Let’s face it, we live in a world where we are surrounded by toxins. Toxins are in the foods we eat, the water we drink, what we put on our skin and what we are breathing in. We can’t escape it anymore.
It is estimated there are now 85,000 man-made chemicals in our world! Here is a list of Chemicals Evaluated for Carcinogenic Potential by the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States. It is staggering to see the sheer number of chemicals and how many are listed as carcinogenic!
Unfortunately, these toxins start to build up in our bodies and can eventually show up as very serious physical problems, including cancer. It is absolutely essential that we become aware of what we are being exposed to, how to reduce that exposure and how to clear the toxins from our bodies if we want to heal from cancer.
First I will tell you about some of the toxins we are being exposed to and where they come from. Then I will share 12 signs your body may be toxic and how to start to detox.
TOXINS WE ARE BEING EXPOSED TO EVERY DAY
HEAVY METALS
Do you have mercury fillings? Guess what, you are being exposed to mercury daily and for some of us it’s been since we were children. Mercury is just one heavy metal that is toxic. Other metals that can build up in our bodies include lead, cadmium, arsenic and copper. These metals are known to be carcinogenic and many of them are neurotoxic as well.
Many of our cosmetic items and even tattoos contain potentially toxic heavy metals. Cosmetics include everyday items like make-up, shampoo, toothpaste, skin care products, fingernail polish, hair sprays and dyes, deodorants and more. Read More
The contrast agent used for MRIs, called gadolinium, is a heavy metal. Every time you have an MRI with contrast, you are accumulating this in your body, often in the bones and also the brain, where it can be a neurotoxin. See this study where they have a table listing many chronic effects of retained gadolinium contrast in the body.
Other sources of heavy metals include contaminated water, industrial emissions, improperly coated food containers and eating certain seafood.
PESTICIDES and HERBICIDES
Many of you have heard of glyphosate, but do you know what it is? Glyphosate is the world’s most widely used weed killer. It is the main ingredient in Monsanto’s product Roundup. Roundup is becoming more and more popular as crops are being genetically modified to be tolerant to herbicides. This means the majority of our edible crops are being sprayed with glyphosate, a known carcinogen, although they will deny this.
Many people use herbicides like Roundup on their gardens and lawns to kill weeds.
Insecticides like malathion, diazinon, DDT, parathion and arsenic compounds are all carcinogenic. We use insecticides all the time (mosquito repellents, fly sprays, etc.) and even put them on our pets for flea and tick control.
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS
Our endocrine system is very complex and controls numerous biological functions in our bodies. It includes parts of our brain, our thyroid gland, adrenal glands and more. It functions through hormones.
These hormones act in extremely small amounts and even minor disruptions in these levels may cause significant biological effects. Estimates show there are 1000 or more human made chemicals that are now considered endocrine disruptors. Here are some of the common ones.
PFAS – Often called “forever chemicals,” these are found in multiple sources including non-stick cookware, food wrappers, cosmetics, clothing, carpeting, our water supply, soil and more Read More
Phthalates – nail polish, hair spray, skin cleansers and shampoo
Dioxins – weed killers, paper bleaching, released into the air from waste burning
Perchlorates – used to make explosives, including fireworks and sometimes found in groundwater, wells, milk and food crops
Bisphenol A (BPA) – found in many hard plastics and epoxy resins to make food packaging and toys
Atrazine – one of the most commonly applied herbicides in the world. Used on crops like corn and sugarcane
These hormone disruptors can often mimic estrogen making exposure even worse for uterine cancer patients.
PROCESSED FOOD
More than 2500 chemical substances are now intentionally added to foods to modify flavor, color, stability and texture. An estimated 12,000 substances may unintentionally enter the food supply in the form of packaging materials, pesticide residues and even drugs given to animals! There are also naturally occurring contaminants that can get into our food. The most common are mycotoxins and aflatoxins from mold.
On top of this, substances in this category also include GRAS chemicals (“generally recognized as safe”). These are not carefully regulated. In fact, there have been no requirements to perform tests to determine the carcinogenicity of most of these substances. Therefore, very little is known about the tumor promoting activity of all these food additives!
In this report by Harvard Public Health, approximately 678,000 Americans die each year from chronic illnesses caused by food! The statistics related to our toxic processed foods in this report are mind boggling. We are literally eating ourselves to death.
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
Electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) are invisible areas of energy, often called radiation. There are two forms of EMFs.
