We live in a very different environment than the one of our ancestors. Environmental pollution is increasing and most of us lead high stress lives, consume a poor diet and move/sweat too little. In addition, we use toxic cleaning products, cosmetics and cookware.
All of these factors, among others, contribute to what is known as our “toxic load”: our body’s physical burden of toxins and chemicals.
Long term exposure to environmental toxins and toxic products can lead to a stressed out immune system, which could potentially lead to autoimmune disease and/or symptom flare-ups. Being mindful of our toxic load and learning how to minimize it, can help prevent the negative side-effects of toxicity and is sometimes much simpler than it seems.
Unfortunately, toxins are everywhere. From your fabrics, to your furniture, to your foods, to your cleaning products and detergents…
Controversial, I know. But hear me out - although they have generally been shown “safe for human consumption”, pesticides, herbicides and artificial fertilizers, are not good for individuals with autoimmune disease or allergies, who’s immune system has already “gone rogue”. What do I mean by this? When you’re immunity is hyper-sensitive and your body is in a highly inflammatory phase at baseline, you should aim to support it from every angle! This includes investing in organically grown produce that contains no chemicals or preservatives.
2. Avoid nonstick cookware + plastic food containers
Nonstick pots and pans, especially teflon products, have been found to contain PFOA, a potential immune-system disruptor that has been shown to alter our immune function. And as far as plastics go, I hate to break it to you, but plastic is plastic and BPA free does not mean toxin free. In fact, BPA free plastics have been shown to release estrogen-mimicking toxins into foods and cosmetics. My recommendations in regards to this matter are as follows:
3. Filter your water
The source of water you drink is not the only thing that matters. Our skin absorbs bath and shower water fairly easily, which means that the chemical additives found in most urban water sources (chlorine, fluoride, drug residues and pesticides) are absorbed into your body through skin contact or consumption. My recommendation? Install a whole-house water filter and avoid ALL plastic water containers.
4. Clean your air
Our air contains harmful gasses from fuel fumes, paint, carpeting, electronics, mattresses and so much more. Additionally, studies have shown that indoor air quality is sometimes much worse than outdoor air quality! My recommendation is to invest in a HEPA air filter, for the bedroom in which you sleep at minimum, and to let items such as mattresses / window blinds and some types of furniture “off-gas” before putting them into the house.
5. Choose safe household products
Cleaners, cosmetics, fabrics, furniture, you name it - most very likely contain detergents and chemicals which are harmful and easily absorbable by our skin. My recommendation? Avoid household and cosmetic products that contain the “Dirty Thirty”:
Quick tip: “Green” or eco-friendly scentless products are usually a good choice, as long as they don’t contain ‘phthalate’ class chemicals.
It’s important to note that adapting to a “clean lifestyle” takes time, and that's ok. One tip that’s helped me is “phasing in” to better habits - so, instead of throwing out all of my cosmetics and tossing a brand new bottle of detergent, I consume the products I already have and buy safer alternatives when they are finished.
Also important to note - there is a fine line between trying our best to “live clean” and becoming overly obsessed with the concept of clean living. So, my best advise is to adopt the “80/20 rule” - do you best to live clean 80% of the time, and let go of the other 20% and/or of environmental factors out of your control. Anxiety and fear over clean living can sometimes do more harm than toxicity itself!
References
Pizzorno J. Conventional Laboratory Tests to Assess Toxin Burden. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2015;14(5):8-16.
Genuis SJ, Sears ME, Schwalfenberg G, Hope J, Bernhoft R. Clinical detoxification: elimination of persistent toxicants from the human body. ScientificWorldJournal. 2013;2013:238347. Published 2013 Jun 6. doi:10.1155/2013/238347
