Of course we know it is not good to live next to a toxic waste dump. And many of us think twice about using chemical pesticides and herbicides around our home. But what about the hidden toxin that can insidiously affect our lives? Our skin lotion? Our cleaning supplies? Drinking healthy bottled water? These are just a few of the everyday items we use that expose us to chemical compounds that can be detrimental to our health.
Have you heard of triclosan? Probably not. Also known as Microban and Biofresh, triclosan is a chemical antimicrobial used in personal care products like toothpaste, shaving cream, cosmetics and hand soaps, as well as plastic toys, kitchenware, and even clothing. This pesticide bioaccumulates in our bodies and disrupts thyroid function which effects our caloric metabolism and hundreds of other processes in our bodies. It has also been linked to asthma, allergies, dermatitis, obesity and sex hormone disruption.
Triclosan is just one of millions of chemicals that have been introduced into our world over the past decade. Most of us don’t even know how severely the hidden, and not so hidden, sources of toxins are affecting us. Many of these toxins are not water-soluble and absorb into our fat cells and are stored. They are not readily excreted from the body and accumulate over a person’s lifetime, multiplying the body burden (the amount of build-up) and increasing the malfunction of the body’s metabolic processes.
Many of the chemicals that we are exposed to are called endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors bind to hormone receptors, which affect all the endocrine glands, as well as the nervous and immune systems. Even in very low doses over time, these compounds cause errors and insufficiency of our thyroid, pituitary, adrenals, pancreas, and ovaries/testes. Pregnant mothers and children are the most vulnerable populations to be affected by exposure, and the effect of exposures to endocrine disruptors may not become evident until later in life.
It’s not as easy to live a clean life as it once was. Nowadays, more than 287 chemicals are found in newborn babies blood. Avoidance is an important step to minimize the health effects of toxins but detoxification and depuration are crucial. Depuration is defined as “to free from impurities.” Liberating and excreting the toxins from fat cells and other tissues can be facilitated with different therapies and are used for different purposes. There are ways to test your body burden and many options for depuration. Here at NatureMedica Clinic, I have developed three different detox programs that are all personalized to the patient and can fit any pace and budget.
- • Far Infrared Saunas are used to increase lipolysis (breakdown of fat molecules). Fat-soluble toxins are then released so they can be excreted. Yes! This will help weight loss as well.
- • Colon Hydrotherapy creates a flush of bile, which holds toxins, from the gallbladder. These bile toxins are removed from the body, which improves liver health, and helps cleanse the blood.
- • Constitutional Hydrotherapy is contrasting hot and cold wet towels applied to the body with electrodes strategically placed to decrease sympathetic response and promote cellular waste removal.
- • Nutrient IV’s flood the blood and tissues with much-needed vitamins and minerals, allowing metabolism of waste to be more efficient.
- • Oral or IV Chelation uses a substance that has an affinity to bind to certain toxins and enable them to be excreted.
With a blend of the above-mentioned therapies and some diet and lifestyle changes, lowering your toxin load will improve your mental and physical health drastically
Toxicity often lies at the root of many chronic illnesses
- • Acne
- • ADD/ADHA
- • Allergies
- • Asthma
- • Autoimmune conditions
- • Brain fog
- • Certain Cancers
- • Chemical sensitivities
- • Chronic bacterial, fungal and viral infections
- • Chronic fatigue
- • Chronic neurological illnesses
- • Cognitive difficulties
- • Depression/Anxiety
- • Development disorders
- • Diabetes
- • Erectile dysfunction
- • Fibromyalgia
- • Hormonal imbalances
- • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- • Immune system disorders
- • Impaired memory
- • Increased risk of
- • Dementia/Alzheimer’s
- • Infertility
- • Migraines
- • Mood disorders
- • Obesity
- • PMS/dysmenorrhea
- • Tremors & Restless leg
Sources of toxin exposure:
- • Consuming contaminated fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, dairy, and fish.
- • Drinking contaminated water
- • Living near golf courses, factories, and hazardous waste sites.
- • Plastic containers, household cleaners, personal care products & cosmetics, household electronics, air fresheners, prepackaged foods, vinyl flooring and new carpet.
- • Inhaling chemical vapors or contaminated dust, soil, and house dust
- • Direct skin contact
- • Bioaccumulation from mother
