Ok, so let’s break it down a little. What the elf (I don’t know why I’m stuck on this Buddy the Elf thing!) is the difference between a toxin and a toxicant?
A toxin is defined as a poisonous substance, which is the product of the metabolic activities of a living organism—usually found in nature.
A toxicant, is a toxic agent—usually man made. For instance, Pesticides, Phthalates, and Asbestos—just to name a few. We will address both toxins and toxicants and work together to lower your burden.
In 2009 the “Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals,” was published. The Center of Disease Control reported that the average person in the United States has at least 212 chemicals in his/her blood and urine.
Our every day substances, like pesticides, computers or TV’s, furniture, and plastic food containers all contain some level of chemical contaminants that leach into our bodies via our mouths or our skin—and as we know, our skin is our largest organ. We come into contact with these chemicals all day every day; therefore, our toxic load accumulates with each exposure.
Now, just imagine how those 212 chemicals in your body could affect a woman carrying her unborn baby. The Environmental Working Group reported that 287 chemicals were detected in the cord blood of newborn babies. It was once thought that the placenta blocked these pollutants from reaching the fetus but we now know, thanks to this study, that this is not the case.
According to the EWG, “of the 287 chemicals (that were) detected in umbilical cord blood, we know that 180 cause cancer in humans or animals, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests. The dangers of pre- or post-natal exposure to this complex mixture of carcinogens, developmental toxins and neurotoxins have never been studied”.
So, the big question here is….how do we get rid of it? Well, unfortunately, we don’t—well, not completely anyway. It’s next to impossible because it’s all around us. What we can do, however, is reduce it. And here is where even small steps can have a HUGE impact. The small steps are where I come in. This is how I can help you and your family to shed this toxic sludge we all carry in our bodies and live cleaner, healthier lives.
Babies and kids are more at risk due to the fact that pound for pound they eat more and breathe more air than the average adult. Plus, their organs are growing at an exponential rate and are more susceptible to damage.
I am not a medical doctor and I don’t claim to be one but I am a certified health and wellness practitioner, a Mom and a former “very sick person” who has learned a TON of important and useful information over the past 11 years. If you don’t know my “very sick person” story, click here…
* * *
Why is it important to reduce my body burden?
There are thousands of untested chemicals in our every day products- from our hand soap to our mobile phones, from our skin care to our kids pajamas. Our current regulation system does not do a whole lot to protect us against this. In fact, 81 years ago, the FDA— who defended Americans against the “snake oil” guys- passed the 1938 Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act which was enacted to ensure the safety of personal care products such as shampoos, eye lash dyes, soaps, etc. This was a good thing. But little has been done since. The European Union has banned or partially banned over 1400 personal care ingredients. The US has banned or partially banned roughly 30. That means that essentially, we are still living in the 30’s when it comes to the governing of the ingredients that are used in our personal care products.
The big picture reduction in body burden requires continuous citizen pressure on our elected officials to enact necessary changes. Voting with your dollars by shopping from the “good guys” (companies who put health above profit) also makes our voices be heard.
Risks of Toxicants
There are actually many different risks when it comes to toxicants in our body. Some of the initial symptoms that we might be able to see are:
Weight gain
Autoimmunity
Brain fog
Digestive issues
Nerve tremors
Skin Symptoms
Fatigue
Muscle pain
Beyond the above risks are disease concerns from environmental toxicants. These are far more serious, and can include:
Cancer
Alzheimer’s disease
Diabetes
Heart disease
Fatty liver
Neuropathy
Those symptoms and diseases are enough piss off even Buddy the Elf— and, we all know…smiling is his favorite!
Lowering your body burden isn’t just about exercising and eating organic food—which is definitely part of lowering your burden— but it goes a lot deeper than that. I will show you what it is and how to deal with it in easy, peasy, lemon squeezy tips!