Toxins Are Everywhere
Health Step #8: Reduce Toxins
We are exposed to toxins on a daily basis. External toxins include pollutants, pesticides, and other chemicals found in our environment and our food supply. Internally, our bodies produce waste byproducts as a result of normal metabolic function. Although your body is designed to rid itself of these toxins naturally, it can become overburdened.
Toxins can contribute to a wide range of conditions:
• Stuffy head
• Fatigue or difficulty sleeping
• Indigestion and other gastrointestinal upset
• Food cravings and weight gain
• Reduced mental clarity
• Low libido
• Skin that’s not looking it’s best
• Joint discomfort
There are approximately 80,000 chemicals registered for use in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that hundreds of these chemicals are present in our bodies. Research has shown that many of these chemicals can disrupt our immune, endocrine, nervous, and reproductive systems. The following are examples of external and internal toxins:
External Toxins Internal Toxins
Air and water pollutants Ammonia
Cigarette smoke Carbon dioxide
Personal care products Free radicals
Heavy metals
Household cleaning products
Pesticides and herbicides
Pharmaceuticals
Preservatives and additives
Trans fats
How Do I Determine My Toxic Load?
Your toxic load is the amount of toxins that your body must process.
____ Yes ____ No Do you or have you eaten processed foods?
____ Yes ____ No Do you eat nonorganic fruits and vegetables?
____ Yes ____ No Do you eat meat and poultry that are not free-range?
____ Yes ____ No Do you consume genetically altered food?
____ Yes ____ No Do you or have you ever used artificial sweeteners?
____ Yes ____ No Do you drink soda?
____ Yes ____ No Do the foods you eat have preservatives, additives, dyes, or sweeteners
added?
____ Yes ____ No Do you eat fast foods and/or eat our regularly?
____ Yes ____ No Do you charbroil or grill foods?
____ Yes ____ No Do you drink coffee regularly?
____ Yes ____ No Do you drink alcohol?
____ Yes ____ No Do you drink tap water?
If the majority of your answers are ‘yes’, then it is likely that your diet contributes significantly to your toxic load. Beyond diet, many external toxins, such as personal care products, cleaners, and pollution, add to your load.
We have a more detailed Toxicity Questionnaire at the office. Come by and fill one out. If your score is higher than 40, it is likely that you need to detoxify with the Standard Process 21 Day Purification Program.
How Do Internal Organs Assist in Purification?
The Standard Process Purification Program stimulates specific detoxification organs in the body – the liver, kidneys, and intestines. With help from these organs, your toxic load can decrease, and your body can concentrate its energy on purification and weight reduction. This can help you achieve optimal health by cleansing the body from the inside out.
Liver
• Filters toxins
• Aids the body in metabolizing fat, protein, and carbohydrates
• Helps transform many toxins into harmless agents
Kidneys
• Filter waste and excess fluid from the blood
• Regulate and release the right balance of sodium, phosphorus, and potassium for the body to function properly
Small Intestine
• Digests food so that nutrients can be absorbed into the blood and transported to the liver
• Provides a barrier that blocks toxins from the rest of the body
Large Intestine
• Absorbs water and electrolytes, forming waste that is excreted from the body
• Produces antibodies for gastrointestinal health
• Contains bacteria that create fatty acids and some vitamins for extra nutritional support
You can reduce your toxic load overall by avoiding and finding natural alternatives for pesticides, lawn chemicals, cosmetics, shampoos and toothpaste, cleaning supplies, etc.
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The Importance of Sleep
You may have noticed that we did not publish a newsletter in August. I guess we slept through that one. Ha Ha. Speaking of sleep, the topic of the August newsletter was to be ‘The Importance of Sleep’.
To maintain good health, we need plenty of restorative sleep – 8-9 hours per night. There are two stages of sleep that are most important, deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is dream sleep. If you are craving sleep during the day, you are most likely not getting enough good sleep at night. Also, our bodies detoxify at night, and it takes a good 6 hours to complete the detoxification process – so don’t cut yourself short.
Tips to optimize your sleeping and dreaming:
• Go to bed early enough to get at least 8 hours
• Make your bedroom dark, quiet and cool
• Do not keep electrical gadgets in the bedroom, such as cell phones, electric alarm clocks, computers, and TV, as your bedroom will be buzzing with energy.
• Minimize the light in your bedroom to optimize your melatonin levels. Your body will stop producing melatonin when you are exposed to light.
• Meditation and yoga are very useful for slowing us down at night. Some people have trouble falling asleep because they do not give themselves enough time, or the permission, to slow down their motor and truly rest.