Going Clean
reducing your chemical load for your health
If you are reading this then you are most likely already on board and aware of the chemicals in your environment. I feel that we really have been duped over the past +50 years on all the chemicals that we ‘need’ - to preserve our foods, clean our houses/car, clean our body, beautify ourselves, make our garden grow, flavour our food, clean our water, flame retardants on our furniture…… What have I forgotten? There are so many chemicals out there in our everyday environment. In fact it is alarming to consider the number of chemicals already in circulation, chemical quantity produced each year, and the number of new chemicals introduced every year.
And then there are the chemicals that have unfortunately accumulated in our natural environment - the air we breathe, our oceans and rivers, the soils we grow our food in. There is no escaping the damage done or the exposure to the chemicals. But…. it can make a really big difference to your health by minimising your exposure to the chemicals by what you do everyday in your home and in your workplace. It really does matter.
I look at it this way - a toxin or chemical is a substance that has no actual use for our body. The chemical is not used for cellular energy, respiration, building blocks for our muscles, skin, enzymes….nothing!! (I think of non-foods like this too - eg coca cola or other refined/packaged foods - absolutely no use to the body and requires extra work to deal with the ingestion).
There are regulations on each chemical and its use, but there is a key point that has always stuck with me. There is no study that can determine the safe use of combined chemicals. This means that it may be safe to use X amount of chemical A, but when also used or are exposed with chemical B, C, D, E………. then the effect is unknown. It is literally impossible to determine the safe use due to the diversity and quantity of chemicals we are exposed to. And, it also depends on individual health and detoxification status, another variability that cannot be determined. We are all unique, and exposed to a unique array of chemicals, and have unique diets and health that will assist with how we can deal with the chemical exposure.
Now that we have been exposed to that chemical/toxin either by skin absorption, respiration or ingesting, the body has to deal with this chemical/toxin to prevent damage. The chemical may be absorbed through the digestive system into the bloodstream off to the liver to detoxify, or, absorbed through the skin, into the bloodstream and off to the liver again, or inhaled into the lungs and absorbed into the bloodstream off to the liver for detoxification. This is a simplification of the process, but I really want you to understand that these chemicals don't just magically disappear, but must be dealt with and made safe for elimination from the body - urine, faeces, even sweat. ‘Detoxification’ is primarily the role of the liver, and this a natural physiological process as the body also produces its own chemicals in response to normal function and these endotoxins also require detoxification and elimination.
But when we are constantly exposed to toxins overwhelm and damage can occur. A problem with a detoxification pathway can be caused by:
a reduced number of nutrients available to undertake the steps for detoxification,
an injury or illness that affects the function of the liver,
then overwhelm can occur, and your liver is unable to keep up with the requirements.
When overwhelm occurs for our innate detoxification systems disease can occur.
The diseases of today are very different to the diseases of 100 years ago. I believe there are a number of contributing factors to the changes of population health, but, chemicals in the environment and exposure to these chemicals plays a large part of the disease process - liver health and inflammation.
What You Can Do
Keep it simple and reduce your exposure and chemical load.
Consider new purchases - personal hygiene products, ‘beauty’ care products, household cleaning products, the food you consume in and outside the home
Load up with plenty of fresh vegetables and whole foods that contain the nutrients that you need for detoxification
Eat the rainbow
Plenty of greens and cruciferous
Ensure elimination channels are open ie you are pooping
Water
Fats and healthy oils
Fibre
Allowing the time and routine to go the bathroom
See a naturopath or herbalist if you think your liver needs some extra support at the moment
*****HERBAL MEDICINE
Just like false/non foods that don’t offer you any support, and in fact slow and weigh you down, the same goes for chemicals. If it feels too overwhelming and you are at a loss then please just start with one thing at a time. ANd then before you know it you won’t be able to cope with walking down the cleaning aisle in your mainstream supermarket because you feel overwhelmed with the strong smells. Then you know you have come a long way and cleaned up your chemicals in your environment.
Reach out if you have any questions, or think you could do with some detoxification support.
There is also the N&B Cleanse which can assist in shifting your habits and support digestion, elimination and liver function.