Non-ionizing: this is low level radiation associated with household appliances, wi-fi, lights, cell phones, computers, hair dryers and more. Typically these are considered harmless to humans
Ionizing: This is high-level radiation that comes from x-rays, gamma rays, CT scans and radiation therapy. This type of EMF leads to cellular and DNA damage and is known to be carcinogenic
Although studies have not shown a direct cause and effect relationship between non-ionizing EMF exposure and cancer, there are cases where there is increased risk. For instance, some children growing up in close proximity to high power lines had a higher incidence of leukemia.
Although low level EMFs might not be a direct cause of cancer, they may contribute to the development of cancer through various processes. EMFs may produce reactive oxygen species, which could trigger or enhance the expression of oncogenes. EMFs can suppress the production and function of melatonin, a known tumor suppressor. EMFs may also disrupt cell signaling pathways, leading to tumor formation and proliferation.
We are exposed to EMFs every day and it is getting worse with the advent of electric vehicles and electric forms of public transportation. Not only that, but cell phones, wi-fi and other wireless devices increase EMFs in our environment and everyone is using them every day.
MEDICATIONS AND CANCER TREATMENTS
Medications can be toxic and not only from taking too much. They can build up in the body causing damage to tissues and organs over time. Common drugs that can be toxic include acetaminophen (Tylenol), anti-coagulants, drugs to treat hypertension, anti-depressants and benzodiazepines to treat anxiety like Xanax and Clonazapam. Read More
Chemotherapy is known to increase the risk of developing a second cancer unrelated to the first cancer. A common example is women taking Tamoxifen for breast cancer who later develop endometrial cancer.
Radiation is a form of ionizing EMF and directly damages the DNA and causes death of not only cancer cells, but healthy cells as well. Not only that, but it releases reactive oxygen species and free radicals in our bodies, which cause further damage. Radiation therapy is a known carcinogen.
12 SIGNS YOUR BODY MAY BE TOXIC
- Digestive issues including gas and bloating, constipation, diarrhea or reflux
- Headaches and/or migraines
- Food cravings
- Fatigue
- Angry and irritable, frequent mood swings
- Skin conditions (very common) – rashes, dry skin, eczema, acne
- Brain fog, difficulty concentrating, poor memory
- Trouble losing weight – toxins can act as obesogens. Obesogens are a subset of endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can cause metabolic dysfunctions that lead to obesity
- Difficulty sleeping
- Bad breath or body odor
- Joint and muscle aches and pains
- Frequent colds and viruses
WHY WE NEED TO DETOXIFY OUR BODIES
Many people don’t realize what these toxins are doing to their bodies, I sure didn’t. These symptoms are not normal. These symptoms are your body trying to warn you of danger!
Toxins can cause all the major chronic illnesses including diabetes, obesity, cancer and heart disease. Not only that, but toxin exposure has been shown to increase your risk of developing autoimmune disease. As if that wasn’t enough, toxins are now linked to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease as well. I don’t know about you, but I want to try to prevent any further damage to my body!
Most of us were probably already “toxic” before our diagnosis and the treatments and medications made things worse. It’s like the analogy of the overflowing sink, flooding the bathroom. Mopping the floor will not fix the problem. You have to turn off the water first. The same thing applies here. We have to reduce our exposure to these toxins as much as possible (turn off the water), while working to detox our bodies (mopping the floor).
NATURAL WAYS TO DETOX YOUR BODY THAT REALLY WORK
Luckily, there are a number of things you can do to help your body detoxify all these chemicals, heavy metals and EMFs, which I will share with you now. I have personally done all of these things and continue to do them on a regular basis!
SAUNA
The high temperature of a sauna causes your body to sweat profusely. This helps flush toxins from your skin and organs. Not only that, but it feels great! I love this technique the best. A sauna can help your immune system function better, improve sleep and even relieve pain. Did you know the use of saunas for medicinal purposes dates back 1000s of years?
Here is a good overview on the many medical benefits of using a sauna.
I bought a simple portable sauna online and have been using it 3-4 times a week for over 2 years. Important tips: Don’t exceed 30-40 minutes in a sauna. Most people sit in it for 20-30 minutes. Don’t use the sauna every day. Several times a week is enough. Make sure to drink lots of water so you don’t get dehydrated. You may want to add salt and electrolytes to the water as well so you don’t get depleted.
Please remember, I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. If you have any concerns, please discuss these with your medical professionals before using a sauna.
ZEOLITE
Zeolite is a crystallized mineral that comes from volcanic ash. It is particularly effective for removing heavy metals from the body. Zeolite adsorbs toxins, which means it attracts the toxins through a negative ionic charge. The toxins/heavy metals then stick to its surface and are eliminated through the digestive tract.
Benefits of Zeolite include detoxification of heavy metals, adsorption of harmful chemicals, support of gut health by promoting beneficial bacteria and helps neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.
