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 From Toxic to Terrific
Toxins are a part of life, as we are all exposed to them on a daily basis through the air we breathe and the food we eat. In fact, any substance can have toxicity in the body in certain circumstances – including water, sodium, and nearly all nutrients--water, sodium, and almost all nutrients. Our bodies experience toxicity when we take in more than we can utilize and eliminate. The body aims to maintain homeostasis or balance; this balance is disturbed when we feed ourselves more than we can utilize or partake of specific substances that are toxic. Toxicity may depend on the dosage, frequency, or potency of the toxin. Reducing Exposure to Toxins: The first step to reducing exposure is to know where and how you are being exposed to toxins in your food an environment. In addition to the environmental toxins you are exposed to each day, a common source of toxins in our food stems from plastic wraps, plastic containers, cups and bottles, and styrofoam trays; the plastics leach into food and end up hooking onto the cells inside the body where they disrupt the normal cell function. Being mindful of not leaving a plastic water bottle in the car on warm days or not re-heating food in plastic containers can help reduce your exposure to plastics. In addition, watching the exposure to other toxins found in the food supply and consuming foods and supplements to promote a healthy liver can help fight toxicity. This can be done by purchasing and consuming organic foods. Organic farmers grow crops without using conventional pesticides, bioengineering, or petroleum or human sewage-based fertilizers. In addition, organic eggs, poultry, meats and dairy products come from animals that did not receive antibiotics or growth hormones. As an added bonus, organic agriculture uses practices that actually conserve the soil, water and air.
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the scientific community is experiencing a growing consensus that even small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can have negative effects on people. Some studies indicate that the pesticides seem to interfere with and block hormones and damage cells – especially those in the brain and nervous systems. However, since the long-term effects of pesticides are worrisome and are either not well understood or not studied at all, it is best to minimize your exposure to pesticides whenever possible. The Effects of Washing and Peeling Produce: Although washing and rinsing fresh produce might reduce the levels of some pesticides, it does not eliminate them. Peeling produce can also reduce the exposure to some pesticides but also results in losing valuable nutrients. The tests conducted on produce by the EWG already consider how most people wash and prepare produce (including peeling bananas and washing apples. Therefore, since it is not necessarily feasible to always eat organic, the best option is to choose organic whenever possible; when organic is not an option, make sure to wash all produce and eat a varied diet.
The EWG conducted a study in 2006 and found that people can lower their exposure to pesticide from produce by nearly 90 percent. They ranked produce based on the level of toxicity based on the results of nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2004.
Although extensive research promotes the value of eating fish as a source of lean protein and for getting omega-3 fatty acids, finding fish without contaminants is becoming challenging. Many fish are full of mercury PCBs and other toxins. Even farm-raised fish (including Atlantic salmon) have been found to have high levels of chemical pollutants. The key is to check for labeling designating the fish as safe and to simply be aware of where your fish comes from so you know what you’re putting into your body. Sources: 10 Weeks to Wellness™, Paul Ratte, ND; Food News (Environmental Working Group); “General Detoxification and Cleansing”, Elson Haas, MD (Health World); “Eat Clean”, Experience Life (May 2007), Linda Knittel |
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