No matter how hard we try, none of us can totally escape toxins. Use of toxins has become a part of everyday, modern life. We are all exposed to long term, low dose environmental toxins with potential to negatively impact our health. The extent of impact depends on many factors of individual health including our genetic capacity to detoxify, our nutrient status, and the presence of other inflammatory conditions in our body.
Toxins that can interfere with our health include:
Pesticides: found in produce and animal products, highest in non-organic sources of these foods.
Phthalates & Parabens: found in household materials like plastic and vinyl and in personal care products like shampoo, perfumes, soap, scented detergents, toothpastes, and makeups.
Bishpenols: Founds in plastics, including BPA free plastics, canned foods, and dental composites.
PCBs: found in foods from animal sources, plastics, building materials, and on receipts.
Hydrocarbons: found as environmental pollution near freeways, in barbecued foods, in materials such as rubber or styrofoam, in dry cleaning chemicals, in cigarettes, and in paints, glues and other volatile materials.
Chlorinated Hydrocarbons: found in polluted water.
Glyphosate: the most widely used pesticide worldwide. Found in your home garden (if you use roundup) and in the food supply, especially in grains.
While each of these toxins has their own profile of adverse effects, they are generally disruptive to the:
Nervous System
Endocrine System
Metabolism
Immune System
Cardiovascular System
Respiratory System
Liver, Kidney, and Reproductive Organs
Mitochondria
Skeletal System
Hematopoietic (Blood) System
For each of these systems, environmental toxins can have the following effects:
Nervous System
Parkinson’s Disease
Nerve Problems
Disruptions of cognition, memory, or concentration
Increased risk of ADHD
Mood Disruptions
Sensory Deficits
Nerve Damage
Headaches
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Endocrine System
Increased risk of endometrial cancer
Infertility
Increased androgen and estrogen activity
Hypothyroidism
Increased risk of birth defects
Damage to sperm
Metabolism
Development of Type 2 Diabetes
Obesity
Increased susceptibility to Metabolic Syndrome
Elevations of uric acid
Immune System
Development of Autoimmune Disease
Promotion of cancer development
Cardiovascular System
Peripheral Artery Disease
Cardiovascular Disease
Elevated Blood Pressure
Disruptions in Heart Rhythm
Respiratory System
Increased risk of childhood asthma
Coughing & Wheezing
Lung Damage
Liver, Kidney, and Reproductive Organs
Kidney Damage
Liver Damage
Mitochondria
Increased free radical production
Decreases in glutathione
Skeletal System
Increased risk of osteoporosis
Hematopoietic (Blood) System
Reduction of different types of blood cells
Increased risk of blood cancers
Found in everything from the food we eat to the personal care products we use on our skin, environmental toxins are everywhere and contain the potential to create disease in our nervous system, disrupt our metabolism, damage vital organs, and promote diseases such as asthma, osteoporosis, diabetes and cancer. For the average person, there is everything you can do to reduce your toxic burden.
In some cases, it may be useful to test for elevated levels of environmental toxins, which can be accomplished with a urine environmental toxic panel. I usually run this test for patients who have a history of increased exposure to environmental chemicals, such as those who served in the armed forces, worked in an industrial line of work, or lived in an agricultural community where pesticides were heavily used. I also check for environmental toxins in those with severe neurological symptoms or an overall elevated toxic burden. If you want to take optimizing your health to the next level, detoxifying from environemntal toxins is a must.
Simple Ways to Reduce your Toxic Burden
Swapping out potentially sources of toxins for more natural options is a great place to start!
Swap plastic with glass: For example, plastic food storage containers can be swapped for glass ones. Plastic straws and water bottles can be swapped for stainless steel ones.
Swap synthetic fragrances and cosmetics for natural ones: Look for shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and makeup without parabens or phthalates and opt for laundry detergents and candles that are scented naturally.
Swap non-organic for organic: Organic produce and animal products have significantly lower levels of pesticides and environmental pollutants than their non-organic counterparts. Eating organic can help lower your body’s total toxin burden. Animal tissue can accumulate toxins so organic animal products are a must. If you are not sure where to start with produce, the Environmental Working Group publishes a great resource annually called The Dirty Dozen which lists the twelve most pesticide-laden produce that you should buy organic.
Strategies to Help Your Body Eliminate Toxins
Like heavy metals or molds individual toxins may be best eliminated with targeted supplements. For example, glyphosate detoxification can be enhanced by supplementation with glycine. However, there are some simple interventions that can help your body rid itself of toxins in general:
Infrared Sauna: Pesticides are stored in fat and sauna can help stimulate the breakdown of fat. Sauna also promotes sweating, an important method of detoxification in your body. Infrared sauna is my favorite type of sauna as it helps flush all types of toxins out of cells.
Support with Glutathione & Other Antioxidants: Your cells use glutathione to flush toxins out of cells. In the presence of toxins, glutathione levels are easily depleted. Toxins also increase a type of inflammation called oxidative stress that can damage cell function. Antioxidants, including glutathione are a great way to reduce inflammation and damage created by these toxins.
Fast: Fasting, or taking a break from eating for a period of time enhances cellular clean up and helps your cells get rid of certain types of environmental toxins.
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