I use this Zeolite product on a regular basis.
BENTONITE CLAY
Bentonite is a highly absorbent clay that binds and removes toxins from the body. It is often used to cleanse the gastrointestinal tract and relieve diarrhea, gas and bloating.
Bentonite clay benefits include adsorbing and removing heavy metals, harmful microorganisms, supporting digestive health and can be used as a topical application for skin conditions. It may also support the liver by reducing the toxin load in the digestive system.
Use caution if you have trouble with constipation as bentonite clay can sometimes cause this.
MELATONIN
Melatonin can prevent damage from EMFs, especially ionizing radiation damage. It also has numerous benefits for our overall health. Please read this post for more information on melatonin.
EPSOM SALT BATHS
Epsom salt baths are another wonderful way to flush out toxins through your skin. The high temperature of the water creates sweating which draws toxins out of the body. The magnesium sulfate in the epsom salt can pull out toxins through the skin. Magnesium is absorbed through the skin, which is very important as cancer patients are often deficient in magnesium. Epsom salt baths have many other benefits including relaxation, pain relief, soften and heal dry scaly skin and reduce swelling in joints.
EAT REAL FOOD
Processed food is full of toxic chemicals as I discussed. Eating real, whole foods that don’t come in a box, a can or a bag is a number one priority to reduce exposure to all these chemicals! By cleaning up your diet and eating fresh organic produce and healthy meats you will start to notice a difference in your body very quickly.
FASTING
Fasting or intermittent fasting is another great way to clean up your body. When the body is not processing food, it can focus more on cellular repair and toxin removal. The immune system ramps up and starts to clear out dead and damaged cells. The body starts to focus on eliminating waste and regenerating healthy cells.
MILK THISTLE
The liver is our main detoxification organ. It filters toxins from the blood, breaking them down, and excreting them. The liver also has special cells that digest and destroy cellular debris and invading bacteria. Most drugs and medications are metabolized by the liver. For these reasons, it is very important that we support our liver health.
An excellent herbal supplement to support the liver and detoxification is milk thistle, whose active ingredient is silymarin. It protects the liver through three main mechanisms, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-fibrotic. It can also inhibit free radicals produced from toxic substances like acetaminophen. Make sure to discuss milk thistle with your medical team and see if this is a good supplement for you to take to support your liver health.
BLUE LIGHT BLOCKING GLASSES
Blue light exposure, mainly from computer screens and TVs has been shown to negatively impact our natural circadian rhythm. Melatonin increases in the evening about 2-3 hours before we go to bed. At the same time, cortisol and body temperature decrease to help us transition from being awake to sleep.
Blue light can suppress and delay melatonin production and prevent the decreases in cortisol and body temperature. Not only does this impact sleep, but it is not good for cancer. Melatonin is a potent tumor suppressor and cortisol can promote tumor growth. So we don’t want these impacted by blue light exposure.
It is a good idea to wear blue light blocking glasses when using a computer to prevent this, especially in the evening. Not only that, but you are also protecting your eye health and preventing eye strain.
USE SPEAKERPHONE INSTEAD OF EAR BUDS
Wireless ear buds transmit EMFs. Not only that, but they are in your ear, which is very close to your brain. EMF exposure is a function of transmission power and distance. For instance at 1cm distance the radiation is 100x higher than at 10cm. Using ear buds raises the exposure to EMFs and wearing them for long periods of time also increases your exposure. Let’s save our brains and use the speaker phone function at all times.
REMOVE TOXIC PRODUCTS FROM YOUR HOME
Another way to reduce your toxin exposure is to remove toxic chemicals from your home. So many personal care products, household cleaners, laundry detergents and air fresheners contain hundreds of toxic chemicals.
I eliminated all these things from my home to reduce my exposure. I now clean with vinegar and water and chemical free soap. I only use healthy personal care products, free from toxins and I never burn candles or dye my hair anymore. I don’t want to take any chances and I hope you don’t either. A good place to find healthier alternatives to these products is on the Environmental Working Group site.
STAY HYDRATED
Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day and more if you are exercising or using a sauna.
ONE THING YOU CAN DO TODAY IN YOUR JOURNEY BACK TO HEALTH
This will be hard for some of you, but I am just going to say it. I would recommend you remove all candles from your home. Scented candles give off unhealthy gasses and chemicals that can affect your health. They are a form of indoor air pollution. Don’t get me wrong, I used to love candles but, after I found out about the harmful effects, I got rid of them.
If you don’t believe me on how toxic candles can be, read more here.
If you just can’t go without a candle, please switch to healthier versions that are made from beeswax or soy and only scented using essential oils.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. ~ 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20