Do Toxins Affect Our Health?
It’s true that achieving wellness goals often requires more than just eating the right foods. One critical aspect of health that’s often overlooked is our body’s toxin load. In today’s world, we are exposed to various toxins daily, from environmental pollutants, to chemicals in our food and water. These toxins can accumulate in the body, leading to chronic inflammation, which in turn, disrupts our body's natural balance and function. We have to remember all that goes into our body has some kind of outcome, whether good or bad.
Chronic inflammation is the body’s response to ongoing stress, often triggered by toxins, as well as poor diet and lifestyle choices. This constant state of alert can lead to imbalances in the body, affecting everything from digestion to DNA damage. Research has shown that inflammation is linked to a host of health issues, including metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune conditions. Reducing your toxin load is a crucial step toward lowering inflammation and restoring proper function of the body.
Ways to Reduce the Toxic Load:
1. Prioritize whole, organic foods. Organic foods drastically reduce exposure to pesticides and other chemicals, which disrupts the way the body functions. Check out the EWG’s free produce guides on the Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen to know which foods have more pesticides.
2. Minimize processed foods with additives, food dyes and fortified heavy metals. Heavy metals have been linked to ADHD (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20829149/) and food additives have been linked to intestinal permeability.
3. Get regular physical activity. Regularly movement helps stimulate the lymphatic system, which is the body’s sewer system, and helps the body to get rid of waste and junk.
4. Avoid using plastic tupperware. Plastic can leach into food and therefore be ingested. Use glass instead, whenever possible.
5. Drink plenty of clean water. Water is crucial for all bodily functions, especially detoxification. Drinking enough water supports the kidneys and liver, which play major roles in filtering out toxins.
6. Avoid artificial sweeteners. Research found that artificial sweeteners like saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame can alter the gut microbiome in ways that may impair glucose tolerance, which could lead to metabolic issues and increase the risk of insulin resistance. Artificial sweeteners have also been linked to weight gain, cognitive decline, increased risk of heart disease and DNA damage.
7. Eat cruciferous vegetables. Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and cabbage are rich in fiber and have compounds that help the body to detoxify effectively.
8. Avoid high mercury fish. Fish such as mackerel and king trout can contain high levels of Mercury. Instead, choose fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines as staples for obtaining omega-3 fats in the diet.
Wrap Up
Achieving optimal health isn’t just about what you eat; it’s about creating an environment within your body that allows it to thrive. By reducing your toxin load and managing inflammation, you can lay the groundwork for better overall health and reach your wellness goals more effectively.