Endometriosis
October 14, 2014
Recipe: Raw Raspberry and White Chocolate Cake
January 20, 2015Detoxification is commonly heard around the beginning of a New Year as many of us like to cleanse away the holiday period indulgences and commence the year with a healthy start.
Toxins are something that we are exposed to on a daily basis and emerging evidence is showing that toxicity is a driver of chronic disease. One study I was reading estimated that we are exposed to 2-3 thousand new-to-nature chemicals, which are invented and released into the environment every year!
Environmental chemicals are known as persistent organic pollutants or POP’s, due to their tendency to persist in the environment and accumulate over time.
Probably one of the most well known chemicals is Bisphenol A. Here is a list of some of the places we can find this chemical.- Canned food
- Baby bottles
- Plastic water bottles
- Plastic wrap
- Sports equipment
- Plastic toys
- Household detergents
- Cosmetics, personal care products
- Paint
- Shower curtains
- Food packaging
- Disposable plates, cups, utensils
Bisphenol A is a xenoestrogen, meaning that it can mimic oestrogen in our body and attached to oestrogen receptors.
Phthalates is chemical that is used to make plastics softer and anything with a fragrance will probably contain phthalates. This chemical has been found to work as an endocrine disruptor so it has the ability to interrupt our bodies hormonal communication system.
Pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers all contain chemicals that can affect how our body functions. The chemical agent Triclosan is found in antibacterial soaps and has the ability to alter our thyroid hormones and the chemical used as a flame retardant can also displace thyroid function. I find it scary that I am increasingly seeing clients with thyroid issues.
Heavy metals are also an issue and accumulations of metals such as lead, mercury, aluminum, arsenic and cadmium can lead to various health complaints.
Scary huh?
As you can see from the list above, we are in contact with many of these products on a daily basis. But it’s not all bad as there are many things we can do to reduce our exposure to these toxic chemicals and support how our body processes and eliminates them.
How to Reduce Exposure
- Never drink from plastic drinking bottles
- Never store or heat food in plastic containers
- Use natural cleaning products
- Use natural personal care products
- Eat organic when ever possible
- Wash fruit and veggies in water and apple cider vinegar to remove any chemical residue.
Detoxification – I like to call it a CLEANSE
So, we arrive at the detox part.
If you have an accumulation of toxins then it absolutely makes sense to allow your body a break and embark on a cleanse that ensures you are getting all of the key nutrients needed for the body to effectively remove toxins.
But how do you know if you are ‘toxic’?
Some of the signs and symptoms that could suggest you need to detox include
- Fatigue
- Lack of concentration
- Recurrent headaches
- Muscle aching, twitching and weakness
- Infertility
- Thyroid issues
- Recurrent infections
- Anxiety and mood swings
- Poor stress tolerance
- Digestive problems – IBS, constipation, diarrhea, food sensitivities, bloating
- Weight gain
- Diabetes
Key nutrients for detoxification
Amino acids are essential for the liver to detoxify effectively so it is important to eat clean lean protein from eggs, organic meats, legumes, nuts and seeds. A variety of vegetables covering a range of colours will provide all the phytonutrients needed. In particular the brassica vegetables contain potent detoxifying agents with broccoli being the most powerful. B vitamins are needed for many enzymatic reactions with a variety of foods containing all the B’s. Leafy green vegetables, legumes and whole grain such as quinoa and brown rice can provide magnesium and organic red meats and pumpkin seeds will give much needed zinc.
Antioxidants are important so consuming selenium from brazil nuts, vitamin C from citrus fruit and vitamin E from wheat germ oil are just some of the foods to enjoy for their antioxidant properties.
The use of herbal medicine can really take your detoxification to the next level. Herbs such as St Marys Thistle, Cleavers, Globe artichoke, Turmeric, Aloe vera and Corianderare some of the herbs that have various roles in the different detoxification processes.
The health of the gut is of the most important, as this is the site of nutrient absorption and toxin removal. Impaired gut mucosa can create havoc and cause damaging inflammation, found to be the driver of many chronic health concerns. Probiotics, glutamine, zinc and vitamin A are some of the essential nutrients for healing the gut mucosa.
Diet
Yes, you will have to stop drinking alcohol and remove your beloved coffee fix, you will need to go easy on some foods such as red meat and grains and you will need to drink plenty of water. But, as you increase your veggie intake and cut out the processed stuff you will start to feel more energised, your head wont be as foggy, your eyes will sparkle and your skin will glow. Your mind and body will love you for it, and you will have a new found appreciation of how unbelievably amazing your body is. As a result you will continue to fuel it with nourishing whole foods well past the end of your detox because you will be that much more aware of how the ‘bad’ stuff really makes you feel.
