Toxins are all around us, everywhere, so much so they may seemingly be unavoidable. We are constantly exposed to toxins in our everyday lives and we absorb and ingest them through the air we breathe, through our skin, and in the food we eat. Toxins can be found in ingredients in household chemicals, cleaning products, cosmetics, industrial toxins in our workplace, plastics, environmental toxins in air pollution.
Our bodies are natural healers so we are constantly trying to eliminate any toxins that are coming in to our body in order to protect ourselves, heal ourselves and keep us healthy. Over time, a build up of toxins can be too much for the body to handle and you will start to see in in your digestive system, your skin and your detoxification pathways such as your liver will be suffering, leading to ill health. Many of these toxins can have disrupting effects on our endocrine system and can be a contributing factor for conditions like obesity, diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, reproductive disorders and even hormonal cancers. Not only are there external toxins, but internal toxins can also be generated in our gastrointestinal tract from dysbiosis, causing inflammation and oxidative stress, and leading to gastrointestinal symptoms such as IBS and IBD, and can also contribute to conditions such as depression, autoimmunity, autism, Alzheimer’s, obesity and diabetes. This is one reason why our gut health is paramount.
Herbs and supplements such as green tea, zinc, glutamine, St Mary’s thistle, turmeric, selenium, N- Acetyl Cysteine and Saccharomyces Boulardi can be prescribed by your help with your liver and gut to support toxin elimination and protect against them.
There are many ways we can minimize our toxic exposure or help to eliminate toxins, by making small changes to our lifestyle. Here are some suggestions. Maybe try just one change at a time:
Eat organic
Swap out your chemical cleaning products for natural ones
Swap out your cosmetics, deodorants, shampoos, soaps, perfumes etc for natural ones
Drink more water- filtered water
Check your food labels- avoid artificial colours, flavours and additives
Minimize your mobile phone use and exposure to EMFs
Avoid BPA plastics- switch to a glass or stainless steel water bottle
Avoid using insecticides and pesticides in your garden, use natural insect repellant
Get enough sleep
Give up the cigarettes
Reduce your stress
Do regular exercise
Have a massage
Identify any food intolerances
Spend time in nature
Go on a detox!