The Best Solutions to Limit Toxin Accumulation: How to Limit Everyday Toxin Exposure (Part 2)

CONSUMPTION

PROBLEM AND SOLUTION

Specific dietary conditions

Depending on your condition, a period of focus on your diet to reverse or pause further negative effects can be very beneficial. For example:

• Anti-inflammatory diet.
• Hypoallergenic diet and reintroduction.
• Anti-Candida.
• Antiparasitic protocols.
• Nutrient-dense foods or supplements for malnutrition.
• Antidiabetic.
• Anticancer.

PHYSICAL ABSORPTION

PROBLEM AND SOLUTION

Cleaning products and detergents

Generic cleaning products for your kitchens, bathrooms, car, clothes, and dry-cleaning often contain harmful chemical that you indirectly eat and absorb through your skin.

• Avoid the “Dirty Dozen” ingredients found in products with bisphenol A, coal tar dyes, DEA, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde-releasing agents, parfum, parabens, PEG compounds, petrolatum, siloxanes, sodium laurel sulphate, and triclosan.
• Stick to safer brands, such as Green Beaver, JASON, Kiss My Face, Earth Science, Burts Bees, Pure + Simple, or Living Libation.

Cosmetics

Cosmetic products cover your face all day long and absorb directly into your skin.

• Check the safety level of your products: if they rate greater than 5 out of 10 on the toxicity scale, find healthy alternatives by visiting the Cosmetic Database.
• Focus on healthy lipsticks and eye make-up, because of their proximity to your mouth and eyes, respectively.
• Avoid the “Dirty Dozen” ingredients.
• Stick to safer brands, such as Green Beaver, JASON, Kiss My Face, Earth Science, Burts Bees, Pure + Simple, and Living Libation.

Bathroom products, such as shampoos, toothpaste, creams, deodorant, perfumes

These are products you use everyday, sometimes multiple times a day, and that go directly onto your skin or in areas of high absorption (e.g. mouth and armpits). Most contain parabens that act as weak xenoestrogens.

• Check the safety level of your products: if they rate greater than 5 out of 10 on the toxicity scale, find healthy alternatives by visiting the Cosmetic Database.
• Focus on toothpastes and deodorants without parabens.
• Avoid the “Dirty Dozen” ingredients.
• Stick to safer brands, such as Green Beaver, JASON, Kiss My Face, Earth Science, Burts Bees, Pure + Simple, and Living Libation.

Sanitizers

Hand sanitizers and sanitary wipes can contain parabens that act as weak xenoestrogens.

• Wash your hands with warm water and soap for 30 seconds.
• Limit your use of sanitizers with triclosan.
• Try using natural baby-wipes if you are in the habit of using a soft touch on your bottom or need accessible wipes while traveling.

Electromagnetic fields (EMF)

Some people report a high sensitivity to radiofrequency (RF) EMFs, despite inconclusive findings for negative effects of chronic low-frequency EMF exposure.

• Minimize your daily intake of cell phones and cordless phones along with their base stations, wi-fi devices, microwave ovens, television, and radio transmitters.
• Avoid long-term close contact of your devices to your body (e.g. cell phone in your pocket).
• Unplug all the electronics in your bedroom (or just keep them out of the room) before you go to bed, as a healthy sleep hygiene tip.

Mercury fillings

If you have a mercury filling, you may have a very slow, low exposure to mercury as the amalgam leaches out. Studies have shown that the daily exposure to mercury from amalgams is well below the threshold limit value of 300 to 500 μg per day established by the WHO. Research has shown varying amounts of mercury absorption ranging from 0.3 to 24.8 μg/d. It’s important to not rush into getting it removed right away. Keep these tips in mind:

• Better leave it in. If the filling has been in for more than 30 years, the majority of the mercury has probably already leached out, and therefore keeping the filling in your mouth should not cause any more harm.
• Reexposure during filling removal can be more toxic than keeping it in. If you decide to get the amalgam removed, make sure you go to a properly trained dental physician with equipment to minimize mercury release when your filling is removed.
• Limit nighttime grinding and acidic foods, which increase the rate of mercury release.
• Avoid having mercury amalgams put in, especially if you are a child or are pregnant.

Chemicals in new clothing

New clothes contain many dyes and chemicals that create the materials before being worn.

• Wash new clothes for two cycles at least before wearing.
• Shop at second-hand stores to find great deals and preloved clothing that have many of the new material chemicals washed out of them.

Toys

Some children’s toys are not made responsibly. Especially if you have infants licking, biting, or sticking their teddy bears or rubber balls in their mouth, use the following resources to check the safety of their toys.

• Healthy Stuff: Researching toxic chemicals in everyday stuff.
• General Consumer Products: US Consumer Product Safety Commission Unsafe Product Report.
• Vehicles and Car Seats: SaferCar.gov is the NHTSA site where you can identify and report problems you might be having with your vehicle, tires, equipment, or car seats.

Carpeting

New carpets are laden with chemicals that can slowly release when the fibres are stepped on. These potentially harmful chemicals can remain in the carpet for many years. Not to mention the dirt, pet dander, and spills that can be trapped beneath many layers…

• Replace your carpets with hardwood, laminate, tiles, or other nonfabric materials.
• Use rugs that can be washed instead.
• Steam-clean your carpets every few months.

INHALED CHEMICALS

PROBLEM AND SOLUTION

Air pollution

Dust, pollen, pet dander, mold, and dust-mite feces can act as allergens, while smoke particles and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can pose a risk to the health. It’s hard to control the amount of air pollution when we are in our cars or at work, but there are ways to increase air quality in your home and through daily practice:

• Using air purifiers such HEPA/HVAC filters, thermodynamic sterilization, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, activated carbon, etc.
• Get more fresh air by taking regular trips out of the city.
• Practice deep-breathing exercises to clear out the residual CO₂ at the base of your lungs.
• Grow more plants and trees to increase oxygen quantity.
• Don’t idle your car, to help limit your contribution to ground-level ozone.
• Take public and nonpollutant modes of transportation.
• Get a carbon monoxide detector for dangerous but odourless, tasteless, and colourless gas.

Cigarette smoke or other detrimental inhalants

Everyone knows smoking is bad, but it’s a very difficult addiction to break even for those who desperately want to.

• Quit or limit smoking with programs such as the Allen Carr’s Easyway.
• Smoke responsibly away from other patrons, especially babies and children.
• Don’t start.

Mold

Most households have some form of mold in their bathrooms and basements. This can lead to fungal infections, yeast infections, chronic sinus infections, and postnasal drip.

• Check your bathroom caulking and ceiling for black spots and have it removed and recaulked.
• Open the windows and doors and turn on the fan after a steamy shower.
• Get a dehumidifier.
• Nasal lavage and steam inhalation (learn more Natural Cold and Flu Preventions).