be found in contaminated water and lead-paint
Caffeine
More!
Internal toxins can build up from:
Too much bacteria or fungus in the gut
Yeast overgrowth
Poorly detoxified hormones
Chronic stress
Lasting/unresolved emotional pain/trauma
While food additives are on the top of the list for external toxins, many still dispute these additives based off a system called GRAS. Unfortunately, roughly 3,000 out of the 10,000 chemicals on the FDA’s list of approved food additives have never been reviewed for safety by the FDA, and the list includes several known carcinogens. Commonly used substances that the FDA deemed “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) prior to the 1958 Food Additives Amendment (FAA) were exempt from the law. GRAS relies on a voluntary process that enables manufacturers to assess health risks and decide whether an additive is safe or unsafe. Manufacturers can “establish a scientific consensus” by creating specialized expert panels for the purpose of reviewing a substance. The experts can include members of the company’s staff or consultants with undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. Once a verdict is rendered by the panel, a manufacturer could simply notify the FDA about the GRAS determination, however notification was completely at the manufacturer’s discretion.
Not only are there issues with the GRAS system structure in general, but it also does not take into account serving sizes of these various additives. Certain levels of additives may be declared safe, but if consumed consistently overtime, these additives can add up within the body, creating toxic burdens.
What can happen when the body is overloaded with toxins?
Your body is designed to handle toxins to a certain degree and has systems to help with detoxification processes. At some point, our systems can become too overwhelmed with toxins, especially if we are not supporting our body with nutritious foods and an overall healthy lifestyle.
The liver, lymphatic system (related to the immune system), kidneys, lungs, intestines, blood, and skin filter toxins from the body. However, if we constantly bombard these systems by lathering chemicals onto the skin, or smoking, or consuming highly processed and refined foods and not getting enough exercise, it these detoxification systems can get clogged up and rundown and lose their efficiency. This can lead to toxins circulating throughout the body and using up important vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients.
Toxic overload can occur and lead to disruption and unwanted health signs and symptoms. When these systems get overburdened/overloaded, we can begin to experience some of the many following symptoms:
Energy problems such as profound fatigue and lethargy
Sleep issues
Digestive problems such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and heartburn
Headaches, muscle aches, and joint pain
Sinus problems including chronic post-nasal drip and congestion
Depression, brain fog, trouble concentrating
Neurological problems including dizziness, tremors, confusion, and muscle weakness
Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
Hormonal imbalances
Dysregulated blood pressure – high or low
Skin issues such as rashes, eczema, psoriasis, and acne
What you can do to decrease your toxic load
It can take a while for the body to fully detoxify and rebalance, especially if the toxins have built up over several years. The biggest key to help lessen the load is through awareness. Being aware of the foods that you consume, the products that you put on your skin, and chemicals that you may use can all be helpful. Making small changes and replacing products over time can also make big impacts.
Some helpful tips include:
Using glass, porcelain or stainless-steel cups, containers, water bottles, and travel mugs
Reducing the use of canned foods and eating mostly fresh or frozen foods
Minimizing the use of plastic containers with the #7 or #3 on the bottom
Avoid microwaving plastic food containers, and avoid washing them in the dishwasher or with harsh detergents
Purchase phthalate-free beauty products and avoid nail polish, perfumes, colognes, and other scented products that list phthalates as an ingredient (many scented products list “fragrance” as an ingredient, which often incorporates a number of different chemicals including phthalates
Get your home air checked
Reduce humidity levels with air conditioners and dehumidifiers
Grow plants in your home and ensure adequate ventilation and moderate temperatures in your home
Avoid smoking and second-hand smoke
Use non-scented laundry detergents
Wash and scrub all fruits and vegetables, organic or conventional
If possible, purchase mostly organic fruits and vegetables, particularly the ones consistently found to have the highest pesticide residues – apples, strawberries, celery, peaches, and spinach (check out the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen and Clean 15)
Consume grass-fed organic, free-range meats, and poultry
Check out Sutton Ridge Farm for high-quality grass-fed meat!
Incorporate cooking methods such as braising and slow cooking (can reduce PAH in meats)
Reduce processed foods and excess sugar in the diet, and cook more homemade foods so that you have control of your ingredients
Choose low mercury fish such as salmon, pollock, herring, and catfish
Support your detoxification pathways with high-quality foods full of antioxidants
Focus on quality proteins and healthy fats
Parsley, cilantro, and dandelion tea (this tea is not for everyone, so check with your medical practitioner first)
Consume digestion-supportive probiotics via kombucha, kefir, yogurt, sauerkraut, miso soup, tempeh, and kimchi (again, check with your medical provider first)
Get in a variety of colors through fresh fruits and vegetables (aim for the rainbow)
Get in at least ½ your body weight in ounces of quality water
Exercise at least 30 minutes each day
Gets circulation moving, helping to move toxins along
Start deep breathing to help move toxins out through your lungs
Use trusted skin care products that are free of fragrances, sulfates, phthalates, parabens, and other potentially toxic ingredients
Read your labels!
While toxins are a part of our everyday occurrence and our bodies have systems built in place to remove toxins, the amount of toxins that we come into contact with each day (and make of our own) can overload our systems and burden them. By becoming aware of what ingredients are in the products that we use and consume and minimizing exposures within our control, we have a better chance of reducing our toxic load, and therefore we have a better chance of maintaining optimal health and well-being. With the support of a healthy and balanced lifestyle full of antioxidant-rich, quality foods, our chances of optimal health and well-being are even greater. Do what you can, even the smallest steps make a huge impact!
For high-quality, grass-fed meat, and delicious meat, make sure to check out Sutton Ridge Farm
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