There are currently 85,000 chemicals registered worldwide and less than half of these have been tested for toxicity to humans. One need only look as far as our friends and relatives to see that the incidence of such health issues as cancer, Alzheimers, ADD, IBS, Crohn's disease, autoimmune diseases, hormone imbalance, allergies, asthma and more have gone up dramatically in the last two decades. The National Cancer Institute estimates that environmental toxins are responsible for at least 70% of all cancers. Not bad genes, bad habits or bad luck, but the simple fact that our bodies can no longer handle the mess we have made of the environment. In addition, it is estimated that 30-40% of all cancers can be prevented solely by diet and lifestyle changes. I suspect the number is actually much greater than this.
According to the EPA, over 1 billion pounds of pesticides were used in the U.S. in 2007, the most recent data available. DDT, a pesticide banned in the U.S. in 1972, is still routinely found in the tissues of animals, birds, fish and humans and in remote corners of the earth like the Arctic, a full 30 years after it was banned. Bisphenol A, a chemical found in plastics like those used in baby bottles, has been the target of environmental groups like EWG for years and was banned in Canada several years ago. Most people have seen the press about RBGH, which companies have begun to ban from use in their products (Yoplait, Starbucks, and Dannon, to name a few). There will be more and more of these that come to light and it is our job as consumers to make sure these poisons are not in our food or our environment.
Toxins are of two types, those that come from inside the body and those that come from outside. Those from inside the body are by-products of normal metabolic processes and ridding the body of these is part of normal metabolism. Those from outside the body are not just ingested, but are also inhaled and taken in through the skin. Outside toxins can be found in milk and other animal products, pesticides, household cleaners, consumer products, carpets & paints, prescription drugs, plastics, our water, and skin care products. An estimated 95% of chemicals used in synthetic fragrances (which are abundant in toiletries, perfume, cologne, and skin care products) are derived from petroleum. These derivatives can cause birth defects, central nervous system defects, and allergic reactions.
What Can We Do?
Our bodies are subjected to a constant barrage of toxins each day, yet few of us are doing anything about it. We go along without symptoms and assume we are okay until one day we are not. Just as our cars need an oil change, our bodies too need to be maintained. One great way to do that is to periodically cleanse the body. The toxins in our body are typically stored in our fatty tissues and can remain there for years if we don't make an effort to clean them out every so often. How often we should cleanse is debated, but most experts suggest from 2-4 times per year. It is generally recommended to cleanse for a period ranging from 7 days to one month. Any cleansing you can commit to doing is better than none at all.
The advent of spring is a great time to cleanse as the body is renewing its tissues and getting ready for new growth. I'm sure you've noticed how kids have a big growth spurt in the spring. As adults we don't (hopefully) grow larger, but our bodies are continually renewing themselves and this activity peaks in springtime. A cleanse is a great way to jump-start a weight loss program as our body gets ready for this spring renewal. Since most of the toxins in our body are held in the fat, getting rid of the toxins will also help us let go of the fat.Read More...
