Health Starts at Home.
Common household cleaners and cosmetics contain ingredients that are implicated in health problems- maybe even the problems from which you currently suffer. There are thousands of known toxic chemicals in products that we use every day in our homes and on our bodies, yet they continue to be marketed to us, we continue to use them, and we continue to get sick. While we can, and should, participate in detoxification programs regularly, one of the best and most effective ways to reduce your risk of health problems is, quite simply, to avoid harmful and toxic chemicals.
Many people like to participate in a yearly detoxification program. This is something is I highly encourage. We do live in a toxic world, and detoxification is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Detoxification, or cleansing, often involves eating a healthy diet and taking specific herbal medicines. There are several herbs and nutrients that help to mobilize toxins from where they are stored in the body. Other herbs aid in the elimination of those toxins from the body. And there are also herbs and nutrients that support the liver and kidneys, which are the main organs of detoxification.
An effective detoxification program is more than a fasting exercise. Instead, it is about feeding the body the nutrition it requires in order to properly detoxify, supporting the elimination of these toxins from the body with herbs and nutrients, and allowing the body to recover from the normal onslaught of toxins.
When it comes down to it, detoxification is essential to your ongoing health, and plays a major role in determining your susceptibility to developing disease.
It all starts at home.
The typical household uses 500-1,000 chemicals. Many of these chemicals are undetectable to us. We cannot smell, see, or taste them. While some of these chemicals can be tolerated by us in small doses, using them in bigger quantities and combining them with other chemicals (using, say, both a dish soap and a dishwashing detergent), can pose a very real health risk to you and your family. The evidence is mounting that chemicals used in common household products can cause respiratory, neurological, cardiovascular, and reproductive illnesses. They can alter the production and function of hormones and disrupt the immune system leading to autoimmune conditions and cancer.
Clean your house.
I don’t mean vacuum and dust, although this is important, I mean clean out the chemicals in your home. There are effective, safe, chemical-free versions of all of the cleaners, soaps, deodorants, cosmetics, and pesticides you use in and around your home. This is an essential step in protecting your health and the health of your family!
Where to Start:
- Don’t wear shoes in your house. Not only are you bringing dirt inside, but also pesticides and heavy metals such as lead.
- Air out your house. Open windows frequently and use broad leafed green plants to help filter the air.
- If it smells, don’t use it. The scents from cleaning products, “air fresheners,” candles, and cosmetics contain volatile chemicals that may smell good but are highly toxic. Use fresh flowers, herbs, and/or baking soda to neutralize odors instead.
- Find safe alternatives to common house hold cleaners. I prefer the old goodies like baking soda and vinegar.
- Use plastic wisely. In addition to using BPA free plastic, plastic numbers 3, 6, and 7 leach their chemicals so you should look for alternative such as stainless steel and glass. NEVER use plastic containers to heat your food.
- Drink filtered water.
Get help from me. I will soon be introducing a Cleanse and Detox program and you will learn how to safely avoid chemicals and improve your detoxification pathways. This is incredibly important to maintaining your health and preventing illness. Everyone needs to clean up their environment and improve their detoxification. Stay tuned for more details!
