How do Toxins Enter your body?

By definition a toxin is a biological poison… possibly bacteria, virus, or snake venom. When people refer to toxins in our environment like pesticides, parabens, or radiation they are actually referring to free radicals. Like most people, I use the two terms interchangeably.

Regardless, we are living in a world overloaded with these harmful substances. And if taken in large amounts they can either cause serious illness or even death. It is important to understand how these toxins the human body so you can eliminate or reduce your exposure.

Mouth- There are countless toxins that are consumed by mouth.

• The foods we eat are laced with estrogen- a growth hormone in meat and dairy. Farmers feed animals estrogen so they grow more quickly, and then they have a higher value to sell. We try to buy free-range, organic meats to avoid hormones and antibiotics.

• There are 15,000 chemicals that the FDA doesn’t require the food industry to display on the labels of the food we consume. We try to avoid any processed foods with 'natural flavors' on the ingrediants list. Ther are no regulations on the word natural in the industry.

• Plastics- Dioxin is released when warmed up in the microwave. The dioxin, a toxin, leaks into the food we eat. Always use glass in a microwave and never warm up a baby's bottle this way. The microwaves also change the energy of the food resulting in poor assimilation of the foods we eat.
• Smoking, Recreation & Pharmacy Drugs and Alcohol.
  

Skin- It is important to remember that your skin is the largest single organ in your body and an important part of your body’s detoxification system.

• Your skin can release toxins via sweat. But if you have a petroleum based product or lotion on your skin can block this natural process. Look for lotions labeled paraben and petroleum free. Baby oil is petroleum based, it is a cheap product.

• The EPA states that it takes 26 seconds from the time you put something on your skin to reach all of your organs… take a clove of garlic and put it between your toes and see how long it takes until you can taste it.

Nose- If you can smell something then the particles are entering your body.

• This includes mold, dust, pollens, fumes from carpets, paints and mattresses.
  
• Walk down the store laundry aisle and you will be overwhelmed by toxins through your olfactory system. In order to achieve chemical free laundry washing we use laundry magnets.

Eyes- Similar to the skin, the eye membranes allow toxins in.

• We also take in stressful images. We don’t watch the news or read the news paper in the morning... good news doesn't sell as well, so we are loaded with violent and negative images which have an affect on our immune system.

Ears- Substances can enter the ear canal, but I am more concerned with sounds.

• What kind of music are you listening to?
• What kind of tv are you watching?
• What kind of video games are your kids playing?

Electromagnetic chaos- Today we are bombarded with cell phones, satellites, radars, cell phone towers, computers, microwave ovens… this is almost endless in today’s culture.

Adjusting your lifestyle to reduce just a few of these toxins will improve your health and well-being. Take baby steps!